Gather your family and friends to make art! Join us in creating a community art project to celebrate Riverside’s 150th Birthday! Finished pieces will be displayed together at RAC's Town Hall exhibition. Stop by RAC to create your art and connect with others in our community.

While this is an Open House format, we encourage you to sign up for a slot so you can guarantee your spot and so you may choose the approximate arrival time best for you and your family. Of course if it is best for you to walk-in, we will do our best to serve all who show up. We can’t wait to create with you!

All are welcome! $10 registration per artwork created.

Saturday April 12 and April 19 from 10AM – 2PM

In the FlexSpace – the Blue Door at 32-30 E. Quincy St in Riverside and also upstairs in our Main Studio (Orange Door).

Celebrate our beautiful town by the river!

Come and create your own section of a "Community River" on a canvas we provide. On Saturday April 12 and again on Saturday April 19, RAC artists will guide your creations and provide supplies, found objects and other collage materials (and feel free to bring your own as well). The artwork you create will be (if you choose) part of an exhibition the Riverside Arts Center will install at the Riverside Town Hall, celebrating the community and the 150th Anniversary of Riverside. This Community Exhibition will be on view at Town Hall from May 12-July 30th.

This project is for ages 5 - 105. Art is for everyone.

Then… SAVE THE DATE for an artists reception (that’s YOU!) for this “Community River” Exhibition on Sunday, May 18th from 3-6pm!

These are samples created by artist Theresa Paris. We hope you will choose to create your river in any way that speaks to you with found objects or natural beauty we provide or that you wish to bring. Think of it as a collage that expresses who you are and what you wish for our community. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do I need to register ahead of time?
Registering in advance guarantees you space at your preferred time, and helps us plan for how many people to expect. But we are happy to welcome you at the door if there is space! We've divided the day into one-hour sign-up slots starting at 10AM. When you register, let us know your preferred time, how many people are in your party, and how many canvases you'd like to work on. If you are unable to register in advance, no worries. Please walk in on the day of and we will do our best to get you and your group in!

What does it cost?
Minimum of $10 per each artwork your group makes to cover supplies. If you have a group of 3 and you want to collaborate on one canvas that will be $10 to cover supplies. If you each want to create you own artwork, and there are 3 of you in your group, that will be $10 per canvas or $30 total. You may also choose to make an additional donation which we welcome to help cover the salaries for our teaching artists. Riverside Arts Center is a not-for-profit organization. Thank you for your support!

What age is best for this project?
We welcome creative makers of all ages: kids 5+, pre-teens, and teenagers as well as adults and seniors of any age. This project is appropriate for a variety of experience levels. Pieces can be simple or more complex and detailed if you choose. Your group can work collaboratively on one canvas, or create individually on different canvases. We'll be there to guide you toward making a work of art you’ll be proud to display! Our teachers are excited to meet you and explore your ideas.

Did I hear these artworks can be displayed?
Art pieces created during Creativity Fest will be included (if you choose) in a community exhibit at Riverside Town Hall in celebration of Riverside’s 150th birthday. Stop by Town Hall to see them between May 12 and July 30th. After the exhibition closes you may stop by Riverside Arts Center to pick up your artwork to take home.

Why will this be exhibited at Town Hall ?
Riverside Town Hall exhibitions feature work by area artists, celebrating the exchange of support and generosity between the community of Riverside and the Riverside Arts Center. On view at 27 Riverside Road from May 12 through July 30th, 2025. Please join us for a celebration of the artists and art during a reception on Sunday, May 18th from 3 to 6 pm. Light refreshments will be served at the Riverside Arts Center, a short block around the corner from the Town Hall.

RAC's MISSION:
The Riverside Arts Center strives to be the epicenter for contemporary art in the near-west suburbs of Chicago. Through exhibitions, education, artist studios, and public events, the RAC is an advocate for the vital role the arts play in nurturing community and amplifying diverse experiences, ideas, and backgrounds.