Michael Merritt Award Ceremony on May 17, 2021

The Michael Merritt Award, a national award unique in its emphasis on excellence in both design and collaboration, is presented annually to professional theatrical designers. The Michael Merritt Awards announces that on Monday May 17, 2021 the award ceremony will be a virtual event that will highlight two designers who are powerhouse advocates of inclusion and equity in employment. The Merritt Award for Design and Collaboration will be presented to Clint Ramos; Designer, Educator, Activist and Creative Producer. The Merritt Award’s first Arts Advocate Award will be presented to Elsa Hiltner, Costume …

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Grant Announcement: Rick Bayless’ Family Foundation Opens Annual Theater Grant Applications

Celebrity chef’s foundation makes $300,000 available to Chicago theater companies The Bayless Family Foundation is proud to announce the 2021 “Signal Grant” application is open for Chicago theaters. “We hope these grants can be a lively, bright spark to our city’s theater scene after what’s been a dark time,” said Rick Bayless, the celebrity chef behind the James Beard Award-winning restaurants Frontera Grill and Topolobampo. The “Signal Grant” is being offered in response to the COVID crisis for Chicago’s theatre community, which has been among the hardest-hit industries in the ongoing pandemic …

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Invitation to Apply with Honey Pot Performance for Hub Artist position as Part of We Will Chicago Initiative

As the first citywide planning effort of its type in half a century, We Will Chicago seeks to develop a people-focused vision for all aspects of the Chicago government using three guiding principles: EQUITY. DIVERSITY. RESILIENCY. As part of this work, Honey Pot Performance has been selected as the lead public engagement artist to support aspects of this greater planning initiative. We imagine working with a cross-section of emerging and established cultural workers and community organizers rooted in place. We will harness this process not only to support the creation of a …

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We Will Chicago Artist Encounter on March 10

Chicago theaters have been shuttered for a year. The pandemic has revealed the city’s systemic, economic inequalities to be as devastating as ever. The City of Chicago is embarking on a new comprehensive, citywide plan—the first of its kind in over 50 years—called We Will Chicago. Join Goodman Artistic Associate and director Henry Wishcamper in conversation with Maurice Cox, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Planning and Development as we dive into the vital role Arts and Culture plays in this historic initiative on March 10 at 5PM. Read More.

Coming Back Stronger: Using the Shutdown to Rebuild Audience Loyalty

Thursday, February 18, at 11:00 a.m. PST, hosted by Arts Reach Presenters: Michael Mael & Karen Freeman Led by The Advisory Board for the Arts’ Michael Mael & Karen Freeman, this session will offer: • Practical steps for attracting and retaining new loyal audiences at this moment • Data to back up these recommendations and create a path to move forward • Tangible tools to help your organization effectively market to, communicate with and engage audiences during this extended pandemic period Research from past downturns and crises shows that audiences typically don’t …

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Grant Announcement: The Illinois Arts Council Agency Fiscal Year 2022 General Operating Support Grant

The Illinois Arts Council Agency announced the release of the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) General Operating Support Grant. Formerly known as the Program Grant, this annual program provides general operating support to eligible Illinois non-profit organizations for public arts programming of high artistic merit. The application deadline for FY22 is Wednesday, March 31, 2021. Read More.

Confluence Writers Project – An Opportunity for Playwrights in Missouri and Illinois

St. Louis Shakespeare Festival is looking for applications from Missouri and Illinois residents for their Confluence Writers Project. More info and application at https://stlshakes.org/confluence-writers-project/ The Festival will award three residencies to emerging playwrights who are residents of Missouri or Illinois for the third annual Confluence Writers Project. As part of the program, Cohort members will: • Participate in a weekend retreat near St. Louis, if deemed safe and desirable. • Meet monthly, either teleconference or in-person for daylong writing sessions, workshops, and mentorship activities. • Participate in a knowledge-sharing opportunity for students …

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