Who
• McLean County Arts Center (organizers of Sugar Creek Arts Festival)
• Doug Johnson, McLean County Arts Center executive director
What
• The 39th annual Sugar Creek Arts Festival
• Attracts over 20,000 visitors from across the country
• Fine arts as well as live music
When
• Festival begins Oct. 8th and ends on Oct. 9th
• From 9 A.M. to 4 P.M.
Where
• Uptown Bloomington-Normal, IL
• Along North St., Uptown circle, and E. Beaufort St.
Why
• To attract visitors to Normal, IL
• To provide a space to showcase and appreciate the arts
Benefits
• Promotes the appreciation, study, and practice of the arts in the community
• Attracts over 20,000 visitors from around the country, driving more consumers to local businesses.
Quote
• Johnson: “The community really does support the arts. They appreciate it for the quality of artwork we’re able to attract to the festival.”
Background on McLean County Arts Center
• Registered 501(c)3 nonprofit
• Serving the town of Normal, IL since 1888
• Executive Director Doug Johnson
Background on Sugar Creek Arts Festival
• Started in summer of 1983 as a way to drive traffic uptown while the students of ISU were away for the summer.
• Ranked as one of the nation’s top 100 art festivals
• Won the Pantagraph’s Readers’ Choice Awards for best community event two years in a row