Stay Craftinated! is back as an after school program in 2024! Kids of all ages are welcomed to join us on the last Thursday of each month from 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM. Art Educator, Kelly Downes, will lead most of these classes but keep your eyes peeled for exciting guest teachers!

Let’s boogie!

In celebration of Autism Awareness Month, we are bringing the Spectrum Record Lounge crew back to the gallery to party! We will be inviting our friends from The Tailor Institute, Blue Sky Community Services, and University Autism Center to enjoy refreshments, art, music, and dancing! We will have limited tickets available for the general public as well!

Get your tickets today!

Come view the eclipse with us at South Side Farms! Enjoy live music, collaborative art, and so much more. We can’t wait to come together as a community and experience this once in a lifetime event! More details are coming soon but you can preorder your tickets now!

Join us as we celebrate the weekend before April 8th with the Constellation Crawl Eclipse Kick-Off!

The Unitum 573 constellation has been discovered just in time for the Great American Eclipse! The stars of the constellation include,

1. South Side Farms
2. May Greene
3. Riverside Pottery Studio
4. The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri
5. Ebb & Flow Fermentations
6. Spectrum Record Lounge
7. Scout Hall

Workshops & Openings

Star 1: South Side Farms
900 S West End Blvd
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM (Invitation Only)

Star 2: May Greene
1000 Ranney Ave
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Constellation Crawl
You may check out these individual events (some subject to sell out), OR purchase a very limited VIP bracelet for $25.00 through The Arts Council to guarantee you can make it to EVERY event you wish to attend! So check out the Constellation Crawl below,

Star 3: Riverside Pottery Studio
121 S Main St
Ticket Price TBA
2:00 PM: Demonstration by Rob Lorenz on the throwing and construction of Korean moon jars.
2:30 - 4:00 PM: Pottery Wheel Experience
Participants will be able to try their hand (with assistance) at creating their own art on the pottery wheel. For those not interested in throwing, there will also be small hand built activities to make mementos of the event.

Star 4: The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri
16 B N Spanish St
Tickets: $10 advanced/$15 at doors (if available)
Doors 4:00 PM
Event 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
During an eclipse, our perception of light is temporarily skewed. What should be day seems like night and we feel as though we are in an alternate reality. Play with light in relation to art during the Arts Council’s "Red Light Paint Night"! Gallery lighting will be altered to be red. With no other light source, artists won't be able to discern what colors are on their paint palettes!

Enjoy live music and light refreshments.
Friends at Gorgeousware Boutique will also be creating custom eclipse tees in studio for a T-Shirt Takeout experience.

Star 5: Ebb & Flow Fermentations
11 S Spanish St
Meet the Artist 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM, Live Music 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Star 6: Spectrum Record Lounge
113 Broadway St
Ticket Prices TBA
Doors 7:00 PM,
Event 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Love a little metal music after dinner? Then mark your calendar for the FISTER and DayWaster Block Out The Sun show!

Star 7: Scout Hall
420 Broadway St
Doors 7:00 PM
Event 8:00 PM - 10:30 PM
Tickets: $12 advanced/$15 at doors (if available)
FEEL is an independent Rock band from St. Louis known for their dynamic sound that pays homage to the Classic Rock era while adding a modern twist. With influences ranging from 70’s British Rock to Laurel Canyon to mid-century jazz, FEEL has garnered attention for their high-energy performances and captivating songwriting.

The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri and South Side Farms, in collaboration with Afrocentric Arts LLC, would like to extend an invitation to the opening reception of Reflections. This exhibition includes artists from the 5-state region expressing the black experience through the eyes of the artist. From the cosmological origins of ancient Africa to the transcendence of black expression in the 21st century, this show asked artists to mine the interior landscape of their black experience in personal, cultural, and universal contexts.  This will also mark a return of visual arts experiences to the neighborhood, which boasts a history rich in the African American tradition. The show will take place at a former school, May Greene,  which was the educational foundation of many residents of the area, and has since been reclaimed by the South Side Farms non-profit foundation.

Come celebrate the Everyone Belongs Under the Sun exhibition opening reception! This exhibition will feature artwork that considers how cosmic events impact cultural change, and our place in the universe in personal, regional, national, and international regards. This exhibition will be a part of eclipse events taking place across the City of Cape Girardeau, under the direction of the Arts Council. Its intent is to use the power of this cosmic event to create cultural advancement in rural communities along the path.

The Visual Arts Cooperative Gallery will have all new artwork on display.

We will be celebrating Autism Awareness Month in the Micro Galleries. Work by students from the Blue Sky Community Services art classes will be on display.

These exhibitions run from April 5th - 27th, 2024

Join us right before the April First Friday with the Arts opening reception with Jesse Steele!

“Being a life long learner is essential to being a composer, or artist of any type. In this program, you will hear me perform a new original sonata for guitar inspired by the up coming eclipse. I will talk about my process in composing this new work, in a relatively short time frame, as well as learning about the sonata musical form in general and ways to play with traditional forms to help and inform modern composition. Other pieces and excerpts, both original and contemporary, will also be looked at shortly to explore these ideas both on and off the guitar. In exploring these ideas we will also touch on some challenges and tricks to composing for the guitar.”

Our Director and Gallery Manager will be off to Jefferson City to attend Fine Arts Education Day! They will be delivering award winning artwork from the Children’s Arts Festival to Senators and Representatives.

The gallery will be attended by an Arts Council Board Member. If there are any schedule changes, we will update our calendar and social media pages.

Stay Craftinated! is back as a free after school program in 2024! Kids of all ages are welcomed to join us on the last Thursday of each month from 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM.

During the month of March, students will be making signs in preparation for the Great American Eclipse! Lead by Art Educator, Kelly Downes, the class will create unique signs for each business involved in the eclipse initiative Everyone Belongs Under the Sun.

Old Matter, New Myths Opening Reception
Stephen Signa-Aviles is an artist and educator living in Urbana, IL where he is Assistant Professor of 3D Practice at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His practice is rooted in object-oriented collage; signaling the critical power inherent in hybridization. See his work in the AC SEMO Gallery!

All new works will be displayed in the Visual Arts Cooperative Gallery.
Award winning artwork from the Children’s Arts Festival will be on extended display in our Micro Galleries.

These exhibitions run from March 1st - 30th, 2024

Join us for an artist lecture with Stephen Signa-Aviles! Stephen is an artist and educator living in Urbana, IL where he is Assistant Professor of 3D Practice at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His practice is rooted in object-oriented collage; signaling the critical power inherent in hybridization. The opening reception of his exhibition Old Matter, New Myths will follow directly after the talk.

Art Madness voting begins for our ooh ART billboard competition in collaboration with DSW Signs. A bracket will be constructed at random and it is up to the public to vote during each round. You will be able to vote on Facebook, Instagram, and our webpage. Help us crown a winner who will have their artwork featured on a billboard for a full year!

Voting takes place every other day starting at 11:00 PM and stays open for 36 hours.

Stay Craftinated! is back as an after school program in 2024! Kids of all ages are welcomed to join us on the last Thursday of each month from 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM. Art Educator, Kelly Downes, will lead most of these classes but keep your eyes peeled for exciting guest teachers!

During February’s programs, students will help us decorate Little Art SuppLybraries and Little Food Pantries built by local artists. These will be stationed throughout Cape and unveiled before the Great American Eclipse in April!

Join us at Scout Hall for this year’s Poetry Out Loud competition!

The most colorful exhibition of the year has finally arrived! Join us during First Friday with the Arts as we celebrate local art educators and student artists.

Kerry Mulvania Hirth will be in the gallery speaking about her exhibition, Sweet With All Music. She will be how synesthesia helps her create her artwork, how she partnered with a women’s art co-op in Morocco, and more! This will be a great Learning Things Is Cool lecture for audience questions so don’t miss it!

This FREE program encourages kids to create with us! Director Kelly Downes will continue to help the students create their own city using various artistic techniques. Students are challenged to think about what a “perfect community” is in their eyes and use that as inspiration while they build. The revamped Stay Craftinated! program is all about teamwork, sustainability, and creativity .

Parents are welcomed in the Visual Arts Cooperative Gallery with free coffee and the opportunity to relax during the program!

Join us this month for a very special edition of Learning Things Is Cool ! We will be talking with local artist, gardener, yoga teacher, and all around amazing woman, Helen Towner. She has been monumental to both the Arts Council and the entire Cape Girardeau community for many years!

Helen was awarded the very prestigious Otto F. Dingeldein Award in 2022. During this program she will explain why this award is such an honor in the arts and give us a brief history lesson on the oldest Arts Council of Missouri. Which, in case you didn't know, is us!We can't wait to talk with Helen and hear all of her incredible stories.

This FREE program encourages kids to create with us! Director Kelly Downes will continue to help the students create their own city using various artistic techniques. Students are challenged to think about what a “perfect community” is in their eyes and use that as inspiration while they build. The revamped Stay Craftinated! program is all about teamwork, sustainability, and creativity .

Parents are welcomed in the Visual Arts Cooperative Gallery with free coffee and the opportunity to relax during the program!

Visual Arts Cooperative Two-Gallery Exhibition

The Visual Arts Cooperative Committee is a collaborative of visual artists from the Southeast Missouri Region, which also operates as a committee on the board of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri. As a cooperative, artists are responsible for more than submitting work on a monthly basis – they are members of teams that install artwork, greet guests at opening receptions, volunteer at major events, and host weekly workshops like Drawing Group. Each month, these artists have new work available for sale in the Visual Arts Cooperative Gallery. The VAC artists also have an "Art in Miniature" display where visitors are able to purchase smaller works, such as greeting cards or handmade jewelry.

This May, the Visual Arts Cooperative will be showing in the AC SEMO and VAC Gallery. This annual dual gallery show is a true celebration of the wonderful regional artists involved in this cooperative.

May 5th- May 27th, 2023

Current Visual Arts Cooperative Members: Brian Alworth, Jonathon Briley, Loria Chaddon, Scott Chaddon, Sarah Cochrane, Taylor Crowe, Anita Dickerson, Kelly Downes, Paula Fetherston, Anne Foust, Terry Godwin, Don Greenwood, Clay Guthrie, Joni Hand, Patricia Holloway, Carol Horst, Thomas Karraker, Susan Koen, Linda Lovewell, Robert McCool, Barbi Myres, Marty Riley, Lynn Robey, Brenda Seyer, Thomas Shaner, Mike Tenholder, Helen Towner, Robert Towner, Abby Williams, Juanita Rapp Wyman

On the last Tuesday of every month we will be hosting an artist lecture in the space. You never know what you might learn! From fiddle playing to oil painting to financial responsibility as an artist, we’ve got you covered!

Stay tuned for more information on April’s speaker.

Join us for our third annual Afternoon Tea-Light!

Wear your Saturday best for an event not to be missed!

Enjoy crepe flights by Crepe Girardeau with the option of bottomless mimosas.

Share the latest gossip at your table as you are serenaded by the students of the Southeast Missouri State Music Academy.

MORE INFO
The event is $40 per seat (with a discounted Arts Council member option) or $175 per table of six. Follow the ticket link in this event page to purchase.

We will have two seatings for this pinkies up event.

Morning seating: 10 am - 12 pm featuring the SEMO Music Academy Guitar Ensemble
Afternoon seating: 1 pm - 3 pm featuring the SEMO Music Academy Youth Orchestra

Join us for our third annual Afternoon Tea-Light!

Wear your Saturday best for an event not to be missed!

Enjoy crepe flights by Crepe Girardeau with the option of bottomless mimosas.

Share the latest gossip at your table as you are serenaded by the students of the Southeast Missouri State Music Academy.

MORE INFO
The event is $40 per seat (with a discounted Arts Council member option) or $175 per table of six. Follow the ticket link in this event page to purchase.

We will have two seatings for this pinkies up event.

Morning seating: 10 am - 12 pm featuring the SEMO Music Academy Guitar Ensemble
Afternoon seating: 1 pm - 3 pm featuring the SEMO Music Academy Youth Orchestra

Purchase tickets here!

Join us for our first ever Psychedelic Record Party 0n 4/20/23 from 5 - 7 PM! Spectrum Record Lounge will be spinning funky records so dust off your dancing shoes! We'll be movin' and groovin' in the gallery while Organic Remedies answers all of your 4/20 questions! Plus we'll be hosting a costume contest so channel your inner psychedelic superhero and go all out! There will be light refreshments and we have some other surprises up our sleeve so don't miss out on this fun new event!

All proceeds from ticket sales will go towards programming in our Collab Lab. The Collab Lab is a sensory inclusive classroom where we host various youth programs and events.

Organic Remedies
Spectrum Record Lounge

Afterparty at Spectrum Record Lounge at 7 PM! FREE ADMISSION to see live music by Andy Moondog!

Andy Moondog

This new FREE program will encourage kids to create with us! Whether we have an instructor or simply have open creativity time, this program will inspire kids to try something new and have fun.

Parents will be welcomed in the newly revamped Visual Arts Cooperative Gallery with free coffee and the opportunity to relax!

Our April 15th program will be very exciting! Stay Craftinated! is about to be bigger and better than ever! Think construction, collaboration, installation, imagination…

Stay tuned for more info!

Join us for the opening reception of the 10th Annual Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition! On Thursday, April 13th, 2023 we will celebrate the unveiling of this year's chosen sculptures at the Vasterling Suites square on the corner of Fountain and Broadway. Meet the artists and enjoy live music before heading down the Broadway Corridor to see all the sculptures!

The location of the exhibition spans the Broadway Corridor, a nine-block span in downtown Cape Girardeau, Missouri. This area is home to locally owned businesses that bring flavor and matchless experiences. By hosting the Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition on Broadway, the Committee hopes to achieve two primary goals: increase the number of arts-related activities within the region and provide an additional revitalization strategy for downtown Cape Girardeau.

The 2023 Cape Girardeau Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition was juried by Tom Stancliffe, with input from the Public Art Committee; a group that consists of representatives from the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, Old Town Cape, City of Cape Girardeau, Chris Wubbena, a professor of Sculpture at Southeast Missouri State University, and Annie Criddle of Dill Pollard. The mission of the Public Art Committee is focused on the inclusion of more art in public spaces around Cape Girardeau. It began as an initiative, and developed into a forum for public art policy, giving a framework to managing and increasing public art in Cape Girardeau.

The six artists selected for the exhibition are:

Nathan Pierce - Cape Girardeau, MO
Chris Wubbena - Cape Girardeau, MO
Mike Baur - West Chicago, IL
Matt Moyer - Colombia, MO
Andrew Arvanetes - Carol Stream, IL
Tim Jorgensen - Chicago, Illinois

The sculptures of these six artists will be on display until April of 2024.

Fiona Phillips currently resides in California, so having her send her work to the gallery is a tremendous opportunity for patrons of the arts in SEMO. Fiona is a contemporary artist whose studio practice includes painting, photography, installation, fibers, and drawing.

"I am concerned with the stresses of contemporary society on the individual, especially women. I am interested in how today’s “enlightened” culture is still shaped by the past. II embrace the yoking of concept with mark-making; the covering and uncovering of surfaces. I believe in the power of paint".

Please join us during the opening reception to welcome Fiona! She will be giving an artist talk at 6:00 PM that evening.

Light refreshments and wine will be served. The Visual Arts Cooperative Gallery will have new works available for purchase and the Micro Galleries will feature work by Mollie Bartlett and Emma Dace.

The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri is partnering with Spectrum Record Lounge to celebrate Autism Awareness Month! We are launching our monthlong celebration on Sunday, April 2nd in honor of Autism Awareness Day but the celebration won’t end until Sunday, April 30th!

The Arts Council and Spectrum will be participating in a fun and friendly competition throughout the month of April. The stakes are high as we collect donations in our spaces! The Arts Council will be collecting donations for the Gallery of Inspiration while Spectrum will be collecting donations for the Tailor Institute.* We need your help gathering cash donations for a great cause and determining who the winner will be!

Here’s the fun part…
Kelly and Lauren of the Arts Council and Travis and Parker of Spectrum have agreed on “punishments” for whoever collects less money.

If the Arts Council wins, Travis and Parker must listen to two Dave Matthews Band albums one day while working together!
If Spectrum wins, Kelly and Lauren must wear fake mustaches for a whole week and participate in the t-shirt challenge**

So come drop some dollars in our donation jar to help us win!

*Visit the website of each organization
The Tailor Institute
The Gallery of Inspiration

**Travis and Parker are participating in a 365 day t-shirt challenge. Travis must wear a different shirt every single day while Parker has to wear the same shirt every single day for a full year. We will participate in a much shortened weeklong version of this challenge!

Pick-up student artwork and get a little pampered for all of your hard work…with coffee, donuts, and a little “to-go” gift as a thank you.

Join us as we celebrate the visual, performing, and literary arts in our regions. We will celebrate the work of students and teachers alike in this beloved show, which sends student artwork to Fine Arts Education Day at the Capitol Rotunda in Jefferson City, hangs work in City Hall, and becomes part of a traveling exhibition for local sponsors.