Mission & History

Homeroom is an artist-run nonprofit in Chicago dedicated to producing innovative intermedia collaborations that explore new music, visual art, and performance art.

By developing new works that present musicians, composers, and sound artists with artists working in video, movement, literature, and installation, we support a diversity of artists, curators, audiences, venues, and neighborhoods across Chicago's aesthetic, cultural, and geographical landscapes. Homeroom creates spaces to explore fresh ideas and shared practices of art and community-making. Through these collaborations, we encourage both artists and audiences to reimagine what music and art can mean in their lives.

Since 2008, Homeroom has presented 500+ IL-based artists. Focusing on commissioning new works, Homeroom has presented over 200 new musical compositions and works of art.

Programming Goals

Homeroom’s collaborative, multidisciplinary arts programs are guided by the following goals:

• Highlight new collaborations, perspectives, and presentational formats;

• Bring together artists from different genres and media, often challenging them to produce work outside their standard practice or with new and relevant considerations;

• Commission artists to make new work whenever possible;

• Utilize, encourage, and celebrate improvisation as a practice for facilitating organic collaboration and as a strategy of urgent practical necessity.

• Compensate artists and curators for their time and talent;

• Partner with artists and organizations who best fit the qualities of each program;

• Provide insight and transparency into artistic and curatorial processes.

Partnerships

In lieu of a physical space, Homeroom maintains a network of venues and programming partners to co-produce events. Partnerships bolster Homeroom's programming by expanding the artistic communities and audiences our performances reach. This collaborative approach also strengthens the existing artistic resources available in Chicago.

Recent partners:

Board of Directors

Jeanine Pekkarinen, President

Jessica Tovrov, Secretary 

Samuel J Lewis, Trustee

Staff

Paul Giallorenzo, Executive and Artistic Director

Kelsey McFalls, Development and Marketing Director

Theo Luna, Media and Event Coordinator

Sustainability & Support

Homeroom’s programs are made possible thanks to our generous donor community.

In 2026, Homeroom also acknowledges essential support from the the DEW Foundation, Illinois Arts Council (through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts), the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, and The Cliff Dwellers Foundation.