Barrington panel to promote cultural events

Barrington has created a new cultural commission to better coordinate and cross-promote the many cultural activities already going on in the village.

The Barrington Cultural Commission will ultimately consist of 21 voting members. Village President Karen Darch has already appointed 17 who both represent and support many agencies that run local cultural events.

Groups represented so far include the high school, library, park district, historical society, Barrington Writers' Workshop, Bataille Academie of the Danse and Quintessential Barrington magazine, among others.

"Our thought ... was to have a representative group to meet from time to time to coordinate the cultural activities they're all engaged in," Darch said. "We have a lot, but coordinating it all would be a great goal."

One new appointee is Susan Russo, who's already been busy this year establishing the Barrington Community Arts Center. This group aims to make artists out of people who consider themselves nonartistic by demystifying the creative process of many different art forms. The group has already had one major event, Art in the Park, last May.

As the newest organization represented on the commission, Russo believes it provides a unique opportunity to get the word out.

"It's basically free advertising for us," she said.

Her group recently went to the village board asking to make October Arts and Humanities Month in Barrington.

The arts center plans to kick off that month with a music, wine and cheese event from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 2 at Tina Han Gallery at Ice House Mall.

Also that month, the Barrington Park District will host two art demonstrations at Citizens Park from noon to 2 p.m. Oct. 3 and 17.

In the weeks ahead, Darch plans to appoint the last four commission members and assign each one a term of two to four years. All terms will eventually be four years, but starting with some shorter terms will allow their end dates to be staggered.

The commission is also expected to seek out grant opportunities that would allow the expansion of the arts scene in Barrington.

"I think this cultural commission will be another way of bringing out the best in Barrington," Darch said. "With the support we have for all the cultural activities that are going on, I think it will be successful."