The Wilmette Arts Guild, a not for profit corporation, was founded in 1988. The mission of the Guild is:
- To bring together persons and businesses interested in the charitable and educational fields of art.
- To provide a location for the arts to be practiced, taught, and exhibited in Wilmette, IL.
- To create opportunities for citizens to appreciate, participate in and contriute to art in Wilmette, IL.
Working with business leaders and village government over the years, the Wilmette Arts Guild has made art available throughout Wilmette. Artists who wish to exhibit in one of the sites, submit their names and are chosen by lottery. At present, the following Wilmette locations are available for artists to display their artwork:
- Don Olson, State Farm Insurance, 417 Linden Ave.
- Gross Point Cafe
- Coldwell Banker, 350 Linden Ave.
- North Shore Community Bank, 1145 Wilmette Ave.
- Premier Bank, 1210 Central Ave.
- Wilmette Park District Community Recreation Center, Skokie Blvd. and Glenview Rd.
- Wilmette Post Office, 1241 Central Ave.
- Village Hall, 1200 Wilmette Ave.
At present, in addition to sponsoring the Festival of Fine Arts the third weekend in July, the Wilmette Arts Guild hosts two shows a year:
- The Student Show, open to all junior high and high school students who attend school in the New Trier district. In addition to awards, a scholarship of $1000.00 is given. This show is held in February.
- The Artists Show, open to all artists, this show takes place in April.
In addition to our members coming from Wilmette, they also are from Winnetka, Lake Forest, Evanston and Chicago. We have members from as far away as Florida, Wisconsin, and Indiana. We are a growing organization, whose membership is open to all.