Welcome to the Danville Art League website! My name is Kolleen Asaad, and I am the President of this wonderful organization housed in a beautiful building, formerly known as the Red Cross building. I am very proud of everything we have to offer, including
a wide variety of classes for members and nonmembers in various mediums, Late Bloomers classes (for those just starting to delve into art), and children's classes.

I would like to invite you to join the DAL. As a member you are entitled to many
benefits, including taking classes at a reduced fee, joining other members who are creating art during open studio times, and belonging to an organization that supports the visual arts and the community. The DAL provides opportunities for members to enter art contests, and display or sell their art at various places in the community. We are also working to create a system of referrals for commissioned art.

We provide newsletters to our members several times a year, which gives details about classes, member activities and various artistic opportunities. Free art lectures/lessons
are given at most monthly general meetings. These meetings are at the Art League building on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. You are welcome to come join us! You are also welcome to tour the DAL building, or view the current art on
display. We are open every Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

You don't have to create art in order to enjoy being part of the art community at the
Danville Art League! Come and see what all we have to offer!

1938-1947
The Danville Art League began in 1938 as an art club with 12 members. It was headed by Vern Keesling with University of Illinois Professor John Rauschenberger as an instructor. During World War II, painting activities were dropped. In 1946, classes for adults and children were reorganized under the sponsorship of the American Association of University Women. By 1947, the original group was revived as the Danville Art League.
1949-1955
Membership grew to 101 members in 1949. In 1955, the Art League held its first Art in the Park festival. This was the forerunner to the current Arts in the Park festival, which began in 1989 and includes the performing arts.
1963
Tthe Art League purchased property at 502 Sherman Street in 1963 and began holding classes there. Members displayed their works at Lakeview Memorial Hospital, Tuberculosis Hospital, Elks Club, Vermilion County Airport, local junior and high schools, C&EI coaches, and the then-new Vermilion County Museum.
1980
Membership had dropped to about 30 by 1980 due to few classes and programs and lack of community interest.
1991
The Art League was reorganized and restructured in 1991. It was led by Sharon Schmitz and a group who had been painting together for several years and participating in University of Illinois Extension classes. Membership was opened to a 60-mile radius of Danville. The Art League held its first Town and County Amateur Exhibition. By September 1991, membership had grown to 143 members. The League offered more classes, held informal art sessions, and began a Holiday Art Sale. During 1996, the League ran Gallery 126, where art was exhibited and sold in the basement of the old Sears building in downtown Danville.
1998
The League had approximately 300 members in 1998. Members exhibited their work at Provena United Samaritans Medical Center, First National Bank branches, Vermilion County Museum, and the Danville Art League Studio.
2010
The League raised more than $120,000 to purchase the vacant Red Cross building at the southwest corner of Franklin and Seminary streets. The purchase closed in late February. Cleanup, repairs and remodeling began in early March. The Art League settled into its new home in April. The League began offering a wider range of adult and children's classes, plus workshops and activities for families and seniors.

President: Kolleen Asaad
Vice President: Carol Garver
Recording Secretary: Mari Marno-Martin
Corresponding Secretary: Marilyn Boddy
Treasurer: Cydra Christensen

Building & Grounds: Kem Wiggins
Membership: Ellen O'Connell
Social Events: Becky Engel
Historian: Jane Parient
Publicity: Paul Groth
Web Site: Andrew Dudich
Newsletter: Sabrina Donnelly
Communication: Janet Gernand & Jane Parient

Budget & Finance: Charlie Dyer
Grant Writing:
Fund-raising: Julie Colby
Building Advisory: Jim & Roberta Williams

Town & Country Show: Marsha Russell and Becky Engel
Sharon Schmitz Regional Open Show: Roberta Williams
Arts in the Parks: Dorothy Fava        Java Hut Exhibits: Carol Reitz

All people are entitled to exposure in the arts. Our goals are to stimulate creativity and art appreciation through classes and/or informal sessions at the Art League studio or in the field, to appreciate and understand the accomplishment of others, to provide artist with places to exhibit their work and to act as a resource center for members and the public.