Peoria is buzzing with an expansive arts community. However, many are questioning if the art that is being widely displayed, performed, published, and viewed is representative of the city’s rich diversity — or if barriers have been preventing those artists from breaking through the noise and establishing themselves in the community.

Alexander Martin is a visual artist and performer in Peoria, and one of the founding members of the Peoria Guild of Black Artists (PGOBA). As a Black trans individual, Martin said it’s disheartening as an artist to enter a space and not see anyone who looks like you.

“We’re tired of only getting together when we’re showing at Black History Month … It started off … a space to support and uplift each other … and educating folks on what … equity in the arts looks like, what actually representing voices who we’ve overlooked looks like,” said Martin.

PGOBA is one way Peorians have rallied to change the narrative, and other organizations are doing similar work.

Our House Entertainment is a business located in the Warehouse District of Peoria at 1101 SW Washington St., focused on uplifting diverse artists from all backgrounds by featuring them through live music and visual arts shows. The shows are free for the artist and bands to attend. Seth Kehres does the audio and visual production for Our House.

“We try really hard to book shows that are going to have people of all ages … multi genres, where people get the ability to play their first show with bands that have played dozens if not hundreds of shows … and get access to things when I started in the music scene I didn’t have,” explained Kehres.

Alyssa McMillen is the owner of Our House Entertainment and a photographer. She says many of the artists she seeks out are incredibly talented but may not always be 100% confident in themselves.

“That’s where the struggle comes for Peoria is that we’re filling that gap where we didn’t feel like there was a place where we could continue to thrive, or to feel safe in being a novice artist,” said McMillen.

Destinee Wilson, the organizational assistant for Our House, said there is an unintentional gatekeeping in Peoria that hinders a lot of artists from making their mark here.

“I find that there are some events when you walk in and everyone is suit and tie, and everything is very clean and there are canapes … not to say that those things are bad … it’s just less accessible for people who are unable to do those things,” explained Wilson.

Economic diversity within the arts in Peoria is struggling currently. There seems to be a certain understanding around many art communities that art is only good or deserving to be seen if it qualifies under the category of fine art. A similar view taints the music scene, as Kehres says there is judgment based on what equipment a band uses.

“It shouldn’t matter the tool that you’re using … There’s no difference between using a $20 amp or using a $4,000 amp, you’re still getting to be a creator and have an impact on the people around you.”

While organizations like PGOBA and Our House all show promising strides and efforts in the right direction to making the arts community a more financially viable and equitable place for people of all backgrounds, there’s still work to be done. Alexander Martin says the responsibility of this work rests on everyone’s shoulders, however, it’s also weighted.

“If you have more say or more power, utilize that,” said Martin. “Folks making decisions, folks representing artists in galleries, folks funding the arts, you have more power and say than the artists, so I look towards those folks when making decisions.”
Martin adds that other artists also need to advocate for their comrades in the arts and be mindful of the organizations they’re partnering with. All in all, Martin remains hopeful, saying, “there’s more and more people doing things for themselves and making spaces to be heard … we’re going to get a truer image of what the arts in our city looks like.”

This story is published in partnership with WCBU, Peoria Public Radio