Local Arts Artist Craig Thomas of Cape Girardeau draws a pair of comedy tragedy masks on the south side of the Varsity Center for the Arts.
Local Arts There’s something for everyone here in Carbondale, especially if you’re a fan of the fine arts.
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f cultural diversity breeds art, then Carbondale is one of the most artsy communities you will ever find. Carbondale celebrates its diversity through theater, art, music, poetry and dance… just to name a few. Helping lead the way for a creative tomorrow is the non-profit local agency, Carbondale Community Arts. The organization’s mission is to “cultivate, nurture, harness and celebrate the creativity of our total community.” CCA’s endeavors include: the Southern Arts Fund, which offers grant support to artists and art organizations in Southern Illinois; ArtWorks in Schools, a program implemented to integrate fine art into public schools; the Corridor Gallery, which shows off local artists’ works in the Carbondale City Hall/Civic Center; and the All Southern High School Theater Project, which offers local high school students professional training and a chance to perform on the prestigious McLeod Summer Playhouse stage. Members of the CCA are instrumental in the progression of renovating the Varsity Center for the Arts, formerly a popular movie theater. In 2008, the city transferred ownership of the theater to the Jackson County Stage Company. The company and the CCA have worked hard toward their long-term goal of restoring the cultural institution. 23