Buchanan Center for the Arts

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Buchanan Center for the Arts The Buchanan Center for the Arts is a community space where creativity is learned and loved. Cite sources when sharing information with others.
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The Buchanan Center for the Arts provides annual exhibitions, fine arts and performance classes, and serves the area as a special events venue. The BCA is designated by the Illinois Arts Council Agency to serve as the local arts agency for Warren County. Individuals with disabilities who would like to attend events or classes, please contact the BCA regarding any special accommodation needs. It is requested that individuals requiring auxiliary aids such as sign language interpreters and alternative format materials notify the BCA at least seven working days in advance. Every reasonable effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations in an effective and timely manner. Our mission: We enrich lives and promote enjoyment of the arts by offering opportunities for creative and diverse artistic experiences. The Buchanan Center for the Arts loves to have you on our social media platforms, but please observe these simple conduct rules:

Respectful communication: This includes polite language and avoidance of personal attacks, insults or harassment. Please do not use discriminatory or offensive language based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, etc. Accuracy and truthfulness: Correct any misinformation or errors promptly, and please do not spread rumors or false information. Privacy considerations: Please do not share personal information about yourself or others without their consent. Be cautious about posting images or videos that could compromise someone’s privacy. An understanding of intellectual property: Respect copyright laws and do not post content without permission from the copyright holder. Responsible posting: Do not engage in cyberbullying or online stalking. Do not post content that is sexually explicit, violent, or disturbing. Report any violations of this code to the BCA platform administrator. Accountability: Understand that you are responsible for the content you post. Be aware that your posts may be publicly visible and can have consequences. General Guidelines: Please identify yourself with your real name and affiliation when appropriate. Be mindful of the community standards and guidelines of the platform. Prohibited Content: Hate speech or discriminatory remarks. Threats or intimidation. Personal attacks or harassment. Spam or unsolicited commercial content. Non-consensual sharing of private information. Reporting Violations: If you see content that violates this code of conduct, report it immediately to the BCA platform administrator.

Congratulations to our Regional Arts Partner Grant Recipients!The Buchanan Center for the Arts is thrilled to announce t...
10/22/2026

Congratulations to our Regional Arts Partner Grant Recipients!
The Buchanan Center for the Arts is thrilled to announce the recipients of the Illinois Arts Council and Buchanan Center for the Arts Regional Arts Partner (RAP) Grant Awards!

Please join us in celebrating these organizations and the exciting arts experiences they will bring to our communities!

2026 Grant Recipients & Projects:

Dancers' Studio – The Nutcracker Ballet 2026
Immaculate Conception School – Spring Musical 2027
Monmouth Civic Orchestra – Strength Through Diversity
Monmouth College Theatre Department – Once Upon a Mattress Musical Theatre Production
Buchanan Community Chorus – 38th BCC Season
United Way of West Central Illinois– Marquee Film and Arts Festival, Aledo

These projects celebrate the creativity, talent, and dedication that make the arts such an important part of our region.
A special thank you to the Illinois Arts Council for making this grant program possible and supporting BCA's mission to expand access to meaningful arts experiences throughout our three-county service area.

Congratulations to all our recipients! We can't wait to share more about these projects as they come to life!

SHOUTING CONGRATULATIONS to art professor, arts advocate, and guest instructor of the BCA Janis Mars Wunderlich Minor on...
10/15/2026

SHOUTING CONGRATULATIONS to art professor, arts advocate, and guest instructor of the BCA Janis Mars Wunderlich Minor on receiving the Hatch Academic Excellence Award for Distinguished Teaching this past weekend! A well-deserved award.

Janis is a driving force in this community, keeping the arts in the forefront and we could not be more thankful! At the awards ceremony, Wunderlich remarked, “It’s easy to be a good teacher when you’ve got clay as your partner. Working with clay teaches real-life experiences in failure, humility, patience, problem solving and resilience.”

Art Director Rebecca Quick, pictured with 2026 Hatch Academic Excellence Award recipient Janis Mars Wunderlich Minor and Stacy Lotz, the 2020 award recipient.

The Buchanan Center for the Arts wants to thank the actors, actresses, and audience members for their participation in t...
10/15/2026

The Buchanan Center for the Arts wants to thank the actors, actresses, and audience members for their participation in this year's Cemetery Walk. Huge shout out to Tom Best, Mary Osborne, Jeff Rankin for all the efforts behind the scenes! We look forward to this event next year.

TICKET SALES ARE LIVE FOR TASTE OF THE ARTS!Join us for a night of music, laughter, and audience participation! Saturday...
10/15/2026

TICKET SALES ARE LIVE FOR TASTE OF THE ARTS!

Join us for a night of music, laughter, and audience participation! Saturday, November 14, doors open at 6pm and music starts at 7pm. Howl at the Moon's dueling pianists take your song requests and turn them into an interactive, high-energy show. Want to hear your favorite song? Make a cash donation to submit your request! 100% of all song-request donations go directly back to the Buchanan Center for the Arts in support of the arts in our community.

Tickets on sale through November 7, so get them before the first note plays!

Click the link below to purchase tickets or scan the QR Code.
https://bcaarts.org/taste-of-the-arts

SAVE THE DATE!Taste of the Arts is quickly approaching! This is an event you won't want to miss. Join the Buchanan Cente...
10/13/2026

SAVE THE DATE!
Taste of the Arts is quickly approaching! This is an event you won't want to miss. Join the Buchanan Center for the Arts Saturday, November 14 from 6-9pm for an evening of music, fun, and festivities as we support the arts in our community.

As BCA gets into the spooky season, join Christel Thompson in the upcoming classes she will be teaching for us 1-3 pm Oc...
10/06/2026

As BCA gets into the spooky season, join Christel Thompson in the upcoming classes she will be teaching for us 1-3 pm October 17 at Rumors in Kirkwood or 1-3pm October 24 at Abner's in Monmouth. Both classes will be using mixed media and collage methods to create curiosity boxes. Take old things and make new treasures! No prior experience necessary. Bring a few small personal items or keepsakes to make your piece uniquely yours. Materials will be provided. Class fee is $10 for members of the BCA and $20 for non-members.

Christel Thompson is a mixed-media artist born and raised in the Midwest, where her first artistic experience was throwing mud pies on the back of a white farmhouse as a child. From that moment, her experimental nature in art began to flourish. She is based out of both California and Illinois, exhibiting her work in galleries in both states.

She is a two-time Emmy winner for Outstanding Graphic Design and is a member of the Buchanan Center for the Arts. She has been involved with Collage Artist’s of America (CAA) and the Los Angeles Experimental Artists Group.

Her media of choice is “anything she can experiment with,” from mixed media, to assemblage, to alternative photography processes, sculpture, and more. She is inspired by dreams, life’s stories, exploring in nature, and music.

Images below are samples of Christel Thompson's work.

Mary Osborne and Tom Best have created their third Cemetery Walk! Join us this Wednesday, October 7 at 5:30pm at the Mun...
10/06/2026

Mary Osborne and Tom Best have created their third Cemetery Walk! Join us this Wednesday, October 7 at 5:30pm at the Municipal Cemetery in Monmouth. There will be 12 actors portraying people from Monmouth's past. If you would like to attend, please call the Buchanan Center for the Arts at (309) 734-3033. Tickets are $10 for BCA non-members and FREE for BCA members.

We want to let everyone know that the Security Savings Bank Annual Amateur Photography Show will not be held this year d...
10/02/2026

We want to let everyone know that the Security Savings Bank Annual Amateur Photography Show will not be held this year due to BCA wrapping up the second-floor building renovation.
We’re disappointed that we won’t be able to showcase the incredible work of local photographers this year, but we look forward to welcoming all photographers back when we host the show next year AND on two floors of gallery space!
We are grateful for the ongoing support of Security Savings Bank and thank you for understanding.

Action shots from this past weekend class at the Library in Aledo! Participants left with fun, fall themed kinusaiga wor...
10/02/2026

Action shots from this past weekend class at the Library in Aledo! Participants left with fun, fall themed kinusaiga works. Thank you, Edwards River Public Library, for hosting us in your space and continuing to spread art to our tri-county region.

Call and leave us a message at 309-734-3033! We would be happy to sign you up for any of these events!
10/01/2026

Call and leave us a message at 309-734-3033! We would be happy to sign you up for any of these events!

Address

64 Public Square
Monmouth, IL
61462

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 2pm

Telephone

(309) 734-3033

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