Heather Aaronson, the gallery interpretation and engagement coordinator at the Figge Art Museum, shows a holiday ornament during the Culture Bright Night event held Wednesday night, Dec. 4, at the Quad City Botanical Center. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
When it comes to promoting and supporting the arts and culture in the Quad Cities, Jen Lewis-Snyder wants people to know this: “It’s more than sprinkles on a cupcake.” Events and places that support arts and culture help the region become a better place, spur economic growth and bring visitors and new residents to the […]
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When it comes to promoting and supporting the arts and culture in the Quad Cities, Jen Lewis-Snyder wants people to know this: “It’s more than sprinkles on a cupcake.”Events and places that support arts and culture help the region become a better place, spur economic growth and bring visitors and new residents to the Quad Cities, said Ms. Lewis-Snyder, the executive director of the Quad Cities Cultural Trust (QCCT), a privately funded and operated organization dedicated to championing the region’s cultural vitality.
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Guests look over some of the lights decorating the Quad City Botanical Center in Rock Island during the Culture Bright Night on Wednesday, Dec. 4. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
The Quad City Botanical Center is decorated in lights for the Culture Bright Night event. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Lakin Sheeder, right, of the Putnam Museum & Science Center, shows children how to make snow Wednesday, Dec. 4, during the Culture Bright Night event. The special event was hosted by the Quad Cities Cultural Trust at downtown Rock Island’s Quad City Botanical Center. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Guests look over some of the lights decorating the Quad City Botanical Center in Rock Island during the Culture Bright Night on Wednesday, Dec. 4. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Members of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra provide live music.
Jen Lewis-Snyder is shown at the celebration.
Guests look over some of the lights decorating the Quad City Botanical Center in Rock Island during the Culture Bright Night on Wednesday, Dec. 4. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Guests look over some of the lights decorating the Quad City Botanical Center in Rock Island during the Culture Bright Night on Wednesday, Dec. 4. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
“Our existence helps the Quad Cities thrive,” she added Wednesday night, Dec. 4, during the Culture Bright Night event held at the Quad City Botanical Center in Rock Island.Ms. Lewis-Snyder called the night a “grand finale” celebration of a new Culture Bright series. The final night of the nearly two-week campaign was presented by the QCCT and featured fun activities presented by the group’s Legacy Partners. (Those partners include Common Chord, Figge Art Museum, Putnam Museum, Quad City Arts, and the Quad City Symphony Orchestra.)Culture Bright activities kicked off on Nov. 20 with the Arts Alley mural unveiling and tree lighting in downtown Rock Island, and then with the 2024 Quad City Arts’ Festival of Trees.Some of the events featured at Wednesday’s Culture Bright Night included:
Figge Art Museum staff helping visitors with a hands-on holiday ornament painting activity.
Putnam Museum staff showing guests the science of making snow.
Common Chord members presenting music with a piano accompaniment.
Members of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra providing live music.
A fireworks show presented by Uncle Norm's Fireworks.
In addition to the Cultural Brights celebration, the botanical center was decked out in thousands of colorful lights for its ongoing Winter Lights event.
There were artists creating balloon animals, caricatures and face painting in the Mike Peppers Holiday Activity Room inside the botanical center. (In fact, many of the visitors stayed indoors during the Culture Bright Night celebration due to the night’s frigid temperatures and windy conditions.)
The many events in the activity room centered on showcasing the arts and culture. In fact, one of the signs in the room read: “Culture matters here and it always will,” which is the QCCT’s motto.But for the many parents and children at the event, the night also was about having fun. One of those parents was John Nache of Moline, who was taking his 3-year-old son, John Jr., around to see and do the various arts activities.“He’s really enjoying making the snow at the Putnam table. He also liked hearing the music. … Everything here is just so beautiful,” said Mr. Nache.The Putnam table was one of the centers of attention Wednesday night as children and adults stopped by to try their hands at making snow by adding a few ingredients together.“I hope people stop by and have some fun. I also hope they will see what all these great organizations are doing,” said Lakin Sheeder, one of the workers helping people create snow at the Putnam Museum table.Not far away from the snow-making activities, a table filled with four leaders from the Figge Art Museum helped visitors create their own holiday ornaments.“We hope this gives people a chance to sit down, relax and make an ornament with us,” said Heather Aaronson, the Figge’s gallery interpretation and engagement coordinator, and one of those staffing the ornaments craft table.In addition to making ornaments and snow, Ms. Lewis-Snyder said she hopes the celebration will get people to take another action: Make a resolution in 2025 to support the arts and culture in the Quad Cities.The Quad Cities Cultural Trust was formed in 2007 to develop an endowment in support of the region’s cultural assets. Since that time, the organization has raised $44 million and granted more than $18 million to its Legacy Partners.
