We’ve been selected, along with three other Chicago nonprofit organizations, to receive funding and resources to present free public programming as part of Millennium Park’s robust summer season.
The City of Chicago and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)’s Millennium Park Residency Program (MPRP) provides select cultural organizations each year the resources and platform to showcase their work as part of Millennium Park’s robust summer season of free programming. For the first MPRP cohort, DCASE is excited to announce partnerships with The Chicago Human Rhythm Project, The National Public Housing Museum, Praize Productions, Inc., and the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance. These four nonprofit organizations share DCASE’s commitment to providing high-quality work and will be curating unique and innovative programming throughout Millennium Park in 2023.
“This residency program will provide our creative community with incredible opportunities to share their talent with the rest of our city," said Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. "Providing our local creatives with the funding to bring their fresh perspectives and ideas to life on Chicago's largest stage reiterates our commitment to empowering our arts and culture sector, and will ultimately make our city that much more vibrant. I am excited to see what each organization in the first MPRP cohort will create alongside the wealth of free performances and concerts in Millennium Park this summer."
With the support of the Millennium Park Foundation and Pritzker Foundation, DCASE has provided four grants of up to $150,000 to each participating nonprofit cultural organization.
As part of the residency, each organization will present public programs on the Jay Pritzker Pavilion stage: Praize Productions, Inc. (June 4); Chicago Human Rhythm Project (July 23); National Public Housing Museum (August 25), and Puerto Rican Arts Alliance (August 26). Each company will have access to other park cultural amenities to curate, develop, and produce additional free public pop-up programs throughout the summer.
We will be holding a free evening concert on the iconic Pritzker stage on August 25, featuring some incredible artists who have a personal connection to public housing. But that’s not all, we'll also be setting up vinyl question blurbs throughout the park, featuring the 36 Questions for Civic Love. It's the perfect opportunity to get to know your fellow park-goers and fall deeper into civic love.
Additional programming details will be released in the coming weeks when the full Millennium Park Summer Season schedule is released.
“It is an honor to partner with these four important and beloved Chicago organizations. This new residency program will help to diversify the roster of free programs and events that will enliven our downtown and city this summer,” shared DCASE Commissioner Erin Harkey. “We look forward to sharing their programs with the public, and connecting their missions to the millions of people who visit Millennium Park.”
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