When you're looking for the best cities in Illinois, you'll see a great many lists about raising kids or quality of life. We have plenty of great attractions for families and education. But no list would be complete without a deference to the arts. Compiling a list of the best cities in the state for their arts is challenging because the there are so many wonderful examples of artist communities, museums, performance centers, and eclectic arts festivals throughout Illinois. If you're looking for places with a high concentration of brilliant, creative people and access to fantastic works from both local artists and world-renowned creators, the following list of cities in Illinois should be on your radar:
Illinois is a large state and often the center of attention is paid to the relatively small geographic area which encompasses Chicago. But the attention falls there for a reason - Chicago offers 77 different neighborhoods, each with their own unique contributions to the city as a whole. With regard to the arts, every medium is represented with brilliant color and amazing variety. You can't look at a list of great places for art and not recognize Chicago's gorgeous Art Institute. There are also well-known galleries throughout River North, Wicker Park, and the West Loop, to name a few places. There are small enclaves of artists in neighborhoods like Pilsen, known for it's local Latino contributions to the arts. Besides the visual arts, Chicago has a long and storied history with the performance arts. Local theaters attract visitors from around the world for various musicals and plays. Comedy, of course, is well represented in the City with such great theaters and Second City and iO Chicago. Certain sections of the city are home to larger populations who make their living in the arts. There's a great vibe overall with small galleries and boutiques in quaint corners of the city, as well as the elite establishments you might find on Michigan Avenue.
Oak Park is a suburb just west of Chicago, and it offers a variety of art galleries and artist enclaves. Many creative residents find this part of Illinois fits them well because the atmosphere is very bohemian. Oak Park is full of small independently owned book shops, art galleries, and boutiques. There are upscale restaurants and more affordable coffee shops. The homes in this area are gorgeous; many of the old, large Victorians remain while some have been rehabbed to fit apartments or condominiums. There are lovely tree-lined streets within blocks of bustling thoroughfares, and there's a great diversity of people, so businesses here thrive. Oak Park also offers its very own Arts District, which runs 9 blocks on Harrison Street. This district holds an eclectic mix of art galleries showing local and national artists as well as small boutiques, holistic shops, and much more. There are great restaurants along the way to break up your hours of window shopping and perusing. Overall, when mentioning the arts in the state, Oak Park can't be overlooked because the suburb retains much of its character from its storied history in all of the creative fields.
Naperville is a suburb in DuPage and Will Counties, often known for its vibrant family life. Naperville residents enjoy a higher income, larger homes, and great schools. They routinely show up on lists of the best places to raise children, and it's widely known a safe place to live with your family. Residents enjoy a great quality of life and many great community events. They also happen to have a wonderful selection of galleries and quite the commitment to the arts. There are a number of galleries in town showing both emerging and well established artists. Naperville is also home to the Naperville Arts League. The NAL is a non-profit which offers classes for children and adults and serves to support the arts and artists in their community. The Naperville Arts League hosts an annual Riverwalk Fine Arts Festival on the Naperville Riverwalk and in the downtown area. This event is a jury competition and is open to artists from all over the country. It's a fantastic event for art lovers and artists alike, to showcase their own work and have ample opportunities to view new and innovative pieces in a gorgeous outdoor setting.
Elmhurst is a suburb west of the city which is well known for its great schools and wonderful library. It's a fantastic place to raise a family with plenty of park sponsored events throughout the year. It's also a great hub for artists and art education. Elmhurst is home to its own art museum, the Elmhurst Art Museum. The Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art is also located in Elmhurst and offers a fantastic educational experience for both students and art enthusiasts. There are a number of great boutiques and galleries in the downtown area, and the Elmhurst's Artists Guild is exceptionally active in supporting artists in the area and art education for anyone who wants to partake. The Elmhurst Museum hosts a juried show every year called Art in the Park, which is well attended by residents and visitors from around the Midwest. Events might draw 100 artists or more with different types of mediums and crafts displayed.
Galena was first settled back in the early 1800's to mine for minerals. Today it's primarily an artist community and wonderful destination spot for visitors looking to soak in some beautiful scenery and purchase one of a kind artwork. Galena is a quaint, gorgeous little town. There's a lot to see here if you're interested in visiting local galleries which feature every type of artist. There are lovely restaurants and independently owned establishments in gorgeous buildings up and down the thoroughfare. You'll find oil paintings, acrylics, water colors, pottery, sculpture, and many other types of artistry including some you've probably never thought of before. On a list of cities for the arts in Illinois, Galena simply had to be mentioned.
