Chicago Philharmonic Receives Grant from National Endowment for the Arts

National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu has approved more than $82 million to fund local arts projects across the country in the NEA's second major funding announcement for fiscal year 2017. Included in this announcement is an Art Works award of $12,000 to Chicago Philharmonic for Side by Side with the Chicago Philharmonic. The NEA received 1,728 Art Works applications and will make 1,029 grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000.

"The arts reflect the vision, energy, and talent of America's artists and arts organizations," said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. "The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support organizations such as Chicago Philharmonic, in serving their communities by providing excellent and accessible arts experiences." Side by Side with Chicago Philharmonic is part of Chicago Park District's Night Out in the Parks initiative. Student and community musicians rehearse and perform alongside Chicago Philharmonic's professional musicians. Participation and audience attendance is free and open to the public.

Dates and locations for this summer's programs are as follows:

• June 24: Columbus Park Refectory (5701 W Jackson Blvd)
• July 8: Ping Tom Memorial Park (1700 S. Wentworth Ave)
• August 5: Humboldt Park Boathouse (1301 N Sacramento Ave)
• August 13: South Shore Cultural Center (7059 S South Shore Drive)

All programs will include a side-by-side rehearsal at 3:30pm for all those performing with the orchestra and a public side-by-side concert at 6:00pm.

The Chicago Philharmonic Society is a collaboration of 300 of the highest-level classical musicians performing in the Chicago metropolitan area. Governed under a groundbreaking structure of musician leadership, the Society presents concerts at venues throughout the Chicago area that cover the full spectrum of classical music, from Bach to Britten and beyond. The Society's orchestra, known simply as the Chicago Philharmonic, has been called "one of the country's finest symphonic orchestras" (Chicago Tribune), and its unique chamber music ensembles, which perform as the Chicago Philharmonic Chamber Players (cp2), draw from its vast pool of versatile musicians. The Society's outreach programs connect Chicago-area youth to classical music and provide performance opportunities for members of the community. Founded 26 years ago by principal musicians from the Lyric Opera Orchestra, the Chicago Philharmonic currently serves as the official orchestra of the Joffrey Ballet, continues its 21-year association with the Ravinia Festival, and presents symphonic concerts in Chicago's North Shore region and at Harris Theater in downtown Chicago.

Side by Side with the Chicago Philharmonic is presented as part of the Chicago Park District's Night Out in the Parks series, supported by Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Arts programming in neighborhoods across the city advances the goals of the Chicago Park District and the Chicago Cultural Plan. Now in its fifth year, the 2017 Night Out in the Parks series will host over 1,000 cultural events and programs at more than 250 neighborhood parks throughout the city, making community parks a safe haven and hubs of activity. Projects will vary from traditional performances and concerts, to movies, peace rallies, community workshops, nature based programs, dance pieces, festivals, and more. The Chicago Park District has partnered with more than 100 arts and community organizations to expand and produce this successful initiative.

Established by Congress in 1965, the NEA is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and develop their creative capacities. Through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector, the NEA supports arts learning, affirms and celebrates America's rich and diverse cultural heritage, and extends its work to promote equal access to the arts in every community across America.

To post a comment, you must register and login.