About Us

FOR US. BY US. ABOUT US. NEAR US.

The East Side Arts Collective is a collective of artists, makers and creatives. Our members include muralists, singers, composers, fabric artists, writers, actors, sculptors, photographers, painters, and Hip-Hop artists, most of whom count East St. Louis, Illinois as home and the four decades old Sunshine Cultural Arts Center as home base. Our first project was a mural at the Sunshine Cultural Arts Center. Our work is always centered on uplifting East St. Louis while exposing the community and the greater region to our work and the arts in general. At the core of this work is a commitment to supporting one another as creatives and community members.

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ESAC’s goal is to support one another in our individual creative projects, whether that means showing up as an audience member, lending a helping hand, donating, spreading the word, or offering a simple congratulations. We want our members to feel genuinely supported. This support also extends to mentorship and collaboration. With an abundance of knowledge within our community, learning from one another is essential to building trust and lasting partnerships. Information on grants, open calls, and residencies is shared periodically through email lists and group texts.

Lastly, we collaborate on group projects such as murals, art shows, spoken word events, and more, while also brainstorming new ideas together. ESAC is here to support.

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-ESAC does not have member fees or dues.

-ESAC has periodic in person group meetings. 

-ESAC has a casual group text for info, and you may leave with a laugh or two.

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Click and fill out the Contact Page for more info on joining.  

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