EEE Update: Sonnenzimmer and Lukas Abubeker

Last October Columbia College senior, Lukas Abubeker was selected to work with the Chicago-based design and print studio Sonnenzimmer for Homeroom’s EEE program.

Sonnenzimmer is comprised of “Nick Butcher” and Nadine Nakanishi. Their practice merges backgrounds in typography, printmaking, graphic design and fine art, to create hand-crafted posters, books, and music packaging. Their work has become iconic and Homeroom is thrilled to have had them participate in the EEE program.

Call for proposals: Experiments in Space and Time

Homeroom is partnering with composer and curator Christopher Preissing to create a new program called “Experiments in Space and Time” and we are looking for proposals for performances/experiments. Proposals are due March 1st and there is a mandatory meeting on April 6th. All of the details are after the jump.

Assessing Chicago's Cultural Plan 2012: Policies

In the past year The City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) has been working to create the Chicago Cultural Plan 2012. Over 4,700 Chicagoans actively participated in person in the creation of this plan. Thousands more participated virtually.

Of the ten priorities listed in the Cultural Plan for Chicago, two are concerned with Policies.

The first policy priority is to strengthen the capacity of the cultural sector. The purpose of this priority is to realize the potential of cultural organizations and initiatives through their evolution from emerging to maturing, and from established to sustained strength and impact.

This priority recognizes that many organizations have valuable programming, but lack the capital or capacity necessary for broader reach and deeper impact. Any support or increased access to resources and partnerships that helps organizations build on their strengths and increase their capacity is welcome.

Please continue reading below.

The Cultural Plan for the City of Chicago

In the past year The City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) has been working to create the Chicago Cultural Plan 2012. Over 4,700 Chicagoans actively participated in person in the creation of this plan. Thousands more participated virtually.

The DCASE solicited public feedback through:
• 8 town hall meetings
• 20 neighborhood cultural conversations
• Ongoing social media exchanges
• 10 cultural sector meetings to concentrate analysis
• 2 global forums of urban and thought leaders
• Numerous one-on-one stakeholder interviews
• Independently convened, discipline-specific sector meetings
• A Cultural Plan website and blog

This plan was created to address distinct objectives specific to a city’s cultural sector, including all art forms and heritage, creative industries and resource providers. In the following weeks, Homeroom will be summarizing the main categories from the plan (People, Places, Policies, and Planning Culturally) and pinpointing how the initiatives in those categories pertain to Homeroom and cultural community that we operate in.

This week we are focusing on “People”. Read our summary and assessment below.

Homeroom Is Now Accepting Programming Proposals

Homeroom is excited to announce a call for programming proposals. Download the application here!

Proposals may be for a single event, a series of events, or special project that would benefit from receiving financial support and partnering with Homeroom as a collaborator. We seek proposals that highlight under represented art forms and cross disciplines or genera. Curators, programmers and artists looking for partnership in realizing an idea that would benefit from the collaboration and some financial, promotional and administrative support are encouraged to apply.

What Homeroom can provide:
• Financial support, including a $75 stipend to program curators, and assistance in developing a budget
• Project planning help including the expertise accumulated from Homeroom’s 3 main programmers: Seth Vanek, Colin Palombi and Aaron Rodgers
• Promotional and publicity help including assistance in poster design & a street team, social media and internet promotions, promotional emails to our network, and press releases
• A network of venues and volunteers to fill in any gaps

Due December 1 – Spring Semester (February through May)
Due June 1 – Fall Semester (August through December)

Contact aaron@homeroomchicago.org for more information.

Ten x Ten Artist Chris Silva Won $20,000

We’re very excited to announce that one of our 2012 Ten x Ten artists, Chris Silva, won $20,000 for his 3-D art at ArtPrize!

The winning installation titled “More or Less,” will be on display at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Check out the video above to see the awesome installation and hear the judge describe why it was the winning design.

Congratulations, Chris!

Natalie Richardson & Roger Bonair-Agard Perform at Urban Sandbox This Friday

Every second Friday of each month the Urban Sandbox Open Mic features the best in poetry, music and comedy. This Friday (10/12), Sandbox will feature high school senior and award winning poet Natalie Richardson, along with HBO Def Poet and National Poetry Slam Champion Roger Bonair-Agard. The show will be hosted at the Comfort Station (2579 N. Milwaukee Ave). Doors at 7:30, show runs 8PM to 10PM. If you’d like to sign-up for the open mic, the list will be at the door. $5 cover. All Ages!

The Urban Sandbox will be moving out of the Comfort Station after November’s event. Please come support, enjoy and be a part of the show. 2013 will mark Sandbox’s 10th year. Let’s help finish out their 9th with a bang!

Interview with Jenny Benevento

In preparation for R. Kelly 101 at Hungry Brain on 10/9, we interviewed Jenny Benevento, who will be speaking at the event. In the interview she gives us a sneak peek on what she will be covering at R. Kelly 101, also an insight on her career and the very interesting topics she delves into in her free time on her blog and podcast.