Founded in 1967 the Racine Arts Council (RAC) is a private, nonprofit organization whose function is to coordinate and promote Racine area arts programs. RAC advocates for decisions and legislation by local, state and federal authorities that will favor arts and arts education. RAC acts as a catalyst for community development, aiding and initiating projects that involve arts and enrich our community.
The Racine Arts Council is dependent on the financial support of community members...like you. We are not a government agency. When you become a RAC member, our newsletter with a calendar listing of art events will be mailed to you. Although volunteers are always welcome, there are no obligations other than feeling a sense of satisfaction that comes from helping. Please see the Membership area of this web site for more information.
The Racine Arts Council Gallery of Art is home to the Ozella’s Underground Railroad Quilt Exhibit. There are also exhibits of local artist that change monthly.
L-I-N-K
The RAC administers a musical instrument donation program for young people in the community. The program, L-I-N-K (Lonely Instruments Need Kids) seeks donations of used instruments in good playing condition to be given to children who demonstrate an interest in music and might not otherwise have an opportunity to play. If you have a musical instrument (violins, violas, cellos, clarinets, flutes, saxophones, trumpets & trombones are especially needed) that you would like to donate, please call 262-635-0261 to help brighten a child's future.
Sandcastles, a festival of creating, is held at the beautiful lakefront the second Sunday in August at Samuel Myers Park. This is a festival for all ages; highlighted by a sand castle building competition with kids activities, live music, food and lots of fun.
Started in 1995 Main Gallery is modeled after the nationally acclaimed Gallery 37 in Chicago. Main Gallery is a summer program that provides meaningful employment in the arts for young people (14-19) of Racine. The young artist work in a variety of media to create pieces of art that will be auctioned off at Chair-i-ties which is held on the first Saturday in August. Proceeds from Chair-i-ties go back into the MG program for the following summer.
This popular event is held once a year at the RAC office. A group of artist are asked to draw or paint the subject matter of their choosing for an hour while attendees nibble on hors d’oeuvres, sip wine and listen to live jazz music as they can watch the artists create. The finished pieces of art are then matted and auctioned off in a live auction with the proceeds going to the RAC. A silent auction is also going on.
Inmates from the Racine Youthful Offenders Correctional Facility take drawing and painting class every Friday morning from artist Lorna Hennig, Jerrold Belland and Lance Raichert. The finished pieces are auctioned off with the proceeds going to a local charity.
