As Waukegan’s Advisory Arts Committee begins to determine how to spend about $450,000 of state grant to bring art to the city’s downtown, it will add a youthful component.
The two remaining spots on the 14-member committee, now consisting of seven city staff members and five individuals from the public, will be occupied by high school students. Student participation in city affairs is rare.
David Motley, the city’s public relations and communications director and a committee member, said young people already play a leading role with art in the community.
“This may be a new type of opening in the city,” Motley said. “We want to involve youth.”
The Arts Park, Art Wauk are led by young people in the community.
The Waukegan Planning and Zoning Department plans to appoint a pair of high school students who are city residents to give them a voice about ways to develop art in the central business district.
Rachel Cantin, an assistant city planner and a committee member overseeing the downtown art project, said the group met once so far. In that early summer meeting, members got an idea of their role.
“We took a walk around to get some ideas for public art downtown like murals and sculpture,” Cantin said. “We talked about how to reach out to the community.”
“We want to ensure a wide representation from the entire community,” Motley said.
Since young people are already involved as part of the downtown art scene, operating some of the six galleries to leading events, Cantin said recruiting high school students was a natural move.
“Youth involvement is important and high school students can bring a lot of ideas,” Cantin said
Any high school students, public or private, living within the Waukegan city limits are eligible to apply online at bit.ly/WaukArtApp. Cantin said being an accomplished artist is not a prerequisite.
“You just need to have a passion for the arts and the community,” Cantin said.
Lori Massimo, the fine arts coordinator for Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 and a member of the Waukegan Art Council, which is distinct from the committee, said she likes the idea.
“It’s important” Massimo said. “Students are at an age where they are developing their voice and their views of the world. Getting their input is important for the community.”
While there is no precise deadline, Cantin said the first two qualified high school students will become committee members. Once the committee is complete, the process of finding art for downtown Waukegan will intensify.
“It’s quite a process but a very exciting one,” Cantin said. “We’ll be collaborating with city departments for permanent locations for art. We’ll have to get permission from property owners if it’s not city land. The committee will develop a vision for the city.”
Calling downtown Waukegan the art capital of Lake County, Motley said art goes beyond murals and sculpture. There are two theaters, the Genesee and the Three Brothers, a block apart. There are six galleries.
Once renovation of the former Carnegie Library is complete and becomes the new home of the Waukegan History Museum, Motley said the Jack Benny Center in Bowen Park will also have a larger downtown presence.
With an Energy Transition Community Grant of just over $1 million, Cantin said about $450,000 will be spent for downtown public art. The rest will be used for lead pipe replacement. Some of the funds could be used to acquire or commission art.
