The History of Creative Living

From the 1966 Creative Living Series brochure:
“To some, Creative Living is an awareness of the world around, of music, art, theatre, history, literature, politics and business. It’s a way of turning the hum-drum of everyday life into a meaningful and rewarding experience.”

Over the years, authors, artists, tastemakers, critics, historians, scientists, chefs, philosophers, poets, performers and more have come to Creative Living to share their expertise and insights. The 2015-2016 season was supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

History of Creative Living
Helen Wright, an early president of WFAA, championed the idea of an entertaining and enlightening speaker series. Named Creative Living, it debuted in 1964. The remarkable women who started the series were visionaries. In the middle of the cornfields of McHenry County the seeds they planted continue to bring the wider world of arts and culture closer to home.

Watch The First Fifty Years of Creative Living

The Creative Living Speaker Series is a past National Endowment for the Arts Grant Recipient