ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS

We pioneer thought-provoking and collaborative cross-cultural programs to build a more vibrant and inclusive Chicago

JOURNEY CHICAGO

A citywide, intercultural festival of art, ideas, and performance, hosted annually in September and October.

Journey Chicago 2021 included 43 events across more than 20 Chicago neighborhoods and suburbs.

ACTIVATING HERITAGE CONFERENCE

An annual capacity-building conference and workshop series for Members of the Chicago Cultural Alliance and other arts & culture professionals throughout the region.

View recorded sessions from our past conferences at the link below.

WATCH SESSIONS

WORLD DUMPLING FEST

An annual celebration of the diverse cultures throughout Chicago and the world with cultural performances, art, and of course, dumplings!

World Dumpling Fest will return in 2023.

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Core Member Programs

The Chicago Cultural Alliance pioneers capacity-building programs that connect and support our Core Members. It is a core value of the Alliance that all programs are collaborative and cross-cultural, building greater impact than could be achieved by any one member or partner individually.

CULTURAL HERITAGE CURRICULUM INCUBATOR

The Cultural Heritage Curriculum Incubator (CHCI) is a cohort-based, intensive capacity-building program that works with cultural heritage museums to develop and implement heritage-based arts curriculum in partnership with Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Our goal is to create a mutually-benefical, long-lasting relationship between our Core Members and Chicago students, elevating the voices of youth and increasing engagement with our diverse cultures.

Our 2022 cohort includes the National Hellenic Museum, the Filipino American Historical Society, and the National Cambodian Museum and Killing Fields Memorial. The CHCI is supported by the Elizabeth Morse Trust.

Archives Crawl

The Archives Crawl is a peer-led program that allows Members to discuss the challenges, opportunities, and triumphs they experience as caretakers for the Chicago region’s cultural archives and collections. Members alternate hosting these meetings to share their own archival stories.

Conservation & Collections

The Conservation & Collections program works with our Core Members to ensure that cultural heritage collections, which tell the story of Chicago’s communities, remain properly conserved, and accessible to the public.

Leadership Council Workshops

The Leadership Council, comprising the Executive Directors of all our Core Member institutions, can access quarterly workshops that the Alliance organizes to address needs specific to them. We draw on experts and partners in relevant fields to create hands-on workshops on topics in finance, budgeting, human resources, facilities, legal resources, and more.