Arts and Culture

A new city-sponsored public art initiative aims to brighten up many of Peoria’s light posts and traffic cabinets. The “Banners and Boxes” beautification program features submissions from 21 local artists displayed throughout downtown, the Warehouse District and Sheridan Village.

On this week's episode of Out and About, Dr. Mae Gilliland of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois chats with Kristan McKinsey of the Fine Arts Society of Peoria about the upcoming lecture "How Graphic Novels Became an Art Form for Everyone (Really)."

On this week's episode of Out and About, Dr. Mae Gilliland of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois chats with Indo-American Society of Peoria board member Krupal Sanghvi about the upcoming India Fest.

On this week's episode of Out and About, Dr. Mae Gilliland of ArtsPartners of Central talks with Friends of Rocky Glen board member Valerie Wolfe about the upcoming Kickapoo Creek Festival. This free three-day event takes place at Sommer Farm, August 8-10.

Peoria’s existing large-scale plan to upgrade the Riverfront has a new feature, with the city and the Hengst Foundation in discussions to pursue an amphitheater project near the Murray Baker Bridge.

On this week's episode of Out and About, Dr. Mae Gilliland of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois talks with Jessica Bingham, co-founder of Project 1612, about Ripples: The 10th Anniversary Invitational. This milestone exhibition brings together seven past Project 1612 artists exploring powerful themes like identity, climate change, and history.

Just more than 100 years ago, two Chicago university students perpetrated a notorious child murder that became known at the time as “the crime of the century.” Now, Peoria is playing a significant role in an independent feature film about the case.

On this week's episode of Out and About, Dr. Mae Gilliland of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois talks to William Butler, Executive Director of the Contemporary Art Center of Peoria, about the return of Boogie Night — the CAC’s annual disco costume dance party.

On this week’s episode of Out and About, Dr. Mae Gilliland of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois chats with Dr. David Vroman, conductor of the Peoria Municipal Band, about their exciting 2025 season.

A national traveling exhibit currently at Peoria’s Methodist College showcases the history of public health messaging related to AIDS and HIV dating back to the 1980s.

On this week's episode of Out and About, Dr. Mae Gilliland of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois talks with Lynette Steger, First Vice President of the Peoria Women's Club, about the organization’s long-standing impact on Peoria’s civic and cultural landscape.

On this week's episode of Out and About, Dr. Mae Gilliland of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois talks with Terri Gambetti, President of Pekin Main Street, about Pekin First Fridays — a festive summer series that is a hub of creativity.