It’s easy to go to a downtrodden town like Cairo, Illinois and see only the desolation and decay, and to forget about the people still there living with the bad decisions made by people who lived there many decades ago.
I was in Cairo last week making more photographs and footage — my second trip in two months — when I was approached by Harold S. Jones who invited me to see his fine art center, founded to give inspiration, education, and hope to kids living in Cairo.
In this video, Mr. Jones tells us about his mission with the art center; how he came to own, save, and renovate the building; and a little bit about his own personal background.
Harold S. Jones Fine Arts Center on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/people/Harold-S-Jones-Fine-Arts-Center/100057255017695
Harold S. Jones Fine Arts Center Website:
https://hsjfineartscenter.com
Mr. Jones said that he hosts a stop on the Southern Illinois Music Festival every year, so even if you can’t make it for this 2026 event, you could follow the center’s facebook page and plan to go to future events.
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