About Us

What We Do

Arts Alliance Illinois fights for arts resources and policies that benefit our members and all Illinois residents. As the only statewide, multidisciplinary organization concentrated on the strength of arts and culture, the Alliance takes on challenges that no single organization or artist can face alone.

 

Why We Do It

Because arts and culture are not a luxury. Artists and cultural organizations are integral in providing health, stability, joy, reflection, and change to all our communities.

COVID-19 has had a severe impact on the arts and culture sector and has made our work more urgent and important. If you are an artist or arts administrator looking for support, please find resources here. If you would like to support the work we’re doing, please consider making a donation.

 

Mission

Arts Alliance Illinois builds the vitality of communities statewide through service and advocacy, generating resources for the cultural sector and creative industries.

 

Our Staff

Our team is small but mighty! For general inquiries please email info@artsalliance.org. You can also reach us by telephone at 312.855.3105.

CLAIRE RICE

Executive Director

rice@artsalliance.org

RACHEL BERNIER-GREEN

 Interim Deputy Director, Operations & Finance

bernier-green@artsalliance.org

CHAUNCEY DANIELS II

Administration Manager & National Advocacy Liason

daniels@artsalliance.org

ERICK DESHAUN DORRIS

Director of Community Organizing

dorris@artsalliance.org

NORA GREGOR

Director of Communications

gregor@artsalliance.org

AISHA MOTLANI

Senior Researcher

motlani@artsalliance.org

SASHA ONGTENGCO

Illinois Creative Recovery/B2B Arts Helpdesk Manager

ongtengco@artsalliance.org

BINDU POROORI

Public Programs Consultant

poroori@artsalliance.org

CARLOS SALAZAR-LERMONT

Membership Development Manager

salazar@artsalliance.org

KACIE SMITH

Director of Programs

smith@artsalliance.org

JONATHAN VANDERBRUG

Deputy Director,
Civic Engagement

vanderbrug@artsalliance.org

DIMI VENKOV

Director of Development

venkov@artsalliance.org

HENRY WISHCAMPER

Illinois Creative Recovery/B2B Arts Outreach Manager

wishcamper@artsalliance.org

Board of Directors

Are you passionate about advocacy and civic engagement in the arts? Contact Dimi Venkov to learn more about
joining the Arts Alliance Illinois Board of Directors.

Officers

MICHELLE T. BOONE

THE POETRY FOUNDATION
BOARD CHAIR

Michael J. Hernandez

FRANCZEK P.C.
VICE CHAIR

O. VICTORIA LAKES-BATTLE

IFF CHICAGO
SECRETARY & TREASURER

Directors

PHILLIP BAHAR

CHICAGO HUMANITIES FESTIVAL

E. Brooke Flanagan

Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Rena Henderson Mason

Bold Agenda

VIVIAN LEE STANDIFIRD

PEORIA, IL & CHICAGO, IL

KATHRYN M. LIPUMA

WRITERS THEATRE

STACY PETERSON

CITY OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS

ELIGIO PIMENTEL

MCANDREWS

MARK RODRIGUEZ

LOHENGRIN FOUNDATION

ROCHE SCHULFER

GOODMAN THEATRE

SCOTT SILBERSTEIN

HMS MEDIA

JOHN STREMSTERFER

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR THE LAND OF LINCOLN

ANDREAS WALDBURG-WOLFEGG

INVESTMENT MANAGER

ALISA WOLFSON

LEO BURNETT CHICAGO

ANGEL YSAGUIRRE

COURT THEATRE

Arts Leadership Council

The ALC is comprised of Illinois arts and culture leaders who advise the Alliance on strategy, programs, and membership development.

Contact Erick Deshaun Dorris to learn more about joining the Arts Leadership Council.

PHILLIP BAHAR

CHICAGO HUMANITIES FESTIVAL
Co-Chair

SCOTT SILBERSTEIN

HMS MEDIA
Co-Chair

QUINN ADAMOWSKI

LANDMARKS ILLINOIS

CHUCK BENYA

ARTSPACE 304

LISA GAYE DIXON

ILLINOIS THEATRE

Heather Ireland Robinson

Jazz Institute of Chicago

Doug Johnson

McLean County Arts Center

LYNN LAPLANTE

CHICAGO JAZZ PHILHARMONIC

Mary McNamara Bernsten

Rockford Area Arts Council

LYNNE PACE GREEN

ARTIST AND EDUCATOR

NIKKI ROMAIN

ARTISTS REENVISIONING TOMORROW (ART, INC.)

Jorge Silva

Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts

Coffe Summers

Coffea Magazine

Sam Thousand

Musician, Curator, Director

Deborah Venezia

Arts DuPage

Camille Wilson White

Oak Park Area Arts Council

HENRY WISHCAMPER

BUSTLING SPACES

Our Supporters

We are grateful to our government, foundation, and corporate partners, without whom the Alliance’s advocacy and programs wouldn’t be possible.

Government

Foundations & Corporations