OVERVIEW

The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCASE), in partnership with the League of Chicago Theatres, has designated 2019 as the Year of Chicago Theatre (YOCT). A key component of the mission of the YOCT is to build inclusivity and expand the geographic scope of Chicago theatre. YOCT will focus on engaging and strengthening theatre companies across the city, especially on the south and west sides, and will provide opportunities for showcasing work on larger, more visible platforms. As part of this work, YOCT will conduct a survey of theatre assets on the south and west sides. Led by artists, YOCT will map cultural ‘assets’ – documenting the people, organizations, facilities, businesses, and place-based histories that support and inform the development of theatre on the south and west sides of the city.

Cultural asset mapping is an initial step in our commitment to supporting theatre and cultural production on the south and west sides of Chicago. Cultural asset mapping will be an active and public process that is designed to immediately amplify assets and understand their needs. The goal is to identify pathways towards greater visibility and sustainability in the following general areas:

Programs
Cultural asset maps will identify existing theatre  programs including where and how these programs happen. Accompanying program analysis will help us identify what resources are required to ensure their continued success and growth.

Spaces
Asset mapping will idenitify private and public spaces  on the south and west sides  where theatre programs happen or could happen with the goal of understanding how they can support cultural and community needs more broadly.

People
Cutlural asset maps will identify people that make theatre behind and in front of the curtain. What are their skills? How do you find them? What support do they need to be even better at what they do?

Histories
Cultural asset maps will also document historical moments, stories, narratives and programs that inform our understanding of where we have been and where we need to go.

SCOPE OF WORK

DCASE will identify artists, artist teams and/or non profit organizations to lead cultural asset mapping projects on the south and west sides that explore the areas listed above. Artists will be asked to apply creative methods that combine research and public engagement strategies as way to convene, identify and celebrate. Specifically, selected artists will be asked to:

• Meet with project stakeholders and consultants to review existing data that communicates  assets, strengths and opportunity areas surrounding theatre in south and west side neighborhoods.
• Develop a public engagement program that creates a network that will inform the identification assets and cultural data including programs, places, people and histories.
• Public engagement strategies may include workshops, listening sessions or parties, happenings, informal or formally scheduled events, or other artist- led activations that amplify assets and bring people together around a common purpose or goal.                                        
• At the conclusion of the public engagement program, artists will be asked to interpret the data into a creative form (cultural asset map) that can be accessed and animated by the public as a both a platform, resource guide and storyteller.                                                                  
• Selected artists will be asked to work together to combine their final projects into a culminating project that will provide a comprehensive overview and celebration of theatre resources and assets on the south and west sides.

ELIGIBILITY

This opportunity is open to individual artists, artist teams and non profit arts organizations with demonstrate expertise in the following areas:

• Experience working with diverse audience and constituencies including government agencies to develop an impactful art program.
• An advanced knowledge and curiosity about theatre in Chicago.
• Experience working with and interpreting cultural research and/ or data as part of an artistic practice.
• Experience with urban, cultural planning, design, social practice or other related public field.
• Ability to translate complex ideas and concepts into a compelling and beautiful artwork.

• (10) total images of past work that demonstrates the artist or the artist team’s or organizations capacity to do the work
• Up to three (3) videos or audio files, edited to no more than two (2) minutes in length, may also be submitted but are not required.
• Annotated Image List: An annotated image list that includes the title, media, year completed, dimensions, location (if site-specific) project budget (if applicable) timeline, and client or commissioning entity for each corresponding image.  If video or audio is submitted, please include two to three (2-3) sentences per video to describe its context.
• If applying as an artist team, a list of key team members and their roles/affiliations.
• A two- (2) page resume or curriculum vitae (CV) and/ or programmatic activities list. If applying as an artist team, provide one resume or CV for each team member in a combined PDF.
• A 250-word letter of interest (LOI) stating the applicant’s specific interest in this project. Please include in your LOI an indication of what “type” of asset you’d be interested in investigating (programs, spaces and places, people or histories) and why?

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria