Springfield Art Association

Specialties

The Springfield Art Association (SAA) a community based, non-​profit organization*, promotes and supports the visual arts, provides art education opportunities for the greater Springfield area, and preserves and interprets historic Edwards Place and the collections of the SAA.

— Offers community art classes and summer art camp as well as scholarships for artists of all ages

— Provides Art Outreach, an art appreciation program for area schools which reaches 8,000 students monthly

— Presents exhibitions of work by recognixed artists in our Gallery of Art

— Maintains and provides public tours of Edwards Place, the oldest house in Springfield, IL

— Makes available to the public more than 3,000 art volumes and thought-​provoking lectures through the Michael Victor II Art Library

— Serve more 98,000 people with high-​quality art and community outreach programs and events such as the Film Festival, the Fine Art Fair Roasted: Hot Pots and Pork, and Paint the Streets.

History

Established in 1913.

The Springfield «Amateur Art Study Club» was formed in 1909 by eight local women who aspired to create an art atmosphere in Springfield, to foster technical development of local artists. By 1913 its membership had grown to nearly one hundred people, and the need for a permanent place to meet and work became apparent leading to the offer of the grand Italianate mansion known as Edwards Place. After the 1937 construction of a «fire proof» gallery was added on the west side of the house, plans were laid to restore the parlors of Edwards Place to a 19^th century appearance. In the 1949, the Condell Studio of Art was completed and classes moved out of Edwards Place. A ceramics addition was made to the Condell Studio in 1963. Devera and Benjamin Victor created the Michael Victor II Art Library in 1964 in memory of their son. The gallery was expanded in 1968. The ceramics lab was moved to an annex in 1991 and the metals lab was added in its place to establish our current campus.

Meet the Manager

Erin S.

Manager

As the Education Coordinator for the Springfield Art Association, I manage the School of Art’s studios and classes, Art Outreach {an educational portfolio presentation resource for area schools and student programs}, and the Event Chair for Roasted: Hot Pots and Pork {a raku event} and Paint the Street {a street painting festival}.

Springfield Art Association’s Executive Director, Betsy Dollar