The Quad Cities Cultural Trust (QCCT) is opening the curtain on the vast amount of arts and cultural opportunities the region has to offer in hopes of re-engaging past supporters while inviting new patrons to enjoy the experiences.
Whether you venture out to see a live performance, visit a venue for the first time or return to one of your cherished holiday traditions, the newly created Culture Bright series has something to offer.
The QCCT, a privately funded and operated organization dedicated to championing the region’s cultural vitality, is collaborating with its Legacy Partners to present Culture Bright. The nearly two weeks of events aim to elevate the Quad Cities’ beloved gatherings and institutions while introducing some fresh additions this holiday season.
“We aspire to be known as the leader in enriching arts and culture for all,” QCCT Executive Director Jen Lewis-Snyder told the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal.
Culture Bright kicked off last week first with the Arts Alley mural unveiling and tree lighting in downtown Rock Island and then with the 2024 Quad City Arts’ Festival of Trees. The series also encompasses a number of other events, and will wrap up with a Culture Bright Night on Wednesday, Dec. 4, from 5-9 p.m. at the Quad City Botanical Center. That will be a night of interactive activities and entertainment with artists, musicians, actors, carolers, crafts and cultural experts throughout the botanical gardens. For more information on Culture Bright Night visit www.simpletix.com/e/winter-lights-2024-tickets-193621.
“Culture Bright Night is the grand finale and really highlights every partner we have and in a different way,” she said of the collaborative event. “This is an example of how the QCCT has evolved into more of a transactional partner.”
Jack Cullen, executive director of Rock Island Downtown Alliance and the QCCT’s representative trustee for Common Chord, applauded the trust’s leadership for turning the concept of a coordinated campaign into reality. “Culture Bright is another example of the Quad Cities Cultural Trust investing more than unrestricted funds into our vibrant arts and culture community,” he said. “This creative series presents fun ways for everyone to kick off the holiday season and witness an inspiring level of innovation and collaboration.”
The QCCT was founded in 2007 to support six core Quad Cities arts and cultural organizations.
Founding funders were: The Bechtel Trust, Hubbell-Waterman Foundation, and the John Deere Foundation. To date, the QCCT has raised $44 million for its endowment and granted more than $18 million to its Legacy Partners and through the Adler fund to elevate the performing arts and foster a thriving arts scene.
Its Legacy Partners are: Common Chord, Figge Art Museum, Putnam Museum & Science Center and Quad City Symphony Orchestra, all in Davenport; and the Quad City Botanical Center and Quad City Arts, both in Rock Island. In 2021, the trust took over The Adler Theatre Fund, which is separate from QCCT’s funding process and Legacy Partners, but is a pivotal part of QCCT’s mission.
According to Ms. Lewis-Snyder, the QCCT’s efforts and the partners’ cooperative spirit have brought all these venues together to host Culture Bright.
“Whether it’s a night out with friends or something fun for our children, the Quad Cities Cultural Trust is actively working to be the leader enriching art and culture for all and this Culture Bright series is evidence of that,” said Melissa Pepper, an independent trustee of the QCCT.
Culture Bright will show the partners as well as the community what QCCT “can do to be a deeper partner with you in these nostalgic events in the Quad Cities – some of which like Festival of Trees have been around 40 years,” Ms. Lewis-Snyder added.
While the Culture Bright campaign kicked off last week with the Arts Alley unveiling, Festival of Trees, and the symphony’s Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, the series continues with this lineup:
- Festival of Trees, hosted by Quad City Arts at the RiverCenter, ends its 10-day run on Sunday, Dec. 1. It will feature more than 150 designer displays, fun-filled attractions and special events.
- Winter Lights powered by MidAmerican Energy Co. at the Quad City Botanical Center runs through Dec. 31. The gardens will feature more than 250,000 glowing lights throughout the grounds and center for the eighth annual event.
- Culture Bright Night, presented by the QCCT at the botanical center, will celebrate culture in the QC with a night like no other, Ms. Lewis-Snyder said. Legacy Partners will be scattered throughout the gardens with activities relevant to their own missions.
For ticket information, visit www.quadcityculturaltrust.org/events.
Ryan Wille, the QC Botanical Center’s executive director, said Culture Bright Night “is a shining example of the collaboration that exists between the Legacy Partners supported by the Quad Cities Cultural Trust.”
He added that the partners “connect to each other in creative and unique ways throughout the year, but this event will be the ultimate immersive experience with all of us together spread out across five acres of seasonally lit gardens connecting to the public in our own ways.”
In addition, the latest OneSound painted piano, designed by local artist Sarah Robb, made its debut at Arts Alley last week but will be on view across the Quad Cities as it travels around to all the Legacy Partners.
Ms. Lewis-Snyder said that single, impactful art project shows the spirit of art and culture that the Legacy Partners bring to the Quad Cities.
The colorful instrument reflects each Legacy Partner and other community events. Ms. Robb said the piece also includes elements from a mural project she led a few years with Quad City Arts’ Metro Youth Apprentice Program.
“Sarah’s work is a narrative of our milestone,” Ms. Lewis-Snyder said. “We were looking for how we define who we are and show how we fund six different entities.”
Among the scenes are: the Adler marquee, the Figge’s glass windows, twinkle lights to represent Winter Lights and Festival of Trees, LeClaire Park and fireworks to represent Riverfront Pops.
But the key to the entire Culture Bright campaign is to communicate the importance of the arts to not only the faithful patrons, but to all Quad Citizens. “We have to show them that it’s not just a one-time show,” she said, adding the legacy institutions need continuing support.
“Our commitment to these events and our Legacy Partners ensures that they remain a vibrant part of our community’s fabric, because Culture Matters Here and it always will,” Ms. Lewis-Snyder said, referencing QCCT’s motto.
