Illinois Creative Future Roadshow
We’re hitting the road to bring people together around one big question: What’s next for arts and culture in Illinois?
Arts Alliance Illinois and partners across the state are hitting the road for the Illinois Creative Future Roadshow, with more than 20 stops bringing communities together to help shape an action plan for investing in Illinois’ creative future.
These interactive working sessions will use new insights from the Creative Economy of Chicago and Illinois: Impact and Assets reports to spark conversation, identify priorities, and build ideas for strengthening Illinois’ creative economy.
Artists, creative workers, nonprofit leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, elected officials, and community members are invited to bring their experiences and perspectives to the conversation.
Select Roadshow stops will be hosted in partnership with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), Creative Measures, Illinois Arts Council, Illinois Humanities, and local organizations across Illinois.
Attend a Session
Each roadshow stop is designed to serve a broader area, not just its host community. Click any dot on the map below to explore sessions and register for whichever location is most convenient for you. We’re also offering virtual sessions for anyone who can’t join us in person.
Chicago
Greater Chicagoland
Virtual Stops
Click a Dot to Get Started
Orange dots = in-person sessions
Blue dots = virtual
Carbondale
Co-hosted by Artspace Southern Illinois
Wednesday, September 9 • 10am-12pm
ArtSpace Southern Illinois
304 W. Walnut Street
Carbondale, IL
Concluded! Join us for another stop or a virtual session.
Rockford
Wednesday, September 23 • 1-3pm
Rockford Public Library, Nordlof Center
118 N. Main Street
Rockford, IL
Concluded! Join us for another stop or a virtual session.
Edwardsville
Co-hosted by the Edwardsville Art Center and the Jacoby Arts Center
Tuesday, September 8 • 10am-12pm
Edwardsville Public Library
112 South Kansas Street
Edwardsville, IL
Concluded! Join us for another stop or a virtual session.
Effingham
Co-hosted by the Effingham Performance Center
Wednesday, September 9 • 4-6pm
Effingham Public Library
200 N. Third Street
Effingham, IL
Concluded! Join us for another stop or a virtual session.
Peoria
Co-hosted by Arts Partners of Central IL
Wednesday, September 30 • 9:30-11:30am
Peoria Public Library – Main Branch
Auditorium
107 NE Monroe Street
Peoria, IL
Concluded! Join us for another stop or a virtual session.
Springfield
Tuesday, September 22 • 3-5pm
Hoogland Center for the Arts
420 S. Sixth St
Springfield, IL
Concluded! Join us for another stop or a virtual session.
Quincy
Co-hosted by Quincy Art Center and Arts Quincy
Tuesday, September 22 • 10am-12pm
Quincy Art Center
1515 Jersey St
Quincy, IL
Concluded! Join us for another stop or a virtual session.
Quad Cities
Co-hosted by Quad City Arts
Tuesday, September 29 • 1-3pm
Quad City Arts
1715 2nd Ave
Rock Island, IL
Concluded! Join us for another stop or a virtual session.
Champaign-Urbana
Co-hosted by Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
Wednesday, September 30 • 6-8pm
Champaign Public Library-Douglass Branch
504 E. Grove St.
Champaign, IL
Concluded! Join us for another stop or a virtual session.
City of Chicago
Uptown
Co-hosted by TimeLine Theatre
Friday, October 16 • 3-5pm
TimeLine Theatre
5035 N. Broadway St.
Chicago, IL
Past Events
The Loop
Wednesday, September 16 • Co-hosted by Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)
Austin
Thursday, September 17 • Co-hosted by Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and the Chicago Park District
Hermosa
Saturday, September 19 • Co-hosted by Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)
Woodlawn
Tuesday, September 29 • Part of Chibrations Presents… The Portal series
Co-hosted by Chibrations and Creative Measures
Beverly
Friday, October 2 • Co-hosted by Creative Measures
Bronzeville
Wednesday, October 7 • Co-hosted by Creative Measures
Greater Chicagoland
All our Greater Chicagoland stops have concluded! Join us for another stop or a virtual session.
Past Events
Glenview
Monday, August 24 • Co-hosted by Oil Lamp Theater
Berwyn
Tuesday, August 25 • Co-hosted by Friendly Music Community
Homewood
Thursday, August 27 • Co-hosted by Homewood Science Center
Lake County
Friday, October 2 • Co-hosted by College of Lake County COMARTS Division
DuPage County
Tuesday, October 6 • Co-hosted by Arts DuPage
Virtual Stops
Statewide Gathering (Session 1)
Open to anyone across Illinois.
Thursday, October 15 • 12-2pm
Zoom
Statewide Gathering (Session 2)
Open to anyone across Illinois.
Saturday, October 17 • 1-3pm
Zoom
Past Virtual Events
Rural Arts & Humanities Gathering
Thursday, September 24 • Co-hosted by Illinois Arts Council and Illinois Humanities
Each roadshow stop is designed to serve a broader area, not just its host community. Register for whichever location is most convenient for you. We’re also offering virtual sessions for anyone who can’t join us in person.
Prefer a list?
Browse all Roadshow stops and registration information below.
Co-hosted by Artspace Southern Illinois
Wednesday, September 9 • 10am-12pm
Concluded! Join us for another event or a virtual session.
Co-hosted by Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
Wednesday, September 30 • 6-8pm
Concluded! Join us for another event or a virtual session.
Uptown
Co-hosted by TimeLine Theatre
Friday, October 16 • 3-5pm
TimeLine Theatre
5035 N. Broadway Ave, Chicago, IL
Register here
____
Past Chicago Events
The Loop
Wednesday, September 16 • Co-hosted by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)
Austin
Thursday, September 17 • Co-hosted by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and the Chicago Park District
Hermosa
Saturday, September 17 • Co-hosted by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)
Woodlawn
Tuesday, September 29 • Part of Chibrations Presents… The Portal series, co-hosted by Chibrations and Creative Measures
Beverly
Friday, October 2 • Co-hosted by Creative Measures
Bronzeville
Wednesday, October 7 • Co-hosted by Creative Measures
Co-hosted by the Edwardsville Art Center and the Jacoby Arts Center
Tuesday, September 8 • 10am-12pm
Concluded! Join us for another event or a virtual session.
Co-hosted by the Effingham Performance Center
Wednesday, September 9 • 4-6pm
Concluded! Join us for another event or a virtual session.
All our Greater Chicagoland stops have concluded! Join us for another stop or a virtual session.
Past Greater Chicagoland Events
Glenview
Monday, August 24 • Co-hosted by Oil Lamp Theater
Berwyn
Tuesday, August 25 • Co-hosted by Friendly Music Community
Homewood
Thursday, August 27 • Co-hosted by Homewood Science Center
Lake County
Friday, October 2 • Co-hosted by College of Lake County COMARTS Division
DuPage County
Tuesday, October 6 • Co-hosted by Arts DuPage
Co-hosted by Arts Partners of Central IL
Wednesday, September 30 • 9:30-11:30am
Concluded! Join us for another event or a virtual session.
Co-hosted by Quad City Arts
Tuesday, September 29 • 1-3pm
Concluded! Join us for another event or a virtual session.
Co-hosted by Quincy Art Center and Arts Quincy
Tuesday, September 22 • 10am-12pm
Concluded! Join us for another event or a virtual session.
Wednesday, September 23 • 1-3pm
Concluded! Join us for another event or a virtual session.
Tuesday, September 22 • 3-5pm
Concluded! Join us for another event or a virtual session.
Statewide Gathering (Session 1)
Open to anyone across Illinois.
Thursday, October 15 • 12-2pm
Zoom
Register here
____
Statewide Gathering (Session 2)
Open to anyone across Illinois.
Saturday, October 17 • 1-3pm
Zoom
Register here
____
Past Virtual Stops
Rural Arts & Humanities Gathering
Thursday, September 24 • Co-hosted by Illinois Arts Council and Illinois Humanities
Know Before You Go
In June 2026, Arts Alliance released the groundbreaking Creative Economy of Chicago and Illinois: Impact and Assets reports, highlighting the economic contributions of artists and creative workers across our state. Now, we’re making 20+ stops in communities across Illinois to collectively build an action plan for investing in Illinois’ creative future.
Arts Alliance Illinois is leading the Illinois Creative Future Roadshow. Depending on the location, sessions may be co-hosted with local arts organizations, community partners, municipalities, or other collaborators, including Creative Measures, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), and others. Hosting partners are listed for each event.
Whether you’re an artist, creative worker, nonprofit leader, educator, entrepreneur, elected official, or simply someone who cares about your community, we want your voice in the conversation! Everyone is invited to join the Big Tent.
Each stop on the Roadshow will include light refreshments, time for attendees to connect and network, facilitated group conversations, brief presentations from AAI staff about valuable new data and innovative arts policies, and space to share your ideas about building Illinois’ Creative Future.
You can attend any session you want, whether that’s closest to where you live, work, or generally have interest. We will also have some virtual sessions that are open to all if you can’t join an in-person event.
Yes! Click here to view our upcoming events, whether in-person or virtual, and register for the event most convenient for you.
Yes, all venues along the Roadshow will be ADA-accessible. If you have any specific accommodation needs or questions, please contact us at info@artsalliance.org.
Developed by Arts Alliance Illinois in partnership with leaders from across arts and culture, economic development, philanthropy, and government, the Creative Economy of Chicago and Illinois: Impact and Assets reports represent a first-of-its-kind effort to measure both the economic impact of the creative sector and the assets that support it. To learn more and to read the reports, click here.
