A Look back at the history of the McLean County Arts Center

By Jorge Jasso

The hard-to-miss, arts center building located on 601 N. East Street in Bloomington had a
humble beginning that started with a small studio and an oil painting class thought by a Mrs.
Horace Smith in 1870 right here in Bloomington, Illinois.
Mrs. Smith’s dedication to the preserve the arts in Bloomington soon spread to other members of
the community and in 1922 a group of art enthusiasts revitalized the defunct Blooming Art
Association and a Charter was issued April 6 of the same year. This would is the period when the
McLean County Arts Center begins to take shape. From 1922 until 1976 the Russell Gallery
located inside the Withers Library housed all of the Bloomington Art Associations exhibits until
the roof tragically collapsed in 1976.
After the collapse of the Roof in the Withers Library, the Bloomington Art Association began
operating in a rental building located on 210 E Washington in Bloomington and the space was
the first official location of the McLean County Arts Center. This would be the Arts Center’s
home for the next three years.
In 1979, the rental building which was home to the McLean County Arts Center was scheduled
to be demolished and once again the arts center was in jeopardy.
This catalyst prompted the art association to look for new locations to establish the art center.
One building located on 601 N. East Street in Bloomington stood out and it became the new and
current home of the McLean Arts Center. The building was purchased and renovated by pledges
that were donated by the community. The building became the new headquarters of the arts
council and the facility also became the facilitating space, scheduling and programing for all of
the county’s art related events and exhibitions.
Heartland Community College art professor, Jane Camp had this to say about the arts center,
“This is a great community resource that showcases interesting artists and artwork.”
Now a staple in the community the McLean County Arts Center has been home to exhibitions
from local artist and artists from all around the world. The non-for-profit center also hosts two
annual festivals that are very popular within the Bloomington/Normal community. The Spring
Bloom Fine Arts Festival which takes place in March and the Sugar Creek Arts festival which
takes place in July. Art classes are also taught at the arts center for both adults and children.
For more information about the McLean County Arts Center or any information on the events or
services visit the arts center’s website at www.mcac.wildapricot.org
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