Peoria Standard

The Village Board of Peoria Heights discussed plans for a new art event this spring during the board's meeting on Jan. 17.

The Peoria Heights Fine Art Fair is scheduled to be held May 13-14 at Tower Park. Jane Johnson of the Peoria Heights Arts Collaborative spoke at the meeting, saying that the collaborative was seeking a two-day art fair at the request of the artists who participate in the event. The collaborative asked for a street closure that weekend to allow artists to keep their works in place without moving them. The two-day event would also allow the artists' families to spend the night in the village. The collaborative asked the board for a $5,000 donation to help fund the event, which village president Michael Pelan said was a reasonable request.

"I would appreciate if people would express any opposition to the $5,000 tonight so that we know that ahead of time," he said. "I would hope there wouldn't be." 

Pelan also added that the arts collaborative "did, in my opinion, everything that we have asked them as a board to do to take over managing all things art and then to become a 501(c)3, to go out and raise their own money, which you have and you have your share of funds to go into promoting this," he told Johnson.

The idea of closing the street for two days during a weekend was a concern for the board, however, since restaurants and businesses depend on the street traffic for their business. After discussion, the board and the arts collaborative agreed on a one-day closure as they had in the past to prevent blocking other businesses in the area.

The Peoria Heights Fine Art Fair will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, and it will include a competition, with prizes of $1,000, $500 and $250 for the top three entrants, as well as a $100 prize to the best booth. 

The booths will feature various kinds of art, from painting and drawing to ceramics and woodworking, stained glass, needlework and knitting, photography, metalwork, jewelry, and even some digital artwork, according to the fair website. The deadline for applications is April 10, and the artists will be notified by April 1. The entry fee is $40, and a reservation fee for a booth is $150, the site stated.