Chicago, Illinois -- Direction Tour Marketing and Acacia Consulting Group, two Chicago marketing and communications agencies, are teaming up to launch a new fundraising initiative called “Support Chicago Arts” to assist arts organizations in Chicago who are experiencing financial hardships due to the COVID-19 crisis. To participate in this campaign, the public can purchase merchandise at www.supportchicagoarts.com to publicly show they support Chicago arts, and a portion of each transaction will go to support the arts organizations of their choice.
Theaters and venues were among the first to close amidst the COVID-19 pandemic as stay-at-home orders were implemented. Even under Phase 4 directives, they will be among the last to re-open as social distancing best practices result in significantly reduced occupancy making it difficult for venues to operate at all.
Chicago Stands Together, a registered Illinois not-for-profit organization, was formed as a response to these unique challenges as an effort to unite our community, and it launched the Support Chicago Arts initiative to provide much needed financial support to the arts community.
The arts are at their best when they offer audiences an avenue to hear different perspectives and appreciate different experiences, furthering a shared understanding of society. Support Chicago Arts is proud to support Black artists in Chicago through sales of face masks.
By purchasing a lawn sign, medallion, window sign, or face mask, patrons announce their support for their favorite arts organizations and designate a portion of each tax-deductible transaction to be donated to those organizations. In solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, all profits from the sale of face masks will be donated to Black arts organizations.
“As members of Chicago’s arts community, we know all too well the struggles facing venues across the city,” said Support Chicago Arts founder Micah Taylor, president of arts marketing firm Direction Tour Marketing. “We formed Support Chicago Arts as a way to help these organizations make it through the crisis so that they’re still here for audiences when we can gather again.”
“The arts help us understand our world, relate to one another, and entertain us -- and they also drive our economy,” said Support Chicago Arts board member Morgan Harris, managing partner of publicity and communications firm Acacia Consulting Group. “Storefront theaters draw people to neighborhoods they might not otherwise visit, where they shop and eat at small businesses and restaurants. Our world-class museums draw tourists from around the world, and from our own backyard. It is in all of our interests that the arts community is equipped to emerge from this crisis.”
The following Chicago arts organizations are participating in the Support Chicago Arts initiative. There is no cost to organizations to participate, and any arts organization interested in joining the initiative should contact Micah Taylor at micah@supportchicagoarts.com.
Artemisia, A Chicago Theatre
Arts + Public Life
Arts of Life
Athenaeum Theatre
Auditorium Theatre
Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre
Chicago Cultural Alliance
Chicago Human Rhythm Project
Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA)
Chicago Mosaic School
Chimera Ensemble
Cirque Rivera Dance Theatre
Deeply Rooted Dance Theater
Definition Theatre
Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater
Filament Theatre
Gene Siskel Film Center
Giordano Dance Chicago
Hell in a Handbag Productions
Interrobang Theatre Project
Jackalope Theatre
Lakeview Orchestra
Lillstreet Art Center
Lookingglass Theatre Company
Media Burn Archive
Old Town School of Folk Music
Porchlight Music Theatre
Pride Arts Center
Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts
Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
See Chicago Dance
Storytown Improv
The Actors Gymnasium
The Factory Theater
The House Theatre of Chicago
The New Colony
The Plagiarists
The Revival
Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Ukranian National Museum
Underscore Theatre Company
Windy City Playhouse
Zanies Comedy Club
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