| In 1995 Union Street Gallery is founded as a working Arts Incubator and Gallery.
In 1998 Studio Artists begin developing programs for exhibitions. The scope of the Gallery increases with the addition of national juried arts exhibitions.
2000 Union Street Gallery begins providing docent led free school field trips to augment the missing visual arts in the schools of immediate surrounding schools. Union Street Gallery serves an average of 1000 school-aged children annually. Many of the Studio Artists also participate in programs that bring art and artists to the elementary schools for a day of participation and demonstrations. Numerous higher education facilities instructors use the Gallery to enhance their students understanding of contemporary art & artists by hosting field trips and presenting assignments to be completed by visiting the Gallery.
November 2005 the Gallery moves from 1655 Union Avenue, Chicago Heights to a temporary exhibit space at Olympia Plaza, Chicago Heights. The doors to the new Union Street Gallery at 1527 Otto Boulevard, Chicago Heights open on September 20, 2006. The Gallery is located on Level I & II, art studios are located thoughout Level I, II, and III.
2006 the Gallery begins developing, promoting and administering special activities that relate the current exhibitions. Programming is focused on intentionally bringing to the gallery events rich in diversity of race, age, gender, arts and engagement from the diverse community.
January 2006 Friends of the Gallery began as an open forum to the community to express their vision for the Gallery as a community art resource. From this initial group activity a Friend Coordinator emerged. The Coordinator now recruits, instructs, and schedules volunteers as greeters, docents, and as administrative and activity support for the gallery.
Collaborative Arts Guild membership opens March 2007. Composed of member artists living within a reasonable commute radius of Chicago Heights and are professional or emerging artists. The Guild purpose is to serve the exhibit and arts community needs of artists that do not rent studios at USG and to foster growth and expand the network and influence of USG. |
