Cedarhurst Center For the Arts

As a VENUE: Host an event…

Cedarhurst Center for the Arts is a cultural mecca spread over 80 acres. Our beautiful buildings and picturesque property create the perfect setting for all types of events. Four different venues offer different style and sizing capacities, and our friendly events team helps ensure your event comes to life just the way you imagine. Cedarhurst celebrates the arts year-round with exciting visual and performing arts programs for the public. The stunning architecture and grounds, including Cedarhurst Sculpture Park, make Cedarhurst Center for the Arts a unique and exciting backdrop for any occasion. Our recent expansion added a 3450 sq. ft. Performance/ Special Events Hall and a full commercial kitchen to the Mitchell Museum building. Through partnerships with our approved caterers, we offer a variety of cuisine, styles, services and price ranges to fulfill your every need for a truly special event.

Support Cedarhurst Center For the Arts… by simply booking your next special occasion here:

https://cedarhurst.org/facility-rentals/

As a SHOP: Discover unique merchandise…

Support Cedarhurst Center for the Arts …by simply purchasing your speciality merchandise here:

https://cedarhurst.org/christmas-market/

Be a DONOR: Show that you care…

Donations:

John and Eleanor Mitchell believed that art and knowledge benefited everyone. That’s why they established the Mitchell Foundation to build the Mitchell Museum and become a source of “education and enjoyment” from the arts. Fifty years and generations of donors later, Cedarhurst continues the tradition of making the arts available to all, enhancing the quality of life for people throughout southern Illinois. Your donations fuel innovation, inspiration and creativity for lifelong learners, and we are grateful for the contributions that come in many forms. And because Cedarhurst is a registered 501(c)3 organization, all donations are 100% tax deductible.

Memberships:

Cedarhurst sets Mt. Vernon apart from other small communities, but the organization only thrives with the support of people like you. Membership support helps Cedarhurst educate thousands of southern Illinois students with art lessons and live performance opportunities, and provides free opportunities for adults and families alike. Personal Membership levels include: Student * Individual * Family * Patron * Sponsor * Benefactor * Guarantor * Director’s Circle * President’s Circle * Chairman’s Circle, and * Gift. As a “card-carrying” member of Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, at the $150 level and higher, you can enjoy free access to many museums across the country! It’s all part of the NARM (North American Reciprocal Museums) program, a partnership program in which Cedarhurst participates so that you can get more from your membership.

Dog Membership: With the purchase of a Dog Membership you can help make it possible to keep the Goldman-Kuenz Sculpture Park clean, comfortable, and safe for you and your 4-legged friend(s).

Corporate Membership: Companies can purchase corporate memberships to provide membership benefits to their employees and to support Cedarhurst in a more philanthropic way. At varying support levels, benefits of corporate membership may include: * Complimentary Bonan Permanent Collection Gallery admission for employees * Discounted rental fee for meeting or event use of Museum Space, and * Listing in Annual Report and other printed materials.

Donations:

• Cash and Checks: Cash payments can be made online through our website or donate directly on Cedarhurst’s Facebook Page.Checks can be made to either the ‘John R. and Eleanor R. Mitchell Foundation’ or ‘Cedarhurst Center for the Arts’, and sent directly to Cedarhurst at mailing address: Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, P.O. Box 923, Mt. Vernon, IL 62864.
• Grants and Charitable Trusts: Cedarhurst receives grant funding from various arts agencies, foundations, charitable trusts, and government entities. If you are associated with a grant making organization, or know of grants for which Cedarhurst might be eligible, please contact our Executive Director.
• Matching Gifts: Did you know that many companies will double or even triple gifts made to Cedarhurst by matching employee contributions dollar for dollar or more? This means you can double the impact of your support! As many as one in ten corporations and educational institutions offer Matching Gift programs for their employees. Contact your human resources department to see if your employer is one of them!
• Other Forms of Giving: The Museum accepts gifts of stock, annuities, IRA distributions, real estate, and other assets. Contact our Chief Financial Officer for more information.
• Annual Program Fund: Sponsorship of annual programs is a vital source of financial support for Cedarhurst and a visible demonstration of your commitment to enriching the lives of people throughout southern Illinois. From exhibitions and concerts to school programs and special events, Cedarhurst offers a diverse range of opportunities and giving levels.
• Mitchell House Renovation Fund: The Mitchell House stands tall in the center of the Cedarhurst campus. Museum founders John and Eleanor Mitchell built the house in 1936; it was designed by Eleanor’s father. The Mitchells entertained often in their home, which others described as sophisticated and stylish, yet also comfortable. Town and Country Magazine featured the residents in 1954 in an article titled “Contemporary with Antiques.” Today the house is in need of thoughtful restoration, making it accessible and more functional for museum events, but also keeping in mind the history and style of the house. Your gifts could help restore beauty and bring function to this celebrated home.
• Endowment Funds: Endowment funds provide stable and perpetual revenue. Therefore, Major Gifts and Legacy Gifts are often designated for an Endowment Fund to ensure a donor’s long-lasting impact. Of course, Museum Founders John and Eleanor Mitchell established the Mitchell Foundation, which has offered general support since the Mitchell Museum opened in 1973. Since then, several other individuals have come forward to establish Friends Funds for various program areas.
  • Friends of Performing Arts Fund: Originally established in 1979 by Carl Schweinfurth and friends, the Friends of Chamber Music Fund was broadened in 2021 to support all performing arts programs at Cedarhurst.
  • Friends of Education Fund: This fund was established in 2013 by George and Paula (Mace) Kuhn to champion program efforts related to arts education. Earnings are used to support the Museum’s school program offerings, as well as hands-on learning opportunities available at the Shrode Art Center.
  • Friends of the Beck Family Center Fund: This fund was established by Bill and Barbara Beck in 2019 to help sustain the Beck Family Center at Cedarhurst. The family center offers interactive learning experiences for children that encourage families to create, play, and connect. Earnings from the BFC Fund accrue each year in order to execute major renovations needed to keep the family center fresh and welcoming for new generations.
  • Friends of Visual Arts Fund: This fund was established by Susan Boucher in 2020 in honor of her mother, Marjorie Tuttle Boucher. Earnings help fund visual art exhibitions and the care of Cedarhurst’s esteemed permanent collection.
• Legacy Gifts: One of the most important things you can do for yourself and those you care about is to plan your legacy thoughtfully. Planned gifts made to Cedarhurst have a profound impact on the organization and often provide tax advantages for donors and their families. While unrestricted gifts allow the Museum to allocate funds to the areas of greatest need, your Legacy Gift can also be designated to support a specific Endowment Fund or Giving Campaign, secure a special Naming Opportunity, or create a lasting Memorial.
• Memorials and Naming Opportunities: Naming opportunities are a unique way to leave a legacy or honor a loved one. Opportunities are available in the Mitchell Museum, Shrode Art Center, and Goldman-Kuenz Sculpture Park, and prices range from $5,000 to $1 million.
• Mitchell Society: Named in honor of our museum founders, the Mitchell Society offers a way for donors to leave their legacy at Cedarhurst and inspire future generations through the arts. Anyone can join the Mitchell Society with a gift or pledge of $100,000 designated toward museum sustainability.
• Major Gifts: Cedarhurst has numerous giving campaigns that support various projects and celebrations taking place at the museum. These requests are guided by the organization’s Strategic Plan, but often fall outside the capability of the museum’s annual operating budget.
• Corporate Support: Cedarhurst Center for the Arts offers a diverse range of sponsorship opportunities, including exhibitions, programs, and events, that enable your company to reach targeted segments of the Museum’s audience, as well as your own constituency. We will work with your company to create an integrated sponsorship package tailored to your business objectives. In addition to meeting your corporate goals, you will be supporting programs at the Museum that serve tens of thousands of adult and youth visitors each year. At varying support levels, benefits of corporate sponsorship may include: * Prominent logo or name display on selected program advertising * Discounted rental fee for meeting or event use of Museum space * Listing in Annual Report and other printed materials, and * Complimentary museum or event admission for employees.
• Retail Rewards: Kroger Community Rewards Program makes fundraising easy by donating to local organizations based on the shopping you do every day. Once you link your Card to an organization, all you have to do is shop at Kroger and swipe your Shopper’s Card.

Volunteer: Cedarhurst Center for the Arts has a diverse volunteer group. These individuals provide a valuable service by offering their time and talent to support, strengthen and enhance our mission. Duties and time commitment vary according to Museum/ program needs.

Support Cedarhurst Center for the Arts… by simply joining, giving, and volunteering here:

https://cedarhurst.org/support/donate/#