A MESSAGE FROM OUR BOARD CHAIR

Dear friends,

For 60 years, the Arts and Education Council of St. Louis has led the charge building a vibrant and healthy arts ecosystem that touches over 1.6 million people across the St. Louis region. Our philosophy is simple: What makes us human is in large part our ability to imagine, and to express the imagined to positively impact the lives of others. The arts and the creative products created by artists represents the height of that expression.

The arts help us build vibrant communities, give voice to those not heard, ignite innovation in our economy, attract creative talent, help heal emotional wounds, cause us to reflect, and creates joy in our lives.

The Arts and Education Council is unique in that we are the region's only united arts fund supported by the generous contributions from individuals, corporations, foundations and institutions that is investing in arts organizations and arts educators across the St. Louis region in Missouri and Illinois. We are committed to providing vital resources, along with collaborative opportunities and community partnerships, to over 45 arts organizations enriching the cultural landscape in the St. Louis region. Check out our Community Impact Report for our most up-to-date efforts.

As we plan for the future, our board recognizes that we need to do more than be open to change, but actively make the changes to more efficiently and effectively deliver our vision of a vibrant arts ecosystem for all. For the past several months our board and staff engaged with the community, collaborated on a strategic plan and formed new partnerships that will enable an increased focus on education, innovation and undiscovered talents. We look forward to engaging you in our exciting new direction soon!

We have much to look forward to in the next 60 years, and on behalf of the board, the staff and the arts organizations and educators we support — thank you for being integral to keep art happening!

Chris Dornfeld

Board Chair

Arts and Education Council of Greater St. Louis

Thank you to our friends at HEC Media for helping us tell our story in 2023!