Trickster Cultural Center — Local services in Schaumburg Township

As a once-loyal and frequent visitor of Trickster Art Gallery, I am deeply disappointed and frustrated with the current state of the organization under the new board of directors and executive leadership. What was once a vibrant, community-centered space has been completely derailed by poor, irresponsible management. My family generously loaned culturally significant artifacts to Trickster with the understanding that they would be displayed and eventually returned. We were unfamiliar with the formalities of museum loans at the time and, unfortunately, were never offered a loan agreement or documentation—something any ethical institution would have provided. Now, not only does Trickster claim to have no record of our loan, but they also say they have no idea where our items are. This is unacceptable and infuriating. The current executive director, Gina Roxas has been consistently unhelpful and, quite frankly, dishonest. It takes her weeks to reply to simple inquiries, and when she does respond, her emails are cold, dismissive, and lack any real accountability or concern. There is absolutely no transparency or professionalism in how this situation has been handled. I could go on about the many other issues plaguing this once-respected institution, but I’ll spare the details. Trickster used to be a place I brought my family with pride and joy. Under Gina and Gabriel's leadership, it’s become unrecognizable—a shadow of what it once was. Watching this steady decline due to blatant mismanagement is not only...

A Truly Special Place I recently visited the Trickster Cultural Center, and it was such a meaningful experience. This place is so much more than a typical museum. You can really feel the passion and authenticity because it's Native-owned and operated, which makes a huge difference. The art is incredible and tells so many powerful stories, from traditional pieces to contemporary works. It’s amazing to see the culture presented in such a vibrant and modern way. One of the most moving parts for me was the exhibit honoring Native American veterans. They've created a really beautiful and respectful tribute that highlights the incredible service and sacrifice of Native people in the armed forces. It's a perspective you don't often get to see, and it’s done with so much heart. I left feeling inspired and with a much deeper appreciation for the stories and contributions of the Native community. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a genuine cultural experience. It’s...

Not only is this place highly educational with a lot of special programs, many of them Interactive, but it's also an excellent venue for other celebrations and events. Just today we had a memorial service for a good friend of mine and a supporter of the Native community Michael Sobey. As an artist and human being he lent his talents and support in many ways. One such way was by creating the logos not only for the Lake Geneva Honor the FireKeepers Pow Wow, but also for the Odena Project, and other native based endeavors. This was the best possible location for the celebration of his life and the impact he had on the world around him. Joe and the trickster gallery helped us to honor an extremely valuable man today. And for that I say,...