Carbondale Renaissance

The city of Carbondale calls itself 'The Capital of Southern Illinois.' The community's arts organizations are working hard to make sure that title applies to the cultural realm, too.

At the center of the artistic outreach for this city of roughly 25,000 is Carbondale Community Arts. Organizing numerous events across the calendar, the CCA takes art to the people – wherever they may be. While projects like ArtWorks in Schools brings major works of art to the area's public schools, the annual September Night art fair and fundraiser gives the community a chance to mingle with local artists like Najjar Abdul-Musawwir, a painter and professor of art at Southern Illinois University.

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Check out Carbondale's other fine arts: The Big Muddy Film Festival, the New Arts Jazztet, and poets David Bond and Allison Joseph.