CENTRALIA SUNSHINE PROJECT BRINGS COMMUNITY TOGETHER THROUGH ART

Centralia Sunshine Project

226 E. Broadway, Centralia, IL

centraliasunshineproject.org

The Centralia Sunshine Project has continued to make strides in its mission of bringing art to forefront of our community.

Founded in August 2024 by board president, longtime artist and local businessowner, Morgan Taylor, the non-profit got its legs after Taylor teamed with a group of her fellow artists and businessowners who shared her vision of enriching Centralia through art.

“We plan to bring art and community together through events and programs. It’s all about getting art out into the public,” said Taylor, owner of massage business, Hand & Soul. “In our first year, we really had our feet on the ground to make people aware of the cause. We have been out at several events and have done a few of our own.”

The Sunshine Project made appearances at the Downtown Summer Concert Series and Centralia Halloween Parade, where they displayed their impressive mobile mural, as well as last winter’s Holiday Home Tour of the historic Pettinger House.

With the organization looks to be taking the next step in their mission as it has partnered with the Centralia Cultural Society to reshape Celebrate Centralia into the coming Art & Wine Walk, held Oct. 4 in the 300 block of E. Broadway and in Carillon Park.

“We had caught wind that Celebrate Centralia was not going to be held. So, we wanted to pick this event up and take it back to its roots and also reimagine it,” Taylor explained. “We have partnered with the Cultural Society, who jumped right onboard with us. We will have music, the art competition that was part of Celebrate Centralia for years, and food trucks.”

“We will also have vendors with crafts, arts, and handmade goods. This is an opportunity for local artists to showcase their art and sell their goods,” Taylor continued. “We will also have some sort of interactive art piece that everyone can participate in.”

Local artists and vendors wishing to feature in the event may do so online at the Centralia Sunshine Project’s website or Facebook page. All applications must be turned in by Sept. 20.

The non-profit also recently received an annual sponsorship from Chamber Community Partner, Intermountain Electronics.

“Intermountain Electronics is not only helping to sponsor the upcoming Art & Wine Walk, but their donation will help sponsor events, programs and endeavors for the next year,” Taylor explained. “That was really great for them to step up in that way, and it’s really going to help us with our mission.”

Looking toward the Sunshine Project’s second year, Taylor said she looks forward to moving the mission further and contributing to the many advancements in Centralia, specifically Downtown.

“Since the beginning we have talked about the energy and spirit of liveliness that is happening in our town. A lot of people can see that,” Taylor said. “We would like to move in tandem with that and bring this creative aspect to town. I think that fits really well into the initiatives that people are bringing into our Downtown.”