Our History
The Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame was a dream of Lucille Halfvarson and other arts leaders, which took tangible form during the millennium celebrations in Aurora, Illinois. A series of two-minute history sketches for public television briefly put the spotlight on violinist Maud Powell, an Aurora girl who, a century earlier, had the musical world at her feet.
In September of 2000, the newly formed Aurora Fine Arts Recognition Committee presented a tribute recital to Maud, featuring violinist Kelly Barr of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, herself a native of the Fox Valley. Surveying the standing-room-only crowd, the organizers realized they had a mandate from the community to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of outstanding local artists, past and present.
Our Mission
The Aurora Fine Arts Recognition Committee evolved into the Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame to give public recognition to artists associated with the Fox Valley by birth, education, residence, or service that have achieved national or international acclaim and to ensure a strong cultural legacy for future generations. Areas of contribution include: visual arts, performing arts, literary arts, media arts, and educator/curator/benefactor. Inducted artists must have twenty years in their profession.
Inductees into the Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame are honored with engraved plaques, which are displayed at the Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin, IL.