CHICAGO, IL, January 19, 2018 • The Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC), a non-profit connecting Chicago’s arts and business sectors, announces its benefit luncheon, Arts & Business and Capital: Impact Investing in Chicago’s Creative Economy, on March 20, 2018, 11:30am at 300 E Randolph. Laura Callanan, founding partner of Upstart Co-Lab, presents the keynote address. Genevieve Thiers, Sittercity founder, tech investor, and opera singer, will moderate. Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Illinois, Segal Consulting, Aon Hewitt, Goodman Theatre, the Joffrey Ballet, Elkay, and Willis Towers Watson are the leading sponsors of the event.
“Impact investing is where you’re investing for a financial return but you’re equally focused on the social return, the social impact, the good thing that the business is going to be doing in the world,” stated Callanan. Her national organization, Upstart Co-Lab, connects artists, impact investors, and social entrepreneurs to create opportunities for artists to innovate in society, delivering scalable social impact. Prior to Upstart Co-Lab’s 2015 launch, Callanan served as Senior Deputy Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. As a consultant with McKinsey & Company, she led work on social innovation, sustainable capitalism, and social impact assessment.
“The business sector needs to hear the ideas Callanan will represent. With the arts already significantly contributing to Chicago’s economy, artistic innovation built on stable investment platforms can drive new growth in Chicago,” stated Joel Farran, A&BC board chair and Chief Brand Officer & Senior Vice President of Health Care Service Corporation/Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Illinois.
For 32 years, A&BC has created a dynamic relationship between the private sector and arts and cultural institutions. Through A&BC’s matchmaking, business professionals enhance workplace performance through skills-based volunteering projects and arts’ board training and placement at vetted arts institutions, ensuring rewarding relationships for both parties.