The Rockford Area Arts Council supports, promotes, and develops the arts for everyone in the Northern Illinois region.VISIONThe Rockford Area Arts Council is the lead organization for leveraging arts and culture as catalysts for community, economic and educational development.MISSIONSupports by regranting, providing outreach programs to over 120,000 people of all economic backgrounds and bringing the arts to underserved populationsPromotes the arts through events including ArtScene which promotes over 350 local artists and the State of the Arts and Mayor's Art Awards which recognize achievements in the arts over the past yearDevelops programs like ArtsPlace giving youth a positive experience, learning job skills through the arts. Since its first summer in 1995 over 1,000 "artist apprentices" have completed the programVALUESCollaboration Initiate and participate in collaborative efforts that are beneficial to a wide audienceEducation Advocating for excellence in arts education for all agesImpact Serving as a catalyst to increase awareness of the importance of the arts to the economy and quality of lifeInspiration Striving to provide the spark that inspires creativitySupport Giving of ourselves and of our resources to encourage the development of artistic expression