ABOUT US

MISSION STATEMENT

The Springfield Area Arts Council enriches the community by promoting and supporting all art forms and providing creative opportunities to participate in and enjoy the arts.

OUR HISTORY

Founded in 1975 and incorporated in 1976 as a private, nonprofit organization, the Springfield Area Arts Council (SAAC) serves the greater Springfield area within Sangamon and Menard counties by providing community arts excellence through programs, events, and outreach to underserved populations. SAAC is governed by a Board of Directors.

 
Our mission umbrellas the many aspects of SAAC’s programming. We foster cooperation among arts organizations, encourage development of arts services and programs, provide economic opportunities to artists, enhance school curriculum through Arts-in-Education, and re-grant designated funds. In these, our mission is achieved.
 
Over its 48-year history, over 200 individuals have served on the SAAC Board of Directors, more than 6,000 individuals have volunteered for SAAC programs and events, and countless artists have benefited from SAAC’s commitment to enriching the community through the arts.

RECOMMITMENT TO EQUITY

In the sweep of pandemic and protest, the Springfield Area Arts Council renews our commitment to encourage, embrace, and celebrate diversity. SAAC affirms our pledge not to discriminate in any way by reason of race, color, religion, national origin, income, mental/physical ability, sexual orientation, or gender identity/expression and to listen to those who know better than we do where discrimination lingers in our society.

 
The visual, performing, and literary arts in the greater Springfield area should encompass all creative efforts. Therefore, SAAC stands ready to ally with those who seek to educate and to find community-led solutions. As SAAC nears our 45th anniversary, we will endeavor to help the community imagine, engage, heal, and move forward.
 
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” – Barack Obama

The Springfield Area Arts Council is partially supported with funding from the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln, Illinois Arts Council, and City of Springfield.

Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln logo.
A graphic of the words Illinois Arts Council in black and green text.
City of Springfield logo

STRATEGIC PLAN 2026 – 2030

Plan approved by SAAC Board of Directors and Membership, April 2026.

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ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

A color photo of BELLA SZABO smiling. She has brown hair with bangs, glasses, and a red cardigan.

Bella Szabo is a visual artist, curator, and arts administrator. She studied Art and Global Cultures & Languages at Southeast Missouri State University.

Bella Szabo

Executive Director

Bella Szabo is a visual artist, curator, and arts administrator. She studied Art and Global Cultures & Languages at Southeast Missouri State University.

Man with long hair and beard smiling at camera

Andrew Schneider is a creative practitioner and arts leader with experience connecting the arts with economic and workforce development. He co-founded Create Places, managed the Downtown Artery arts hub, and was named to BizWest’s 40 Under Forty and Colorado Creative Industries’ Change Leader Institute.

Andrew Schneider

Program Director

Andrew Schneider is a creative practitioner and arts leader with experience connecting the arts with economic and workforce development. He co-founded Create Places, managed the Downtown Artery arts hub, and was named to BizWest’s 40 Under Forty and Colorado Creative Industries’ Change Leader Institute.

SUPPORT STAFF

Photo of smiling blond woman

Independent accountant specializing in nonprofits.

Jodie Owen

Bookkeeper

Independent accountant specializing in nonprofits.

A color photo of Sheila Walk smiling into the camera.

Sheila Walk has worked with the Springfield Area Arts Council for over 16 years. She is a former teacher at Ursuline Academy and continues to educate the community in her role as Arts Education Coordinator.

Sheila Walk

Arts Education Coordinator

Sheila Walk has worked with the Springfield Area Arts Council for over 16 years. She is a former teacher at Ursuline Academy and continues to educate the community in her role as Arts Education Coordinator.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Officers

headshot of woman with short blond bob wearing glasses and smiling

General Council at the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

Sarah Beuning

President

General Council at the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

A color photograph headshot of Douglas Holt smiling into the camera. He has a short beard and is wearing a khaki polo shirt.

Retired Journalist

Douglas Yul Holt

Vice President

Retired Journalist

Woman smiling in front of train tracks.

Grants Manager at the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

Zoe Chase

Secretary

Grants Manager at the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

A color headshot of a woman with red hair and red glasses smiling into the camera.

Retired Adjunct Instructor of Music at Lincoln Land Community College.

Melinda Kaye

Immediate Past President

Retired Adjunct Instructor of Music at Lincoln Land Community College.

Deputy Village Clerk at Village of New Berlin.

Amanda Lazzara

Treasurer

Deputy Village Clerk at Village of New Berlin.

Directors

woman leaning against a bookshelf in a library with more bookshelves behind her

Dean of Humanities, Arts, Communication, and English at Lincoln Land Community College.

Corrine Hinton

Director

Dean of Humanities, Arts, Communication, and English at Lincoln Land Community College.

Headshot of a woman smiling.

Chief of the Center for Minority Health Services at Illinois Department of Public Health.

Tiffani Saunders

Director

Chief of the Center for Minority Health Services at Illinois Department of Public Health.

Asian woman sitting with violin in hand

Collaborative Pianist at Central Illinois Youth Chorus and Doctoral Student of Musical Arts from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in Viola Performance.

Jace Kim

Director

Collaborative Pianist at Central Illinois Youth Chorus and Doctoral Student of Musical Arts from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in Viola Performance.

Black woman smiling at camera on a beach

Executive Director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

Christina Shutt

Director

Executive Director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

Headshot of a white woman smiling at camera

Grant Manager for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Rachel Muchow

Director

Grant Manager for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

A color photo of Ron Silver speaking into a microphone to someone off-camera.

Director and Producer of NEW MUSIC SPRINGFIELD and Adjunct Instructor at University of Illinois Springfield.

Ron Silver

Director

Director and Producer of NEW MUSIC SPRINGFIELD and Adjunct Instructor at University of Illinois Springfield.

Writer.

Trent R. Nelson

Director

Writer.

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Education Manager at Illinois Realtors.

Christi Walden

Director

Education Manager at Illinois Realtors.

Merchandising Auditor at Advantage Solutions.

Jane Roth

Director

Merchandising Auditor at Advantage Solutions.

Board of Directors