Arts council to open collective gallery downtown

The council has signed a one-year lease with building owner Nick Sibley for 1,700 square feet, encompassing the first floor and basement of the 411 S. Campbell Ave. building.

The gallery – which has not been named – should open by Sept. 5, according to SRAC Executive Director Sandra CH Smith.

The space will be divided into 12 to 14 areas for artists to work and display their art.

“We decided that we needed to have a space to feature local art,” Smith said. “We wanted to turn Springfield into Art Town USA.”

Artists will pay a membership fee and a commission on artwork sold, Smith said, and they will be responsible for maintaining their space. Members will rotate out yearly.

Smith is marketing the concept to artists, and she said interested applicants will submit samples of their work and go before a jury.

Corner Printing – which operated at the building for 20 years – closed in 2005 and sold the property to Sibley, who also owns property across the street at 412 and 416 S. Campbell Ave.

This story originally appeared in SBJ’s June 2 free e-news Daily Update. Click here to register.