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The commissioners of the Kankakee Valley Park District took an art lesson during Monday’s board meeting.
Paint brushes nor an easel were required.
Three members of Kankakee Arts CoLAB presented a proposal for the organization to provide the district with art programs in exchange for use of the quarry house at Bird Park.
Kankakee Arts CoLAB, a not-for-profit organization, was founded in June 2024, founder and board member Mary LeRoy said during her presentation.
They are in search of more room than they have at their current location in The Majestic in the 100 block of North Schuyler Avenue.
The space is used for classes as well as storage for supplies.
Their lease is up at the end of April when asked about their current location.
“Sharing a meal creates community,” LeRoy said. “Gathering at an art table is a wonderful community experience. This will be a perfect partnership.”
The classes would be for all ages and include traditional art.
“We would really love to do this with you,” LeRoy said. “The park district has a rich history of allowing people together and allowing them to experience things that they don’t get to do in other places. We really value your name.”
The board agreed to further discussions.
There would also be music classes and performances in a coffee house-type setting.
The future vision for Kankakee Arts CoLAB is a community art and music space that aims to transform an underutilized park district building into a vibrant hub for creativity connection and cultural enrichment, according to the organization’s proposal.
CoLAB board members Rhonda Love and April VanHeemst also attended Monday’s meeting.
Kankakee Arts CoLAB members first discussed their proposal with the KVPD staff in December, Executive Director Ross Bruni explained to the trustees before the presentation, which was used to inform the board and get their insight to such programming.
“It was a meeting you leave with a sense of positivity,” Bruni said of the December meeting.
Bruni said he wanted to share the conversation the staff has had with the organization.
“This is an opportunity for us to finally get some programming off the ground with very enthusiastic people. They would be helping us to almost have a turnkey programming line for all ages,” Bruni said.
Commissioner Jimmy Frey said it would be a great addition.
“I cannot understate the need for something of this nature because I play multiple folk instruments,” Frey said. “I have five of them. The only place I could go [for lessons] is Frankfort. There is definitely a need for that.”
Frey said he is a videographer, does music production and is a painter and sculptor.
“There is a need for these types of services to be offered in Kankakee,” Frey said. ”There is a need primarily to get youth engaged in these sorts of activities, so we have an alternative to sports programming.
“There is a huge population that is craving for guidance with their creativity, and I think this partnership would give us a great opportunity.”
Love talked about her son who will graduate from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago later this year.
“He really didn’t have that kind of thing while he was here at that time,” Love said.
“We’re just trying to give kids with these interests a space to be and a place to grow. I think sports are great. Those spaces are available and those kids are nurtured in this community. We want to make sure the kids interested in arts have a space and a place to grow as well,” Love said.