"Chicago Performs!" Program
In response to the economic recession, the Driehaus Foundation created Chicago Performs! in 2009, a program that brought free public performances to people throughout Chicago. Seventeen performing arts organizations took part, surprising Chicagoans with performances in some likely and unlikely public places. The performances included the drummers from the Korean American Resource and Cultural Center in Humboldt Park, Blair Thomas & Company's puppet theater at the Andersonville Farmers Market, The Dance COLEctive doing a site-specific work along the Chicago River during the Friends of the Chicago River's Flatwater Classic, Redmoon Theater delivering a tiny opera in Daley Plaza, DanceWorks Chicago performing outside of the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic swinging at the CTA's 95th Street Station.
This link shows a video of the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic's performance:
While our plans for Chicago Performs! in 2010 are not yet set, we hope to continue it this new year.