The Centralia Cultural Society has been serving the Centralia area since 1961. Its mission is to connect arts with the community and the community with the arts. We do this with our four member groups: Little Theatre Players, Choral Society, Philharmonic Orchestra, and Palette & Brush Club. Our membership consists of over 600 volunteers of the four groups and 350 patrons who provide financial support.

Centralia, IL. (Population 14,000) is located in Southern Illinois and the nearest metropolitan area is St. Louis (approximately 70 miles to the west.) The average income of the residents of this area ($22,000) restricts their access to the arts of a metropolitan area. In 1971 the Society constructed an Arts Center.