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
Rockford
Wednesday, September 23 • 1-3pm
Rockford Public Library, Nordlof Center
118 N. Main Street
Rockford, IL
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
Effingham
Co-hosted by the Effingham Performance Center
Wednesday, September 9 • 4-6pm
Effingham Public Library
200 N. Third Street
Effingham, IL
Concluded! Missed the event? 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
Springfield
Tuesday, September 22 • 3-5pm
Hoogland Center for the Arts
420 S. Sixth St
Springfield, IL
Quincy
Co-hosted by Quincy Art Center
Tuesday, September 22 • 10am-12pm
Quincy Art Center
1515 Jersey St
Quincy, IL
Quad Cities
Co-hosted by Quad City Arts
Tuesday, September 29 • 1-3pm
Quad City Arts
1715 2nd Ave
Rock Island, IL
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
City of Chicago
Austin
Co-hosted by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and the Chicago Park District
Thursday, September 17 • 5-7pm
Austin Town Hall Auditorium
5610 W Lake St
Chicago, IL
Beverly
Co-hosted by Creative Measures
Friday, October 2 • 12-2pm
Beverly Arts Center
2407 W 111th St
Chicago, IL
Bronzeville
Co-hosted by Creative Measures
Wednesday, October 7 • 4-6pm
Blanc Gallery at Parkway Social
4455 S King Dr
Chicago, IL
The Loop
Co-hosted by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)
Wednesday, September 16 • 9:30-11:30am
Chicago Cultural Center, G.A.R. Hall
78 E Washington St
Chicago, IL
Hermosa
Co-hosted by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)
Saturday, September 19 • 10:30am-12:30pm
Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center
4046 W Armitage Ave
Chicago, IL
Woodlawn
Part of Chibrations Presents… The Portal series
Co-hosted by Chibrations and Creative Measures
Wednesday, September 30 • 7-10pm
Experimental Station
6100 S Blackstone Ave
Chicago, IL
Greater Chicagoland
Berwyn
Co-hosted by Friendly Music Community
Tuesday, August 25 • 10am-12pm
Friendly Music Community, Community Room
6731 Roosevelt Rd
Berwyn, IL
DuPage County
Co-hosted by Arts DuPage
Tuesday, October 6 • 1-3pm
Arts DuPage
3000 Woodcreek Dr, Ste. 310
Downers Grove, IL
Glenview
Co-hosted by Oil Lamp Theater
Monday, August 24 • 10am-12pm
Oil Lamp Theater
1723 Glenview Rd
Glenview, IL
Homewood
Co-hosted by Homewood Science Center
Thursday, August 27 • 10am-12pm
Homewood Science Center (Michael Wexler Theater)
18022 Dixie Highway
Homewood, IL
Lake County
Co-hosted by College of Lake County COMARTS Division
Friday, October 2 • 10am-12pm
College of Lake County, Grayslake Campus
19351 W. Washington St
Grayslake, IL
Orland Park
Co-hosted by Ballet 5:8
Wednesday, August 26 • 10am-12pm
Ballet 5:8
11545 183rd PL, Suite 101
Orland Park, IL
Virtual Stops
Rural Arts & Humanities Gathering
For Rural Artists, Organizations, Creative Businesses
Co-hosted by Illinois Arts Council and Illinois Humanities
Thursday, September 24 • 12-1:30pm
Zoom
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
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.
Co-hosted by Artspace Southern Illinois
Wednesday, September 9 • 10am-12pm
ArtSpace Southern Illinois
304 W. Walnut Street
Carbondale, IL
Register here
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
Register here
Austin
Co-hosted by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and the Chicago Park District
Thursday, September 17 • 5-7pm
Austin Town Hall Auditorium
5610 W Lake St, Chicago, IL
Register here
____
Beverly
Co-hosted by Creative Measures
Friday, October 2 • 12-2pm
Beverly Arts Center
2407 W 111th St, Chicago, IL
Register here
____
Bronzeville
Co-hosted by Creative Measures
Wednesday, October 7 • 4-6pm
Blanc Gallery at Parkway Social
4455 S King Dr, Chicago, IL
Register here
____
The Loop
Co-hosted by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)
Wednesday, September 16 • 9:30-11:30am
Chicago Cultural Center, G.A.R. Hall
78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL
Register here
____
Hermosa
Co-hosted by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)
Saturday, September 19 • 10:30am-12:30pm
Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center
4046 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL
Register here
____
Woodlawn
Part of Chibrations Presents… The Portal series
Co-hosted by Chibrations and Creative Measures
Wednesday, September 30 • 7-10pm
Experimental Station
6100 S Blackstone Ave, Chicago, IL
Register here
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
Register here
Co-hosted by the Effingham Performance Center
Wednesday, September 9 • 4-6pm
Effingham Public Library
200 N. Third St
Effingham, IL
Register here
Berwyn
Co-hosted by Friendly Music Community
Tuesday, August 25 • 10am-12pm
Friendly Music Community, Community Room
6731 Roosevelt Rd, Berwyn, IL
Register here
____
DuPage County
Co-hosted by Arts DuPage
Tuesday, October 6 • 1-3pm
Arts DuPage
3000 Woodcreek Dr, Ste. 310, Downers Grove, IL
Register here
____
Glenview
Co-hosted by Oil Lamp Theater
Monday, August 24 • 10am-12pm
Oil Lamp Theater
1723 Glenview Rd, Glenview, IL
Register here
____
Homewood
Co-hosted by Homewood Science Center
Thursday, August 27 • 10am-12pm
Homewood Science Center (Michael Wexler Theater)
18022 Dixie Highway, Homewood, IL
Register here
____
Lake County
Co-hosted by College of Lake County COMARTS Division
Friday, October 2 • 10am-12pm
College of Lake County, Grayslake Campus
19351 W. Washington St
Grayslake, IL
Register here
____
Orland Park
Co-hosted by Ballet 5:8
Wednesday, August 26 • 10am-12-pm
Ballet 5:8
11545 183rd PL, Suite 101, Orland Park, IL
Register here
Co-hosted by Arts Partners of Central IL
Wednesday, September 30 • 9:30-11:30am
Peoria Public Library – Main Branch Auditorium
107 NE Monroe St
Peoria, IL
Register here
Co-hosted by Quad City Arts
Tuesday, September 29 • 1-3pm
Quad City Arts
1715 2nd Ave
Rock Island, IL
Register here
Co-hosted by Quincy Art Center
Tuesday, September 22 • 10am-12pm
Quincy Art Center
1515 Jersey St
Quincy, IL
Register here
Wednesday, September 23 • 1-3pm
Rockford Public Library, Nordlof Center
118 N. Main Street
Rockford, IL
Register here
Tuesday, September 22 • 3-5pm
Hoogland Center for the Arts
420 S. Sixth St
Springfield, IL
Register here
Rural Arts & Humanities Gathering
For rural artists, organizations, and creative businesses
Co-hosted by Illinois Arts Council and Illinois Humanities
Thursday, September 24 • 12-1:30pm
Zoom
Register here
____
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
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.
