New Grants Drive Innovative Artist Services And Projects For High Concept Labs

High Concept Laboratories NFP (HCL), a Chicago-based arts service organization, today announced two new grants from the Illinois Arts Council Agency (IACA) and Cliff Dwellers Foundation to support general operations and artistic projects through 2018.

"For nearly 10 years, High Concept Labs has provided artists from Chicago and across the U.S. flexible, affordable space and other support services for them to develop new projects," said Steven Wang, executive director of HCL. "We're grateful to the Illinois Arts Council Agency, the Cliff Dwellers Foundation, and our other long-time funders, whose generous support allows us to continue supporting talented artists and foster a collaborative culture of creative work across Chicago."

The IACA has awarded HCL two years of general operating support, enabling HCL to continue expanding its diverse range of artist support services, including its core Sponsored Artists Program. Now entering its ninth year, HCL's Sponsored Artist Program provides artists with rehearsal and performance space, as well as comprehensive administrative, marketing, graphic design, production, documentation and development assistance.

"The Illinois Arts Council Agency is pleased to provide general operating support to High Concept Labs for their unique programs that offer artists support in the development and presentation of new works to Chicago audiences," said Encarnacion Teruel, program director for IACA.

HCL has also received a project-based award from The Cliff Dwellers Arts Foundation for "Sight As Sound," a field recording project by audio-based artist Andy Slater, a participant of HCL's Institutional Incubation Program. Featuring contributions by people who are blind or visually impaired and using IOS recording software, "Sight As Sound" explores the unique relationships that blind people have with sound.

The Cliff Dwellers Arts Foundation is the charitable adjunct to The Cliff Dwellers private club. With an ongoing mission to support the arts, the Cliff Dwellers Arts Foundation provides grants to arts-oriented organizations and individuals. Recipients are chosen by the Cliff Dwellers Board from qualified applications received by a set deadline each spring and fall.

For more information about the funded project by Andy Slater, including an interview with the artist, visit highconceptlaboratories.org/andy-slater/

About High Concept Laboratories NFP

High Concept Laboratories NFP supports artists and facilitates dialogue between artists, audiences, and staff members. This increases access and transparency to the artistic process and fosters transformational experiences in an environment of experimentation and discovery.

HCL is supported in part by the generosity of The National Endowment for the Arts, The Chicago Community Trust, The Joyce Foundation, The MacArthur Funds for Arts and Culture at The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, Illinois Arts Council Agency, The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation,

The Cliff Dwellers Arts Foundation, The Arts Work Fund for Organizational Development, Harris Theater for Music and Dance, The Martha Struthers Farley and Donald C. Farley, Jr. Family Foundation, N.A., The Norwottuck Charitable Trust, The Samuel J. Baskin Charitable Trust, Mana Contemporary Chicago and individual donors.

For more information, visit highconceptlabs.org.

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