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Home Page - History - 51 Great Years

The DuPage Art League is a not-for-profit art school and gallery. Our aim is to promote and encourage the visual arts through classes, workshops, gallery exhibits, free public fine arts programs, exhibits by our artists in numerous commercial and public buildings, and financial endowments to public institutions of arts education and scholarships to students. All donations and gifts to the League are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible.

In the spring of 1957, the DuPage Art League was founded and meetings and classes were held in the reception room of an animal hospital. In 1958 as interest in art programs grew, the need for larger quarters led the league to the former studio of Ivan Albright in an old church in Warrenville, Illinois.

In 1959, the League was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization by the original founders with its stated purpose "to promote art consciousness and provide a meeting place for painting sessions and kindred arts".

In 1966, as membership grew and space became inadequate, the League rented the Wheaton Park District building at Main Street and Roosevelt Road. In these larger quarters there was a space for a gallery for exhibition and the children's classes were begun. Later another move was made into a rented store-front in downtown Wheaton, Illinois.

From its inception, the League had a goal to own a building with adequate space for classes as well as exhibits. In 1974, a building at 219 West Front Street in Wheaton was acquired. This acquisition was made possible through the generous contributions of League founders and members.

League members volunteered innumerable hours of labor to transform the former retail shop into the school and gallery.

In 1981, a larger classroom was added, and in 1984 and 1991 remodeling was done to the gallery space.

In May, 1996, the City of Wheaton, Illinois negotiated to purchase our property at 219 West front Street as part of a redevelopment of the downtown area. The league purchased and renovated the present facility at 218 West Front Street in Wheaton. This new location allowed us to have a larger main gallery, room for two classrooms, a library, larger storage and office space.

The League has many projects, including monthly exhibits in the gallery and ongoing classes seven days per week. Member's work is exhibited throughout DuPage County in both commercial and public buildings. A Special Services Department assists the public in meeting specific needs for artwork. Members also provide a wide range of community services in the arts including organization of art competitions, serving as art judges, speakers, and providing art demonstrations.

The DuPage Art League is managed by a Board elected from its 400+ membership and staffed entirely by volunteers. Facilities at The League are wheelchair accessible.