Whisper & Shout: Open Mic for Poetry

Thursday, November 21, 2024 ~ 8:00-10:00pm

Every 1st & 3rd Thursday

BUY TICKETS in Advance Online at 309tix: $8-nonmembers, $5-members, $3-poets + fees (until 6pm day of event). Tickets at the door: $12-nonmembers, $9-members, $5-poets. Tickets at door are sold only if max capacity is not reached.

Featured Poet: Tiara Nicole - Spoken word artist and author Tiara Nicole of Kansas City, Missouri was Kansas City's People Choice Award winner for Best Spoken Word Artist in 2021. She is an author of two books: “Tell My Son, ‘Thank You’” (a collection of poems she has performed on stage) and “Bittersweet 16 Lost Soul….Naive Girl” (a project she put together after experiencing sexual assault). When Tiara is not performing, she works as a Program Manager for Poetry for Personal Power. As an advocate for mental health Tiara believes that art in its many facets can change the world and the way mental health recovery viewed. Learn more at Tiara Nicole - Poet-Host-Entertainer (business.site)

Live at the Five Spot: ZA Funk! (soul, funk, blues)

Friday, November 22, 2024 ~ 6:30-9:30pm 

Every 2nd & 4th Fridays

BUY TICKETS in Advance Online at 309tix: $8-members, $12-nonmembers + fees

(until 5:00pm the day of event) Tickets at the door*: $12-Members, $16-nonmembers. 

ZA Funk! is the melding of old and new to create a high energy, refresh on the music that

has kept feet tapping and people dancing for generations. With roots in blues, rock, soul, funk, and gospel, ZA Funk! reaches the souls of the masses.

Exhibits

Terri Shockency: Double Entendre

November 1 - December 20 ~ Preston Jackson Gallery

Terri Shockency creates paintings that are illustrated puns, and the punchline is the title. In her series, If Animals Were People, she depicts famous people as their anthropomorphic selves, revealing our absurdly happy human relationships. She began the series during the dark days of the pandemic to cheer herself and hopefully others as well.

11th Annual A Small Wonder Gift Shop 

November 1 - December 20 ~ Gallery 3R

A small wonder means small work from local artists and that means work priced for holiday gifts! Gallery 3R is turned into a gift shop for small works of art. Just like a gift shop, buyers may take home the item at the time of purchase. Shop early for the art lover in your life. Glass, ceramics, paintings, sculpture, jewelry, original prints and much more will be on display.

Call to Artists

Art Rescues Animals

Contemporary Art Center is seeking art to support our furry friends in an exhibition called “Art Rescues Animals” featuring art of and about our love for animals for which we all care. Contemporary Art Center will donate a portion of the sale of each artwork to Peoria Humane Society, dedicated to sheltering, adoption and to the prevention of cruelty to animals. The dates for the exhibit at Contemporary Art Center are January 3 through February 14, 2025. Follow this link for more information, prospectus and registration.

Current Education

Tango Practica Peoria

Sunday, 6:30-9:00pm ~ weekly tango practice and lesson

A weekly tango practica is offered every Sunday, at Contemporary Art Center of Peoria in the 2nd floor art gallery. Traditionally, a Tango Practica is offered for dancers of all levels who have received instruction and have desire to practice.

Admission is $5.00 per person. Please bring cash and exact change. Leaders and teachers volunteer their time. Money collected is a donation to Contemporary Art Center.

Figure Drawing Class-Tuesday Afternoons, October 22-December 10, 2:00-4:00pm 

THIS CLASS IS FULL. NO DROP-INS

Figure Drawing Class - Tuesday Evenings, October 22-December 10, 6:30-8:30pm 

(eight 2-hour sessions) Ages: 18 & up, Minimum Students: 4, Maximum: 12

CAC Member: $75, Non-Member: $90 or Drop-in: $15 fee per class.

Upcoming Events

CAC Closed for the Holiday

November 27th and 28th, 2024

Yule Like Peoria

Friday, November 29, 2024

The Chesterton Chambers Singers Choir performs holiday music at CAC on November 29, 4:30-5:30 as a part of the Yule-Like Peoria that takes place all around downtown from 3-6:00. The public is invited to visit and enjoy cookies and punch. Yule-Like Peoria was historically celebrated the day after Thanksgiving but has not occurred since 2019 due to the pandemic.

Giving Tuesday December 3

Join us in reaching our goal of raising $7,000 for the Contemporary Art Center of Peoria to upgrade the stage lighting and sound system in support of our concerts and all of our public and private events that utilize the stage. Donation Link

If you have benefited from the cultural influence of a music concert, dances, fine art, poetry open mic, dance and art classes or a private event like a wedding reception, then don’t miss the opportunity to have your donation doubled or augmented! You are also welcome to give prior to or after December 3.

December 3rd is Giving Tuesday, a day of Global Giving To help raise awareness of charitable causes and encourage donors’ generosity. #GivingTuesday #GiveCACPeoria

Caterpillar participates in Giving Tuesday

In support of Giving Tuesday, Caterpillar Foundation will provide a limited-time 2:1 match through our Matching Gifts Program for global employee and U.S. retiree gifts made December 2-6, 2024 (or once the match total reaches $2M USD).

What is the winning strategy to ensure your gift is matched 2:1?

As early as possible on the morning of December 2, REGISTER your gift on the Caterpillar Foundation’s Matching Gift website. Caterpillar | Caterpillar Foundation | Employee Giving & Matching Gifts

How to Give Your Donation:

Mail your gift to Contemporary Art Center, 305 SW Water, Peoria, IL 61602 via a check dated December 2 payable to ‘CAC’

Donate via Facebook on our Giving Tuesday page at Donation Link

Donate via our Website at Payment Page - Contemporary Art Center of Peoria

Pay with any form of payment during business hours: Tuesday-Saturday 11-5:00

Whisper & Shout: Open Mic for Poetry

Thursday, December 5, 2024 ~ 8:00-10:00pm

Every 1st & 3rd Thursday

BUY TICKETS in Advance Online at 309tix: $8-nonmembers, $5-members, $3-poets + fees (until 6pm day of event). Tickets at the door: $12-nonmembers, $9-members, $5-poets. Tickets at door are sold only if max capacity is not reached. Featured Poet: Louis ConPhliction

1st Friday Studio Tour

Friday, December 6, 2024 ~ 5:00-9:00pm ~ free event

Visit the Contemporary Art Center Resident Artist Studios where artists create, display and sell their work. Enjoy the unique & creative talents of local artists. While here, enjoy art exhibits in three galleries. The public is invited to this open house style events.

Live at the Five Spot: Joe Metzka Band (blues, vintage soul)

Friday, December 13, 2024 ~ 6:30-9:30pm 

Every 2nd & 4th Fridays

BUY TICKETS in Advance Online at 309tix: $8-members, $12-nonmembers + fees

(until 5:00pm the day of event) Tickets at the door*: $12-Members, $16-nonmembers.

Whisper & Shout: Open Mic for Poetry

Thursday, December 19, 2024 ~ 8:00-10:00pm

Every 1st & 3rd Thursday

BUY TICKETS in Advance Online at 309tix: $8-nonmembers, $5-members, $3-poets + fees (until 6pm day of event). Tickets at the door: $12-nonmembers, $9-members, $5-poets. Tickets at door are sold only if max capacity is not reached. Featuring the theme, “Whispers in the Dark”. Poets are asked to perform/share an erotic poem they have created.

Salsa at CAC

Friday, December 20, 2024

Every 3rd Friday

Introductory Dance Lesson: 8:30-9:30 pm

Learn the basics of several Latin Dances by Eduardo & Beverly Caballero

Open Dancing: 9:30-midnight - music by of Eduardo Caballero

ADMISSION AT THE DOOR ONLY: $8.00 nonmembers, $5.00 CAC members

CAC Closed for the Holidays

December 24th - 30th, 2024

New Year's Salsa at CAC

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Welcome in the New Year with complementary party favors and a champagne toast. Bring in the New Year with us! Dance to music of DJ Ed Caballero

Dance Lesson: 8:30pm, Open Dancing: 9:30-1:00am

$8.00 CAC Members, $12.00 nonmember

Whisper & Shout: Open Mic for Poetry

Thursday, January 2, 2025 ~ 8:00-10:00pm

Every 1st & 3rd Thursday

BUY TICKETS in Advance Online at 309tix: $8-nonmembers, $5-members, $3-poets + fees (until 6pm day of event). Tickets at the door: $12-nonmembers, $9-members, $5-poets. Tickets at door are sold only if max capacity is not reached. Featured Poet: Sheri Purpose Hall

1st Friday Studio Tour

Friday, January 3, 2025 ~ 5:00-9:00pm ~ free event

Visit the Contemporary Art Center Resident Artist Studios where artists create, display and sell their work. Enjoy the unique & creative talents of local artists. While here, enjoy art exhibits in three galleries. The public is invited to this open house style events.

Live at the Five Spot: Dorann & the Soul Mystics (jazz, blues, R&B)

Friday, January 10, 2025 ~ 8:00-10:00pm

Every 2nd & 4th Fridays

BUY TICKETS in Advance Online at 309tix: $8-members, $12-nonmembers + fees

(until 5:00pm the day of event) Tickets at the door*: $12-Members, $16-nonmembers.