Chicago Presents 2023 Grantees and Projects
Cultural Grants Program > Recent Grants > Chicago Presents Grantees and Projects > 2021 > 2022 > 2023 > 2024
Principle Barbers
Event: Timbre Music Series and Timbre Music Summer Festival
- 3rd Saturday of the month from January to August 2023, 3820 W. Ogden
- Saturday, September 16, 2023, 3820 W. Ogden
Timbre is a free, indoor monthly live music series featuring professional musicians from the North Lawndale community and nationwide. The series leads to the outdoor Timbre summer Music Festival.
Kalapriya Foundation, Center for Indian Performing Arts Inc.
Event: Kalapriya Festival of Contemporary Indian Performing Arts 2023
- Saturday, May 13, 2023, Festival of Music, Kehrein Center for the Performing Arts, 5628 W. Washington Blvd.
- Friday, June 9, 2023 – Saturday, June 10, 2023, Sarpa Sutra: Serpent Speak Drama & Discussion, Columbia College, 1312 S. Michigan
- Sunday, July 16, 2023, Outdoor Mela / Fair of Street Arts with Food & Bazar, Women’s Park & Gardens, 1801 S. Indiana Ave.
- November 2023, Festival of Dance, Logan Center for the Performing Arts, 915 E. 60th St.
The Festival of Contemporary Indian Performing Arts 2023 honors our differences & celebrates our common humanity by presenting diverse genres of South Asian music & dance from Chicago, the US & India.
OH Art Foundation
Event: The First Annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Festival of the Arts
Friday, May 19 and Sunday, May 21, 2023
Zhou B Art Center, 1029 W. 35th St.
The proposed project will be a 2-day long visual and performing arts festival in celebration of APA Heritage Month.
Chicago Latino Theater Alliance
Event: Destinos Al Aire
Sunday, May 21, 2023, 3-5pm
National Museum of Mexican Art, Ray Castro Plaza, 1852 W. 19th St.
“Destinos al Aire” is a free yearly outdoor multidisciplinary pop-up event with the goal to bring accessible theater, music and other disciplines to the community in different Chicago neighborhoods.
Westside Cultural Alliance
Event: 1865 Juneteenth Festival
Friday, June 16 – Sunday, June 18, 2023
Garfield Park Music Court Circle, 100 S. Central Park and Garfield Park Gold Dome, 100 N. Central Park
The 1865 Juneteenth Festival is a three-day community cultural event. The goal of the festival is to have a safe positive family and community engagement experience.
The Woodlawn1 LLC
Event: Fourth Annual Black Arts Juneteenth Block Party
Friday, June 16 – Monday, June 19, 2023
1200 E. 79th St.
4th Annual Juneteenth Block Party creates a free space for artists and attendees to celebrate the African American Journey thru visual, musical and culinary arts in a safe and fun setting for all ages.
Juneteenth Family Festival
Event: Juneteenth Family Festival
Saturday, June 17, 2023
2017 W. 110th Pl.
We aim to honor our ancestors, celebrate African and African-American cultural heritage, unite our diverse community, and connect Chicago residents with resources and services.
A Queer Pride
Event: Chicago is a Drag Festival
Friday, June 23, 2023
Cheetah Gym, 5248 N. Clark St.
A Queer Pride is presenting our fourth annual drag Chicago Is A Drag Festival during Pride Month, highlighting local Chicago drag artists and LGBTQ+ talent.
World Refugee Day Chicago
Event: World Refugee Day Chicago
Saturday, June 24, 2023
Pottawattomie Park, 7340 N. Rogers Ave.
Annual festival featuring performances by refugee, asylee, and immigrant artists. This day also includes a soccer tournament and children’s activities, which are important to the refugee community.
Chicago Blues Revival
Event: Bronzeville Blues Community Concert Series
- Saturday, June 24 and Saturday, July 15, 2023, Muddy Waters MOJO Museum, 4339 S. Lake Park Ave.
- Saturday, September 9, 2023, Hadiya Pendleton Park, 4345 S. Calumet
A free, all-ages series of blues concerts in Bronzeville, the historic home of the blues. Total of 6 events between June and Novembers presenting 13 bands.
Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council
Event: Back of the Yards Music and Dance
- Friday, June 30, 2023 – Sunday, July 2, Fiesta Back of the Yards, 47th St. from Ashland Ave. to Damen Ave.
- Friday, September 15, 2023, Mexican Independence Day, 1724 W. 47th St.
The Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council (BYNC) would like to continue its tradition of presenting high-quality, culturally relevant performances by activating community space with two large events.
The Center for International Performance and Exhibition dba HotHouse
Event: Unity!
July 2023
3953 S. Michigan Ave. and additional locations
Summertime, free, outdoor festival in Bronzeville showcasing African Diasporic traditions via a full week of multi-arts programming in multiple locations with a culminating concert.
Uptown United
Event: Argyle Night Market
Thursdays, July 6 – August 31, 2023
1000 block of W. Argyle between Kenmore and Sheridan
The Argyle Night Market series will feature live cultural, dance, and musical performances in partnership with Elastic Arts and local Uptown performance & non-profit groups.
National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture
Event: Barrio Arts Fest
Saturday, July 8 and Sunday, July 9, 10am-5pm
3015 W. Division St.
NMPRAC’s Barrio Arts Fest (BAF) is a free weekend-long event that showcases diverse Puerto Rican artists and celebrates the vibrancy of our creative communities in Humboldt Park and beyond.
The Original Sixty Fourth Street Beach Drummers, Inc.
Event: International Drum Beat!
Saturday, July 15, 2023, 4-7pm
89th & Loomis
Drummers from Japan, Puerto Rico, Africa, and America will perform to drum up support to help end violence in the communities at large and have an interactive drum show with a teach-back for youth.
Rebirth Garments LLC
Event: Queer Radical Fair
Thursday, July 20, 2023, 5-8pm
Ping Tom Park, 1700 S. Wentworth Ave.
Queer Radical Fair showcases teen/tween Radical Fit fashion incubator designers work in the form of Rebirth Garments style Fashion Performances.
Black Ensemble Theater Corporation
Event: Fridays on the Green
Fridays, July 21, July 28, August 4, and August 11, 2023
Black Ensemble Theater, 4450 N. Clark St.
We are requesting a grant to support our Summer Music Festival, Fridays on the Green, which will take place on the lawn outside of the Black Ensemble Theater.
Northwest Side CDC
Event: ¡Mercado! Event Series
- Saturday, July 29, 2023 – ¡Mercado! en la Noche, 3140 N. Central Ave.
- September 2023 – El Grito
¡Mercado! is an event series in which outdoor markets activate underutilized or unexpected spaces, like parking garages, in Belmont Cragin with food, vendors, arts, and culture.
Burst Into Books
Event: 2nd Annual Words of Wonder Literary Festival
Saturday, July 29, 2023
Dr. Conrad Worrill Track & Field Center at Gately Park, 10201 S. Cottage Grove The 2nd Annual Words of Wonder Literary Festival is an day full of interactive literacy and art programming.
Access Contemporary Music
Event: Thirsty Ears Festival
Saturday, August 12 and Sunday, August 13, 2023
Wilson Ave. between Ravenswood and Hermitage
The Thirsty Ears Festival is Chicago's only classical music street festival featuring two days of stellar performances by 20 Chicago-based ensembles.
Villapalooza, Inc.
Event: Villapalooza Festival
Saturday, August 26, 2023
26th Street between Central Park and Homan Ave.
Villapalooza Festival is a one day music and culture event centered in the heart of Little Village highlighting local musicians, artists and makers from La Villita, Chicago and Mexico.
Live the Spirit Residency
Event: 2023 Englewood Jazz Festival and Pop Up Jazz Fest
- Monday, August 28, 2023, Pop Up Jazz Fest, Englewood Square, 832 W. 63rd St.
- Friday, September 15, 2023 – Saturday, September 16, 2023, Englewood Jazz Festival, Hamilton Park, 513 W. 72nd St.
Live the Spirit Residency presents the 24th annual Englewood Jazz Festival and A Pop Up Jazz Fest at Englewood Square in partnership with DL3 Realty.
Midway Broadcasting Corporation
Event: WVON Day at the African Festival of the Arts
Friday, September 1, 2023
Washington Park, 5531 S. King Dr.
After over a decade of hosting The Taste of WVON, MIDWAY BROADCASTING is reimagining this monumental event to present the "Culture Fest" in celebration of WVON's 60th Anniversary. We will be partnering with the African Festival of the Arts as a free day for the festival.
South Shore Chamber of Commerce
Event: Connect+South+Shore
Saturday, September 16 and Sunday, September 17, 2023
7001-7037 S. Jeffery
Connect+South+Shore is a two-day arts festival held in partnership with Eric Williams of The Silver Room. This event showcases music from all genres and all demographics and connects culture and commerce.
Greater Englewood CDC
Event: 2023 Englewood Music Festival
Saturday, September 16, 2023
63rd & Halsted St.
The 2023 Englewood Music Festival will be the 3rd Annual Festival for the Englewood community.
Hyde Park Jazz Festival
Event: Hyde Park Jazz Festival
Saturday, September 23, 2023
915 E. 60th St. (Logan Center for the Arts)
A special collaborative initiative with artists and Chicago cultural organizations to present performances and discussions exploring methods of improvisation, cultural exchange, and Chicago's history of southside organizing efforts.
Cinema/Chicago
Event: Community Engagement at the 59th Chicago International Film Festival
- September through November 2023 - Community Screenings at Hamilton Park, Austin Town Hall, and Park District Cultural Center to be announced
- Wednesday, October 11, 2023 - Opening Night Block Party, Southport Corridor
Community Cinema features an Opening Night Block Party, showcasing the Chicago film community, and films at South and West Side Cultural Centers for the 59th Chicago International Film Festival.
Elastic Arts Foundation
Event: AfroFuturist Weekend 8
Wednesday, October 4 – Sunday, October 8, 2023
Elastic Arts, 3429 W. Diversey Ave. #208
Solidarity Triangle (outdoor plaza), Kimball and Milwaukee Ave.
Fourtune House Art Center, 4410 S. Cottage Grove Ave.
Join for a 5-day festival of Afrofuturist music, film, performance, and art taking place in Avondale, Logan Square, and Bronzeville.
Chicago Art Department
Event: SEEDS Healing Stage 2023 | An Annual Chicago Art Department Initiative Centering BIPOC Voices & Cultivating Cross-Cultural Healing Between Artists
- Friday, April 14, 2023 - Exhibition Opening Reception
- Thursday, April 20, 2023 - Workshop & Open Mic
- Friday, August 11, 2023 - Exhibition Opening Reception
- Thursday, August 24, 2023 - Workshop & Open Mic
- Friday, October 13, 2023 - Exhibition Opening Reception
- Thursday, October 19, 2023 - Workshop & Open Mic
- Friday, December 8, 2023 - Exhibition Opening Reception
- Thursday, December 14, 2023 - Culminating Event
All events at Chicago Art Department, 1926 S. Halsted St.
Seeds In My Pocket: Healing Stages brings together BIPOC-led orgs and communities to examine injustices within Chicago through artmaking, open mics, performances, and educational workshops.
Blues Heaven Foundation
Event: Record Row Concert Series
Thursdays, June 1 through September 14, 2023
2120 S. Michigan Ave.
2023 will mark the 21st year of the nonprofit Blues Heaven Foundation providing FREE entertainment to the community with music, dance, and education through our Record Row Concert Series.
Entrenuity
Event: Music To My Soul: Chicago Black Music Month 2023
August – December 2023
Overflow Coffee, 1449 S. Michigan Ave.
Overflow Coffee will dedicate June 2023 to showcase Black music and celebrate the contributions of Brunswick & VeeJay Records through music performances, a photo documentary, and cultural programming.
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
Event: Tuesdays on the Terrace
June 13 through August 29, 2023, 5:30pm
Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave.
Summer Tuesday evenings come alive when the MCA presents performances by Chicago’s renowned musical artists. Each concert is free and open to the public, welcoming a wide audience.
Chicago Loop Alliance
Event: Sundays in State
Sundays, July 16 and August 13, 2023
State St. from Lake to Adams
Sundays on State drives Loop Economic recovery to the district by bringing local vendors from under-represented communities to a closed State Street using equitable strategic placemaking.
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Event: Shakespeare in the Parks
Tuesday, July 25 through Saturday, August 5, 2023
Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave. and parks throughout Chicago
CST's Shakespeare in the Parks collaborates with community-based artists to create a production that is performed in west and south side communities with little access to the arts.
South Asia Institute
Event: Shades of Blue Series
Saturdays, August 5, August 12, September 9, and October 27, 2023, 3-8pm
South Asia Institute, 1925 S. Michigan Ave.
South Asia Institute will present a series of four, all-building “Open House” events that will showcase a variety of artistry and collaborations, ranging from music, dance, DJs, poetry and film.
Broadway In Chicago, LLC
Event: Broadway In Chicago Summer Concert
Monday, August 14, 2023, 6:15pm
Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St.
Broadway In Chicago brings this annual concert free to the public with new and beloved shows direct from Broadway and across the country on national tour.
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Event: Sunday in the Park with Lyric
Sunday, August 20, 2023, 7pm
Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St.
A free and fun summer evening at Millennium Park to usher in a new cultural season for all, showcasing the 23/24 season by Lyric Opera’s artists and orchestra, conducted by Lyric's music director.
National Museum of Mexican Art
Event: Bidi Bidi Boom Boom: The Selena Tribute Concert
Thursday, August 24, 6pm
Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St.
Building on its 2022 presentation to a full venue, the National Museum of Mexican Art seeks to present a Selena Tribute concert at Jay Pritzker Pavilion, preceded by a teaser performance in Pilsen.
Near South Planning Board
Event: Printers Row Lit Fest
Saturday, September 9 and Sunday, September 10, 2023, 10am–6pm
500-750 S. Dearborn St., 25-100 W. Polk St., and 600-775 S. Federal St.
Two-day, FREE outdoor Literary Fest held at the southern end of the Loop featuring 120+ authors/writers appearing on 5 outdoor stages, 70+ programs, and 100+ book vendors.
LUMA8
Event: LUMA8 Fall Series
- Saturday, September 30, 2023 – MoonGlow, LaSalle St. between Wacker and Chicago Board of Trade building
- Saturday, October 21, 2023 – Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade, State St. from Lake to Van Buren
LUMA8's Fall Series will include the Inaugural MoonGlow Festival and the 9th Annual Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade.
Chicago Architecture Foundation
Event: Open House Chicago 2023
October 2023
111 E. Wacker Dr. and throughout Chicago
Open House Chicago is a free citywide event that offers behind-the-scenes public access to both well-known and hidden spaces across Chicago that are historic, architectural, or culturally significant.
German American Events LLC
Event: Christkindlmarket Chicago
Friday, November 17 - Sunday, December 24, 2023
Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St.
The Christkindlmarket Chicago is one of the city’s most recognized cultural events. We seek funding to enhance the musical offerings at this event and better display German tradition through music.