Elgin’s Cultural Arts Commission is about to unveil a powerful, new art database that aims to put Elgin art “on the map” — nationally and internationally.

The Arts Commission will debut the new art database with the inaugural Art Harvest event, to be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, in DuPage Court and nearby locations of downtown Elgin.

“The art database is an effort taken on by the Cultural Arts Commission to locate and catalog all public art as a part of the Public Art Plan development,” said Cultural Arts Commission Liaison Amanda Harris. ” The database and its map are living documents that will continue to grow as cataloging moves outward from downtown.”

Harris said the database will be added to a few national and international databases.

“Once it is included on these existing sites, our Elgin art will be viewable by people all over the world,” she said.

“The idea to involve children and downtown businesses came from the database project timeline lining up well the Halloween holiday. It has became another way in which the Cultural Arts Commission can engage with the community,” Harris said.

Several downtown and local area business sponsors are participating in activities taking place in DuPage Court, named “Art Central” for this event.

• Elgin Knit Works is sponsoring the “yarn Bomb Spider Web” activity
• Side Street Studio Arts is sponsoring the “Kid’s Costume Contest”
• Lifestyle Options is sponsoring the “Paint your own Pumpkin” activity
• Bigger’s Mitsubishi is sponsoring the “Art Treasure Hunt” activity and artist pumpkin carving. As part of the Art Treasure Hunt, families can visit artwork, receive stamps on a map, and bring map to DuPage Court for prizes.

“Art Central” will feature a “Haunted Path,” a not-too-spooky outdoor haunted house. In addition, there will be a bubble station, scary story telling, and other craft stations. Blue Box Café will provide coffee, hot chocolate and cider.

Attendees are encouraged to come in costume, as several downtown businesses will be open and ready for trick-or-treaters. A full schedule, map, and list of participating Trick-or-Treating businesses with addresses will be posted to the Elgin Cultural Arts Commission Facebook page.

For more information, call 311 (or 847-931-5613 if outside of Elgin), contact Amanda Harris at harris_a@cityofelgin.org or  visit the city of Elgin’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or website pages.

SOURCE: Elgin Cultural Arts Commission news release