Greetings to all former artists in residence and Friends of the Arts, This email is to let you know that Prairie Center has discontinued the residency program and is closing the studios and the gallery. Joe and I celebrated our 60 th wedding anniversary this last October and we have come to the realization that it is time for the Prairie Center to move into a new phase. This is NOT an ending, but just the BEGINNING of something new and we are happy. We started Prairie Center in 2003 with a strategic goal of running a residency program for 15 years. Joe and I have been honored to be a part of the art scene in Peoria for 16 years and to have provided over 200 artists with time and space to do research, be creative and to hone their art practice. A s we survey the general state of residencies worldwide, we see that the number of residencies has increased exponentially which means there are greater opportunities for artists to be able to be supported in their work.
