Events

Aug
3
Fri
Summer Orientation – Business Volunteers for the Arts (BVA) @ The Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Aug 3 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

BVA Orientation – August 2018

New business volunteers must attend a BVA Orientation before starting on a project. We offer the BVA Orientation four times a year— winter, spring, summer and fall on Friday afternoons from 2:00 – 5:00 pm in downtown Chicago.

The Summer application deadline is July 21. Apply here.

For more information about the BVA program, click here.

Oct
19
Fri
Fall Orientation – Business Volunteers for the Arts (BVA) @ The Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Oct 19 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

BVA Orientation – October 2018

New business volunteers must attend a BVA Orientation before starting on a project. We offer the BVA Orientation four times a year— winter, spring, summer and fall on Friday afternoons from 2:00 – 5:00 pm in downtown Chicago.

The Fall application deadline is September 29. Apply here.

For more information about the BVA program, click here.

Jan
25
Fri
Winter Orientation — Business Volunteers for the Arts (BVA) @ The Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Jan 25 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

BVA Orientation – January 2019

New business volunteers must attend a BVA Orientation before starting on a project. We offer the BVA Orientation four times a year— winter, spring, summer and fall on Friday afternoons from 2:00 – 5:00 pm in downtown Chicago.

The Winter application deadline is January 11. Apply here.

For more information about the BVA program, click here.

Apr
20
Sat
Business Volunteers for the Arts: Spring Orientation @ Teamwork Englewood
Apr 20 @ 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

Business Volunteers for the Arts® (BVA) connects skilled professionals with arts and cultural organizations in need of management assistance. Are you ready to join our pro bono consulting program and lend your professional abilities? Apply in time for our next volunteer orientation!

Orientations are offered in the winter, spring, summer and fall. Individuals wishing to join must submit a volunteer application, and participate in an introductory interview, prior to an orientation.

Application Deadline: Friday, April 12. Apply here.

For more information on the BVA program, click here.

Jul
27
Sat
Business Volunteers for the Arts: Summer Orientation @ Chicago Public Library – Little Village Branch
Jul 27 @ 9:30 am – 1:30 pm

Business Volunteers for the Arts® (BVA) connects skilled professionals with arts and cultural organizations in need of management assistance. Are you ready to join our pro bono consulting program and lend your professional abilities? Apply in time for our next volunteer orientation!

Orientations are offered in the winter, spring, summer and fall. Individuals wishing to join must submit a volunteer application, and participate in an introductory interview, prior to an orientation.

Application Deadline: Sunday, July 7. Apply here.

For more information on the BVA program, click here.

Nov
9
Sat
Business Volunteers for the Arts: Fall Orientation @ Chicago Public Library – Roden Branch
Nov 9 @ 9:30 am – 1:30 pm

Business Volunteers for the Arts® (BVA) connects skilled Chicagoans with arts, cultural, and creativecommunities in need of management assistance. Are you interested in joining our pro bono consulting program and lending your abilities? Apply!

Application Deadline: Sunday, October 13. Apply here. 

For more information on the BVA program, click here.

Orientations are offered in the winter, spring, summer and fall. Individuals wishing to join BVA must submit a volunteer application, and participate in an introductory interview, prior to attendance. 

Jan
25
Sat
Business Volunteers for the Arts: Winter Orientation @ Chicago Public Library - Back of the Yards Branch, Large Meeting Room
Jan 25 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Business Volunteers for the Arts: Winter Orientation @ Chicago Public Library - Back of the Yards Branch, Large Meeting Room

Business Volunteers for the Arts® (BVA) connects skilled Chicagoans with arts, cultural, and creative communities in need of assistance. Are you interested in joining our pro bono consulting program and lending your abilities? Apply!

Application Deadline: Friday, January 17, 2020. Apply here.

For more information on BVA, click here.

Orientations are offered throughout the year. Individuals wishing to join BVA must submit a volunteer application, and participate in an introductory interview, prior to attendance.

Jan
27
Mon
Field Office: North Lawndale @ Chicago Public Library - Douglass Branch
Jan 27 @ 9:30 am – 5:30 pm

Monday, January 27, 2020, 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Chicago Public Library – Douglass Branch, 3353 W. 13th St., Multipurpose Room 1

Calling all North Lawndale artists, creatives, artist-entrepreneurs, culture-makers, and nonprofits! The Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) is coming to you!

Are you interested in growing your creative enterprise or organization? Are you familiar with the services available to you, through the Arts & Business Council of Chicago, or have questions about where to find support for your business? Stop by our next North Lawndale Field Office and have them answered!

A&BC staff will be on-site to share how we may be of assistance to you, through our programs, and refer you to Chicago’s other service providers.

Walk-ins are encouraged. All are welcome.

About Field Offices
The Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) offers Field Offices as part of the 77 Communities Initiative, a realignment of resources to prioritize supporting creative organizations in divested communities. These pop-up offices, held outside A&BC’s downtown location, serve to engage artist-entrepreneurs, creatives, and groups where they are – in community. All Field Offices are free and open to the public.

Feb
8
Sat
Field Office: South Lawndale @ Chicago Public Library - Little Village Branch
Feb 8 @ 9:30 am – 5:00 pm

Saturday, February 8, 2020, 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Chicago Public Library – Little Village Branch, 2311 S. Kedzie Ave., Large Meeting Room

Calling all South Lawndale artists, creatives, artist-entrepreneurs, culture-makers, and nonprofits! The Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) is coming to you!

Are you interested in growing your creative enterprise or organization? Are you familiar with the services available to you, through the Arts & Business Council of Chicago, or have questions about where to find support for your business? Stop by our next South Lawndale Field Office and have them answered!

A&BC staff will be on-site to share how we may be of assistance to you, through our programs, and refer you to Chicago’s other service providers.

Walk-ins are encouraged. All are welcome.

For more information, email info@artsbiz-chicago.org.

About Field Offices
The Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) offers Field Offices as part of the 77 Communities Initiative, a realignment of resources to prioritize supporting creative organizations in divested communities. These pop-up offices, held outside A&BC’s downtown location, serve to engage artist-entrepreneurs, creatives, and groups where they are – in community. All Field Offices are free and open to the public.

Mar
14
Sat
CANCELLED: Think & Do Tank: South Shore @ South Shore Cultural Center
Mar 14 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS SURROUNDING COVID-19.

 

Saturday, March 14, 2020, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Dr.

Do you need help getting your organization or creative enterprise to the next level? Are you unsure how to grow your business, expand your creative practice, or get things done? Get your business-related questions answered at our next Think & Do Tank!

The Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) connects skilled Chicagoans with creative people, creative communities, and creative businesses through Think & Do Tanks – half-day business consulting events and resource hubs designed to address the immediate needs of community-based art makers. Through Think & Do Tanks, and guidance from Business Volunteers for the Arts®, you’ll have the opportunity to tackle the questions and challenges of most importance to you.

What Happens at a Think & Do Tank?
Participants engage Business Volunteers for the Arts®—skilled Chicagoans, consultants, and subject matter experts in the areas of business planning, strategic planning, board governance, marketing, communications, human resources, accounting, and more—via one-hour, in-person consulting sessions. You choose your meeting time (1-4 consulting hours, per event) and area of consulting focus. Expect to walk away with actionable advice, concrete recommendations, and the essential knowledge needed to get things done!

Every Think & Do Tank includes community area-specific activities, networking, and a welcoming space for dialogue. A&BC staff will also be on-site to offer advice, connect you with programs, provide referrals, and help you navigate additional service providers.

Get Help In:

  • Concept & Development Planning
  • Board Governance
  • Financial Management
  • Income Generation
  • Audience Development & Marketing
  • Staffing & Structure
  • Facilities
  • And more!

Who Should Attend:

  • Chicago-area artists, creatives, culture-makers, and artist-entrepreneurs;
  • Community groups, collectives, and organizations (whether you’re a nonprofit or not!)
  • South Shore-area residents, organizers, activists, and change agents!

Consultations are free the day of this event. To reserve a meeting time in advance of the event, register here. Open to all. Walk-ins welcome.

For more information, email us at info@artsbiz-chicago.org.

This Think & Do Tank is presented in partnership with the City of Chicago Park District’s Arts & Culture Unit (ACU).

About Think & Do Tanks
The Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) offers Think & Do Tanks as part of the 77 Communities Initiative, a realignment of resources to prioritize supporting creative enterprises in divested communities. These half-day business consulting events and resource hubs, presented in partnership with the City of Chicago Park District’s Arts & Culture Unit (ACU), serve to engage artist-entrepreneurs, creatives, and groups where they are – in community. All Think & Do Tanks are open to the public.

Mar
19
Thu
CANCELLED: Arts & Drafts @ Osito's Tap
Mar 19 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS SURROUNDING COVID-19.

 

Thursday, March 19, 2020, 6 – 8 p.m.
Osito’s Tap, 2553 S. Ridgeway Ave.

What’s better than making new connections, sharing ideas, and having a local beer?

Meet us at Arts & Drafts, a quarterly networking event for Chicago’s arts, cultural, creative, and business communities. Each event brings together a unique mix of people and companies, under one roof, for one night only. If you believe in the power of the arts, want to make a difference in our city, or simply feel like getting to know Chicago a little better, this mixer’s for you!

Arts & Drafts is a casual opportunity to network, expand your circle, meet up with friends, and make new ones. Do you have a question about the Arts & Business Council of Chicago, our 77 Communities Initiative, or Business Volunteers for the Arts? Swing by and get it answered!

FREE to attend and open to all. Come for the networking, stay for the reposado.

For more information, email Kenneth Franco at kfranco@artsbiz-chicago.org or call 312.372.1876 ext. 102.

Happy Hour pricing will be available between 6 – 8 p.m.

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Parking

A parking lot can be found next to Osito’s Tap (accessible from Ridgeway). Metered parking can also be found off 26th Street and Ridgeway Avenue.

Special thanks to Osito’s Tap and owner Mike Moreno.

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About Arts & Drafts

Arts & Drafts is a quarterly networking event for Chicago’s arts, cultural, creative, and business communities. Each event brings together a unique mix of people and companies, under one roof, for one night only. The goal: To encourage new partnerships and relationships.

Future Dates:

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About Osito’s Tap

Osito’s Tap, established in 2019, is a speakeasy-style bar focused on the art of craft spirts, craft beer, and craft cocktails. This community-oriented space, set inside a historic grey stone building, was once the front to an underground bookie joint and, during the early 1900’s, home to a Bohemian bar for Czech immigrants. Today’s incarnation of the bar brings in a modern Latin flair and blend of the Little Village neighborhood’s rich cultural history, giving customers a unique experience filed with exotic and rare drink offerings. Osito’s Tap is a grant recipient of the City of Chicago Neighborhood Opportunity Fund.