The Art Center Highland Park Will Never Look the Same

Author: James Lynch

The Art Center Highland Park Will Never Look the Same

Posted on by James Lynch

Starting mid-April of this year The Art Center Highland Park will feature a new

website with a more dynamic ‘look and feel’, according to Executive Director James M. Lynch. That’s not the only change coming in the next few weeks, as the 61-year old not-for-profit arts organization looks to a dynamic, energy-charged future. Aside from a new overall look, the new website will feature an updated Mission and Vision Statement and, for the first time in many years, a completely redesigned logo.

“We are extremely lucky to have some amazingly talented board members who offered their services pro bono,” says Shana Guthman, Board President. “The team worked for months, brainstorming, doing market research, presenting ideas, and working in a committee specially created for this purpose. When they pre

sented the results of this months-long project to the full board, the response was unanimous approval.”

Debbie Hall, board member and past board president, of MindsView Innovation, led the brand strategy committee. The challenge was to make the TAC brand more relevant and important to the target consumers, especially young families who are once again moving into the area. For TAC it is important to reach the art ‘dabblers’ and experimenters of all ages, and also the skilled and advanced artists looking to learn, grow and create. Another segment that TAC is targeting is the ‘Arts Edu-tainment’ seekers, from the art curious to art enthusiasts looking for cool city culture in a convenient, suburban location.

Associate Board members Rietje and Sam Becker of Rietje and Sam Design, stepped up to do the design work that would complete the new ‘package’. They presented three concepts to the committee, with the major challenge that all three were ‘winners’. Ultimately the team decided on a logo which was based on the actual shape of TAC’s building that will ‘frame’ social media, banners and marketing and be featured on a new line of t-shirts, aprons, pins and tote bags, plus other ‘swag’, soon to be featured in the new online gift shop.

“With these new developments, we’ve opened up a whole new world of possibilities,” says Lynch, “As we expand to be not only an arts center, but a cultural center, with new classes on offer,  new programs like the monthly ‘Sunday Salons’, where creative artists from multiple genres, film, dance, theatre, will present and discuss their work. It is not just a win-win for us and the community, it’s a win-win-win for our extended community, for our growing national and international partners, and for the supporters who have stood by and invested in the growth and success of The Art Center Highland Park for 61 years.”

For more information on art classes, events, and other activities, visit: theartcenterhp.org or call 847-432-1888.

TAC is located at 1957 Sheridan Road, Highland Park, with plenty of street parking available, only three blocks from the Metra Stop. Hours are Monday-Friday, 10AM-4PM, Saturday, 12-4PM.

Sell your Movie! Introduction to Screenplay Marketing

Posted on by James Lynch

Do you have a story to tell? Sign up now!

Oritte Bendory, Writer, Producer, Coach

Whether you’re contemplating writing a screenplay, completed one you’re unsure how to market, or you are a producer attached to one: Oritte will take you through the story fundamentals and marketing strategies that can make your project stand out to financiers, producers, talent, and agents. She will also demystify the filmmaking landscape from a buyer’s perspective and the how-tos of packaging and submission.

Oritte Bendory is a Hollywood screenwriter and writing coach, with a sci-fi screenplay in development at Amblin Entertainment (Steven Spielberg’s studio) and a thriller script sold to Twentieth Century Fox & in pre production at STX Films (of “Hustlers”). She has also written, developed and produced independent films and secured financing for award winning shorts and features.

Find out more about Oritte at her website https://www.thepitchsmith.com/

The instructor will teach this live online class via Zoom. Please download Zoom on the device of your choice and sign up. Computer: www.zoom.us. Phone or Tablet: download the app. At least one day prior to the class, you will receive an email with instructions on how to enter your Zoom meeting. This will include a unique URL address and a meeting code.

FRONT LINE WORKERS/MILITARY: Use code FLWM10 to receive $10 off each class.

Find out More: LIMITED CLASS SIZE

Student and Volunteer, Aidan Lowery

Posted on by James Lynch


Introducing Aidan Lowery, TAC student, volunteer and son of our current Director of Education, Heather Lowery. We recently had a chance to talk to him while he took a break from helping to organize classroom supplies and Recycled art.

Aidan took his first class at TAC when he was just 5-years old. He took a session involving ‘sculpey’, a beginners’ tool for learning to sculpt or make pottery. “That didn’t last long,” Aidan says, “I wanted to move to the real thing.” The ‘real thing’ in this case was a ceramic class with older students. Apparently, it worked.

Thirteen years later he is still taking ceramics classes and now does functional or hand building work. His interests are too many to list here but the list starts with remote control planes, Virtual Reality gaming, welding, re-building an old school bus into a combination mobile home and studio, and taking care of his four pet rats: Soot, Ash, Pluto and Pumpkin.

A life-long Highland Park resident, Aidan attended Ravinia Elementary School and then Highland Park High School as a homeschooler. “He has so many interests and hobbies,” adds his mom, “that traditional education seemed too limiting for his active mind.” The results speak for themselves. Aidan literally grew up at TAC and is part of the great community that surrounds it. Continue reading “Student and Volunteer, Aidan Lowery”