The return to in-person learning this semester also meant a return to live performance and exhibition opportunities for ChiArts Scholar-Artists. This fall, dancers, writers, actors, musicians and visual artists alike demonstrated the school’s core values of perseverance, creativity, balance, community, integrity, and humility. They have engaged in 12 productions since October, including our first in-person gallery show since 2019 (featured below). Download this year’s showcases as well as past performances online at gumroad.com/chiarts.
Photos from the December 10 opening of ChiArts' Visual Arts Conservatory's First Year Features Exhibition
This semester, every junior and senior at ChiArts had the opportunity to explore post-secondary opportunities during ChiArts’ annual Connections Week. The week-long event included a college fair hosted at ChiArts, masterclasses, online panels, audition workshops, and personalized feedback from university and arts faculty from across the country. Visual artists had the opportunity to have their portfolios reviewed by 45 colleges, in-person dance auditions resulted in onsite acceptances, and four Stony Brook University faculty members committed to working directly with Creative Writing scholar-artists.
ChiArts was invited by Netflix and Lin-Manuel Miranda to shine a spotlight on emerging teen performers and showcase the impact of public arts education. In celebration of the Netflix release of Tick, Tick…Boom!, scholar-artists from both the Theatre and Music Conservatories starred in a music video alongside four public arts high schools and programs across the country. We are incredibly proud of our scholar-artists for representing the passion of young artists from Chicago and the Midwest. The music video was released on Netflix’s YouTube channel here and featured in publications such as People, Variety, Playbill, Forbes, and many more.
2019 Levitate Staff Photo
ChiArts’ Creative Writing Conservatory offers hands-on opportunities for collaborative publishing experiences.The student-run literary and art magazine, Levitate, celebrated the launch of its fifth issue, opened submissions for the sixth, and produced an open mic in collaboration with The Hatchery Chicago. The Hatchery provides opportunities for food and beverage entrepreneurs to help create sustainable economic growth and new job opportunities in Chicago. This new partnership supports Levitate’s mission to amplify underrepresented voices of writers and visual artists and has enriched both organizations. Read a preview of Levitate’s fifth issue here.
With your help, the ChiArts Foundation can continue to expand opportunities to help scholar-artists become well-rounded leaders. The Foundation raises more than $3.5 million a year to fund the school’s five arts conservatories, serving over 600 scholar-artists from all 50 wards. Every donation makes a difference for our next generation of artists in Chicago.
Photo from ChiArts Winter Dance Showcase 2021: A Chi Latte Holiday