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.

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

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.

SUPPORT STAFF

Independent accountant specializing in nonprofits.

Jodie Owen

Bookkeeper

Independent accountant specializing in nonprofits.

Marketing and Information Systems Major at University of Urbana-Champaign.

Nick Reed

Summer Intern

Marketing and Information Systems Major at University of Urbana-Champaign.

Strategic Communications Major at University of Missouri-Columbia.

Ella Sullivan

Summer Intern

Strategic Communications Major at University of Missouri-Columbia.

Student at University of Missouri-Columbia studying Journalism.

Alaina Taylor

Summer Intern

Student at University of Missouri-Columbia studying Journalism.

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 Education Director.

Sheila Walk

Education Director

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 Education Director.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Officers

General Council at the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

Sarah Beuning

President

General Council at the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

Retired Journalist

Douglas Yul Holt

Vice President

Retired Journalist

Grants Manager at the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

Zoe Chase

Secretary

Grants Manager at the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

Deputy Village Clerk at Village of New Berlin.

Amanda Lazzara

Treasurer

Deputy Village Clerk at Village of New Berlin.

Immediate Past President

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.

Writer.

Trent R. Nelson

Director

Writer.

Woman smiling, holding up a caricature portrait.

Education Manager at Illinois Realtors.

Christi Walden

Director

Education Manager at Illinois Realtors.

Retired Adjunct Instructor of Music at Lincoln Land Community College.

Melinda Kaye

Director

Retired Adjunct Instructor of Music at Lincoln Land Community College.

Merchandising Auditor at Advantage Solutions.

Jane Roth

Director

Merchandising Auditor at Advantage Solutions.

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.

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.

selfie of a woman with short blond hair wearing a cap in front of a silvery background

Director of the University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery.

Allison Lacher

Director

Director of the University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts Gallery.

Black woman smiling at camera on a beach

Retired Adjunct Instructor of Music at Lincoln Land Community College.

Christina Shutt

Director

Retired Adjunct Instructor of Music at Lincoln Land Community College.

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.

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.