SPRING 2002
Corporate Gallery News
A warm welcome to Joan Brinkworth, who joins Lynne Railsback, to complete the team of Corporate Gallery co-chairs. The volunteer co-chairs are responsible for organizing and overseeing the installation of artwork at our twelve Corporate Galleries.
We are grateful to Laura Wasilowski for her two years of reliable and cheerful volunteer service as a Corporate Gallery co-chair.
The Council is pleased to announce the addition of Assurance Agency Ltd. to the group of corporations where NWCC artists exhibit their work.
Assurance Agency was founded in 1961; and in the 40 years they have grown from 3 employees to 84. Their commitment to service and excellence has firmly established them as one of the largest agencies in the country.
Their commercial clients range from main street businesses to large corporations. To properly serve the diverse needs of these clients, their commercial insurance teams are staffed with specialists in property and casualty insurance, and also life, disability and employee benefits programs.
The Council looks forward to a long and pleasant relationship with Assurance Agency.
Dear Friends of the Northwest Cultural Council,
The Chicago art scene is rich and diverse. We have our choice of museums and theaters, the Chicago Symphony, the Ravinia Festival, the Joffrey Ballet and so much more. With their high visibility and world renown, institutions like these vie for donors and corporate sponsors who may not be aware of smaller organizations involved in the arts. The Northwest Cultural Council is a David among the Goliaths.
Our mission, to extend the arts in all their diversity throughout the northwest suburbs, is no less important. Our "Kids Meet Art"™ outreach to children in their formative years opens exciting new horizons to them and helps set them on the path to a life of richness far more valuable than wealth. This quarterly publication, "Spotlights," now reaches 7,000 homes across the area. The annual list of accomplishments for 2002 is impressive.
· Published FOUR issues of SPOTLIGHTS
· Distributed SEVEN THOUSAND issues of SPOTLIGHTS each quarter to people
interested in the Arts
· Opened ONE new Corporate Gallery at Assurance Agency, Ltd., in Rolling
Meadows
· Organized SIXTY-SEVEN Exhibitions for the TWELVE Corporate Galleries
we serve
· Held FIVE gallery receptions featuring NWCC Corporate Gallery
Artists
· Supported NWCC Corporate Gallery Artists by the sale of TWENTY-FIVE
· Selected TEN new artists to join our THIRTY-EIGHT Corporate Gallery
Artists
· SEVENTY-FIVE artists had EIGHTY-FIVE opportunities to show their work
in SIXTY-SEVEN exhibitions at our TWELVE Corporate Galleries.
· Secured funding for Poetry Readings
· Organized TWO Poetry Readings, at which FOUR poets read from their
works
· Offered EIGHT Poetry Workshops
· FOUR Foundations contributed a total of $70,000 to NWCC of which $64,000
was earmarked for "Kids Meet Art"ä and $6,000 was unrestricted funds
· Added FIVE "Kids Meet Art"ä Corporate Sponsors
· Artists made TWO HUNDRED SIXTY "Kids Meet Art"ä Presentations
in THIRTY-SEVEN schools
· Presented ONE Chamber Concert featuring a musician with the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra
You receive many appeals from worthy groups. Why is this one special? Because the arts feed the human spirit and enrich the lives of everyone touched by them. We have done much in the past thirteen years, but we can reach an even wider audience. Your contribution will help the Council, not to just maintain its programs, but to develop new programming to meet the growing needs of our diverse constituency.
The NWCC receives no federal or state funding, so financial support from those who benefit from the Council is a necessity in order for us to continue the depth and variety of our programming. You can help by doing something as simple as making a $25.00 donation to help defray the cost of publishing "Spotlights" each quarter. The growing demand for our publication and the soaring cost of postage present an increasing financial burden.
A very special thank you awaits our donors. For each $100 donation, the donor will receive a ticket for our annual classical chamber concert at Roosevelt University's Albert A. Robin campus in Schaumburg. The concert takes place on April 21st this year. Past performances have featured the finest talent in the metropolitan area. 2001's performer, Dale Clevenger, first chair French horn with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, is a Grammy Award nominee this year. This artistic treat is our way of showing our gratitude for your continuing support.
Please consider including the Northwest Cultural Council in your annual giving plan. Check to see if your employer offers matching funds. With your continued support we will move forward on our mission "to weave the arts into the fabric of the community." Please send your tax deductible donation to:
Northwest Cultural Council
PO Box 690
Barrington, IL 60010
Thank you for your anticipated donation and generosity.
Sincerely,
The Board of Directors of the Northwest Cultural Council
You can help secure the future of the Northwest Cultural Council, a not-for-profit Illinois Corporation, in two ways:
When you next review your will or living trust, please ask your attorney to add a provision making a bequest to the NORTHWEST CULTURAL COUNCIL. Such a gift can be a fixed dollar amount or a percentage of your estate.
There is often a tax advantage in making a gift of appreciated stocks or bonds to the NORTHWEST CULTURAL COUNCIL.
Here's how it works:
When appreciated securities are sold a capital gains tax is levied. However if appreciated stocks or bonds are contributed to the NORTHWEST CULTURAL COUNCIL the gains are not taxable, because the Council is a not-for-profit organization. The donor will receive a charitable deduction for the full, fair market value of the securities as of the date of the gift. To qualify the stocks or bonds need only be held for more than one year.
Upon your instructions, your securities broker can wire the shares directly to the Council's investment account.
For more information, please write or call:
Kathy Umlauf, Executive Director
The Northwest Cultural Council
5999 New Wilke Road, Suite 307
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
Phone: 847/956-7966
Fax: 847/956-7980
E-mail: nwcc@northwestculturalcouncil.org
CRYSTAL VISIONS
Newly fallen snow…. Icy glacier brilliance
Sparkle of faceted glass
A glittering gemstone.
A juried art exhibition of artistic interpretations of crystal and light.
Crystal Visions has been a cooperative effort of Corporate Gallery artists and NWCC board members. Our thanks to:
· Mary McKane and Kathy Umlauf for developing the idea for the exhibition. The show concept started with a discussion between Mary and Kathy abou the wonderful scene in "Dr. Zhivago," where Zhivago and his wife visit a dacha in snow-covered Siberia and how the repeated symbols of fire and ice are captured in the reflections of candles in the snow and ice-traced windows.
· Mike Springer, for jurying splendid representations of the idea.
· Betty Morley for her words on the prospectus and press release.
· Joanne Epcke for her dramatic installation of the show.
· Charles Gniech for the wonderful photos on these pages.
· Barb Tuch, Deanna Goldberg, Karen Larson, Connie Heavey, and Jeanine Hill-Soldner for creating the title of the show.
· Diane Ward, Marie Anderson, Lynn Miller, Roland Kulla, Charles Gniech, and Joan Robertson for hosting the afternoon reception.
It was a wonderful party. Thanks to all of you who joined us in the celebration.