Petition Seeks to Delay Art Center Eviction

An online petition signed by more than 2,000 people is asking the City of Evanston to delay the eviction of the Evanston Arts Center from the Harley Clarke Mansion.

Titled "Save the Evanston Art Center," the Change.Org petition tells people, "If you would like to see the Evanston Art Center continue offering its highly-regarded arts education, exhibitions, outreach and public programming, please sign this petition."

On Monday, the City Council’s human services committee voted 5-1 to terminate the lease of the Evanston Art Center, despite protestations that it could mean the demise of the 85-year-old arts organization. The lease agreement stipulates a 240-day eviction notice. The centers executive director, Nora Diedrich, said it would take two years to transition out of the space.

At that meeting, the city manager was also given the green light to continue discussions with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which has expressed interest in leasing the historic lakefront mansion at 2603 N. Sheridan Road. Last year, the city voted against a proposal from Jennifer Pritzker to turn the space into a hotel.

For more Evanston news, sign up for our newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.