Art & Architecture Guide: Local Resources

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) St. Louis is the local chapter of The American Institute of Architects, headquartered in Washington, DC. The AIA represents over 94,000 architects in the United States. AIA St. Louis provides professional growth and development opportunities for more than 880 architects and architectural interns members in the Eastern half of Missouri. It is the organized voice of the architect in St. Louis that provides support to members, advocates on issue affecting the profession and public safety and comments on policy regarding the built environment.

Gazing up at the Gateway Arch, firmly planted on the riverfront in St. Louis, you can’t help but be inspired – by the structure and its story. At 630 feet, it’s the tallest arch in the world and an iconic example of mid-century modern design. It was an architectural and engineering feat – one that skeptics didn’t think possible. The Arch is just one of many stunning structures in Missouri that reflect its history, its culture, its geography and a desire for beauty and inspiration in our everyday world. View just a few of the architectural achievements you can see in the Show-Mo State:

Art Saint Louis is a nonprofit community art organization and gallery dedicated to enriching lives through the creative activity of our region’s contemporary visual artists. Through exhibition, education, and exchange, we connect and inspire our community, and multiply the economic and cultural vitality of our region.

COCA (Center of Creative Arts) uses the power of the arts and education to build a vibrant St. Louis that is creative, connected, and inclusive. A national leader in innovative arts education, COCA provides meaningful arts experiences in their studios, gallery, and theatres, as well as in schools, community centers, and corporate settings around St. Louis. The fourth largest multidisciplinary community arts center in the country, they annually serve more than 50,000 people of all ages, backgrounds, and ability levels—from enthusiastic amateurs to emerging professionals.Through dance, vocal music, theatre, art and design, and beyond, they nurture the artistic and creative potential in students—and the community.

Produced by the International Institute of St. Louis, the Festival of Nations is the region's biggest multicultural event of the year. Originating in 1934, the two-day event is open to the public and attended by more than 100,000 people and features the traditions, flavors, sounds, and art of more than 75 nations.

The Foundry Art Centre connects people with the arts through exhibitions, studio artists, performances, & education.

St. Louis' Home of Education, Arts, and Culture:

HEC-TV is St. Louis’ leading "producer of education and arts television programming, using technology to connect and synergize in innovative, highly successful ways. HEC-TV provides an unparalleled level of service, changing the face of television by engaging viewers, empowering teachers, and encouraging students to achieve unparalleled success."

Laumeier Sculpture Park engages the community through art and nature. It strives to serve as a welcoming space for diverse social engagement. Founded in 1976, Laumeier is one of the first and largest dedicated sculpture parks in the United States.Laumeier presents more than 70 works of large-scale outdoor sculpture in a 105-acre park located in the heart of St. Louis County. Free and open daily, Laumeier serves 300,000 visitors of all ages each year through sculpture conservation, education programs, temporary exhibitions and public events.

Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) is a nonprofit, Regional Arts Organization that serves Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. They focus on strengthening communities and improving lives through extraordinary cultural experiences. M-AAA exists to activate, empower, and amplify community through the arts. To do this, they make grants, provide career development, and support arts organizations and artists of all disciplines.

The Missouri Alliance for Arts Education, (MAAE) is comprised of individuals and organizations passionate about the the arts and arts education. They recognize the positive impact of engagement in the arts, and recognize the efficacy of coalition. By uniting with others to support and promote arts education, they envision that all Missouri students will enjoy the benefits of a high-quality arts education.

MAAE is introducing a new section - Regional News - of their monthly newsletter devoted to breaking down news, resources, and events by region. The goal is to help their readers better utilize the fine arts and fine arts education resources closest to them. It includes these six areas:

Kansas City and Northwest

Springfield and Southwest

Central Missouri

St. Louis Area

Hannibal and Northeast

Cape Girardeau and Southeast

The Missouri Arts Council supports the arts that strengthen the cultural, educational, and economic vitality of Missouri.

Missouri State Thespians is affiliated with the Educational Theatre Association and its student organization the International Thespian Society. Established in 1972, their purpose has remained the same: to aid in the advancement and improvement of theatre arts in schools in the State of Missouri.

The Pulitzer Arts Foundation is an art museum devoted to presenting the art of today and works from the past within a global context. Located in the heart of St. Louis for more than 20 years, its home is an architectural landmark designed by celebrated architect Tadao Ando. Open and free to all, the Pulitzer is a cultural and civic asset to the St. Louis community and a popular destination for visitors from around the world.

RAC invests in the arts and artists. Every artist, organization and generation in our region thrives when the arts around us do, too.

The St. Louis Artists' Guild inspires art experiences through extraordinary exhibitions, interactive education, outreach to diverse audiences, and by fostering creativity throughout the community. In operation, since 1886, the St. Louis Artists' Guild is a nationally known arts center and the oldest arts organization west of the Mississippi.

The Saint Louis Art Museum collects, presents, interprets, and conserves works of art of the highest quality across time and cultures; educates, inspires discovery, and elevates the human spirit; preserves a legacy of artistic achievement for the people of St. Louis and the world; and engages, includes, and represents the full diversity of the St. Louis community supporting it.

VLAA helps the creative community navigate the complicated world of finance and law. Their mission is to "support the creative community by providing free legal and accounting assistance and a wide variety of affordable educational programs." They serve artists of every discipline and career level, nonprofit cultural organizations and small creative businesses. Their organization enhances the region’s cultural fabric and offers rewarding volunteer opportunities.

Wainwright Building - City Landmark #7 National Historic Landmark - Located at 701 Chestnut St. the Wainwright Building was designed by the famed architects Adler and Sullivan in 1891 for Ellis Wainwright, a wealthy St. Louis brewer (see also Wainwright Tomb, Landmark #18). The Wainwright building is considered to be the first successful utilization of steel frame construction. The building became a City Landmark in 1972.