Chicago Cultural Alliance

Constructing Jathi Choreography with Harini Nilakantan
2025-04-26 13:15 - 14:15, 2025-05-03 13:15 - 14:15, 2025-05-10 13:15 - 14:15, 2025-05-17 13:15 - 14:15, 2025-05-24 13:15 - 14:15, 2025-05-31 13:15 - 14:15 (America/Chicago) | Kalapriya Studio, 2101 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, United States
Weekly Saturdays
1:15 – 2:15 PM
Harini Nilakantan is a student of Aacharya Choodamani Guru Smt. Roja
Kannan, and has over two decades of experience in this art form. In this 90-minute class, dancers will learn new choreography – both how to piece together combinations and increase retention with her for advanced
rhythmic patterns or Jathis.
Class focus: execution, technique, creativity, retention

Kino, Kaffee und Kuchen
2025-05-03 10:30, 2025-05-10 10:30, 2025-05-17 10:30, 2025-05-24 10:30, 2025-05-31 10:30, 2025-06-07 10:30 | DANK Haus German American Cultural Center, 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
Date:
Start
Saturday, January 06, 2024
Time:
Location:
Location
DANK Haus Room 206, 2nd Floor

KINO, KAFFEE UND KUCHEN
Saturdays at the DANK Haus in Room 206
10:30 – 11:00 AM | Kaffee und Kuchen
11:00 – 12:00 PM | Vorfilm
12:00 PM | Feature Film Begins

Join us each Saturday at the DANK Haus in Fall, Winter, and Spring for Kaffee, Kuchen, und Kino. Each week guests will choose the film they want to watch
DANK Members: $5 | Non-Members: $7

Puerto Rican Arts Alliance: Studio Arts Program
2025-05-03 10:30 - 14:30, 2025-05-10 10:30 - 14:30, 2025-05-17 10:30 - 14:30, 2025-05-24 10:30 - 14:30, 2025-05-31 10:30 - 14:30, 2025-06-07 10:30 - 14:30 | IL
El Rinconcito is a free open art space for creative expression for people ages 12-25. You can meet people like you who are interested in arts, painting, drawing, printmaking, and others. El Riconcito provides a safe and welcoming studio for art making. An artist and a counselor in the studio can guide you in creative experiences, but you can opt to do your own artwork.
Join us! We provide the art supplies, and you bring your creativity.

Design News Roundtable: Downtown Chicago
2025-05-08 18:00 - 19:15 | Chicago Architecture Center, 111 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL, 60601, United States
Join us for the second quarterly Design News Roundtable, a space for freewheeling conversation with architects, designers, preservationists, planners and community leaders exploring our ever-changing city.
Our tapped-in panelists will scour the headlines and opine on recent design, development, and planning news impacting Chicago’s downtown. Office-to-residential conversions, efforts to revive our great shopping streets, public activations and open space, megadevelopment, historic preservation, and arts and culture are primary areas of focus. Brush up on the past few months of built environment news and gain a deeper appreciation for the projects, the ideas, and the difference-makers charting a path forward future of downtown.
This roundtable is hosted by Dario Durham, co-founder of the popular podcast 77 Flavors of Chicago. Our panelists are Preservation Futures co-founder Elizabeth Blasius; Gensler Principal & Cities Sector Leader Andre Brumfield; and Site Design Senior Project Manager Mejay Gula, founder of the Tender House Project.

Neighborhood Nights
2025-05-08 19:00 - 23:00 | DANK Haus German American Cultural Center, 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
Date:
Start
Thursday, January 11, 2024
Time:
Location:
Location
DANK Haus, 6th Floor Skyline Lounge

enjoy a beverage with a spectacular EXPERIENCE in our haus
A perfect place to meet your neighbors and socialize! All proceeds support the DANK Haus Museum
WHEN
Each 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month from 7-11 PM.
Location
Winter months – Brauhaus Room (2nd floor)
Summer/Fall months – Skyline Lounge/Terrace (6th floor)
Subject to change. Be sure to check elevator signs when arriving!

Black Modernism and the Spatial Modernity of the Black Church
2025-05-13 18:00 - 19:30 | First Church of Deliveriance, 4315 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, 60653
Program in collaboration with the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation
Join us in the sanctuary of The First Church of Deliverance for a salon-style seminar on Black Modernism and the architectural modernity of Black American traditions with leading voices in architectural history, criticism and preservation.
This program is part of a larger series of national conversations curated by the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, dedicated to reflection and dialogue on the evolving definition of Black Modernism and the undervalued legacy of African American contributions to modernist architecture. Set within one of Chicago’s most iconic examples of Black sacred modernism, the event brings together leading voices in architectural history, criticism, and preservation.
The evening will feature presentations by Lee Bey, photographer, writer and lecturer whose work documents and interprets the built environment through the lens of race, politics and power, and Charles L. Davis II, African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund Fellow and Associate Professor of Architectural History and Criticism at the University of Texas at Austin, whose research explores the role of racial identity and race thinking in shaping architectural history and contemporary design culture. Following the presentations, a moderated conversation will be led by architect and cultural preservationist Brandon Bibby, Senior Preservation Architect for the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund and Manager of the Conserving Black Modernism initiative. The discussion will open space to collectively consider how Black Modernism continues to inform our understanding of identity, memory, and the built environment.

Dave Barry: "Class Clown"
2025-05-15 18:00 - 19:00 | Chicago Hope Academy, 2156 West Ogden Avenue, Chicago, 60612
How does the son of a Presbyterian minister wind up winning a Pulitzer Prize for writing a wildly inaccurate newspaper column read by millions of people? America’s most beloved wiseass, Dave Barry, finally tells his life story with all the humor you’d expect from a man who made a career out of making fun of pretty much everything. Barry will be interviewed by Mark Bazer of The Interview Show on WTTW. Books will be sold at the event and Barry will sign them following the program.
This is event takes place at Chicago Hope Academy. The entrance to the auditorium is through the parking lot at 2156 W. Ogden Ave., Chicago, IL 60612. This lot can be used for parking, as well as additional street parking on neighboring streets. Please leave enough time for transportation and parking. The program begins promptly at 6:00 pm CT.
This program is part of the AWM’s American Prophets: Writers, Religion, and Culture exhibit and programming series, which examines the relationship between American writers and religion. American Prophets opens November 2025 and is supported by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative.

Haitian Heritage Month Konpa Sware
2025-05-15 19:00 - 23:00 | IL
Join the Haitian American Museum of Chicago (HAMOC) at its monthly Konpa Sware! The museum is excited to continue this immersive event which includes an evening of Haitian dance and music. Join us at Room43. Food will be available for free and the FIRST 50 GUESTS will recieve 1 FREE DRINK!
FEATURING MUSIC BY: DJ Frantz!
This is a recurring event on the Third Thursday of each month. Keep an eye out for future event registration!
* TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR*

3rd Fridays Free Admission Museum Night
2025-05-16 17:00 - 20:00 | Heritage Museum of Asian Art, 3500 S Morgan St, Chicago, IL, 60609, United States
Free Admission Museum Nights take place every third Friday of each month from 5 pm to 8 pm! The tour will start at 6 PM on time. All tours depart from the reception desk, and please be sure to arrive on time. The event offers wine and appetizers.
This Friday at 7-7:40 PM, our Resident Artist 2024 – Irene Hsiao will perform at the Heritage Museum of Asian Art as part of the project If The Sky Could Dream.
About the Tour –
Learn about Asian Art in the Heritage Museum of Asian Art with a guided hour-long tour around the gallery. Museum-trained interns and volunteers will give a talk on selected artworks. Each word is packed with fascinating insights, information, and stories. During this participatory experience, you’ll connect with works from across the collection and get a close look at highlighting artworks. Visitors of all ages are welcome.
Please note tours may be canceled or postponed due to unforeseen circumstances.
About the project –
IF THE SKY COULD DREAM focuses on the Chinese dragon as a powerful being that fosters harmony. This creature is emblematic of China as well as a mythological being for many Asian and Western cultures and thus evokes a sense of mysticism, and intrigue in many communities. Representing the Chinese Dragon as a water deity, the installation series will feature images and projections of the weather and local bodies of water in Chicago.
If The Sky Could Dream is supported, in part, by a Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant
About Irene Hsiao
Irene Hsiao creates performances in conversation with visual art in museums, galleries, and public spaces, a practice that includes site-specific interaction with visual artworks and experimental engagement with artists, institutions, and the public. Find out more through our website.
Accessibility
The Heritage Museum of Asian Art’s Entrance is on West 35th Street. Take the elevator to the third floor and turn right to the Museum Reception Desk. Accessible and standard toilets are located on the same floor. Free parking space is available next to the museum via West 35th Street.
If you have any programming questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with info@heritageasianart.org or 312-842-8884.

Stammtisch Open Haus, Every 3rd Friday
2025-05-16 19:30 - 2025-05-17 00:00 | DANK Haus German American Cultural Center, 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
Feiern Sie mit uns! Our monthly Open Haus Stammtisch is a great way to meet new friends and enjoy a little Gemütlichkeit over some delicious German food and drink!
Theme TBD
Food and drink will be available for purchase.
Free parking at 5/3 Bank after 6:00 PM located at Western and Gunnison

Neighborhood Nights
2025-05-22 19:00 - 23:00 | IL

Crossroads of Worlds
2025-05-30 19:00 - 21:00 | 2249 West Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60612, 2249 West Superior Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, United States
Yurii Bandera’s exhibition, “Crossroads of Worlds” (Перехрестя світів), will be on display May 30 to June 22 at the Ukrainian National Museum.His work invites viewers into a space where multiple realities converge: cultures, memories, and inner and outer landscapes. Each work is born from the artist’s encounter with these dual realms, forming a visual dialogue between the seen and unseen. The “crossroads” becomes not just a motif but a philosophical meeting place—one where every viewer is invited to interpret the experience uniquely.The artistic journey of Yurii Bandera began in childhood.He graduated from Lviv Polytechnic University with a degree in Architecture. For over two decades, he taught at the Stryi Higher Art Vocational School, continuing to shape generations of young artists.In 2017, Yurii Bandera’s contribution to Ukrainian art was officially recognized with his acceptance into the National Union of Artists of Ukraine. Now, in his new world — the United States — he continues to explore and expand his creative vision.

Summer Youth Social Powwow
2025-05-31 12:00 - 19:00 | Trickster Cultural Center, 190 S Roselle Rd, Schaumburg, IL, 60193, United States
This youth-led community event is FREE and open to the general public event. This “Summer Youth Social Powwow” event aims to foster community relations, youth literacy, cultural exchange with a powwow and provide local community resources at Trickster Cultural Center.

Feature film "Candela" by Dominican creator Andrés Farías Cintrón
2025-05-31 18:00 | 2956 North Milwaukee Avenue
The feature film *Candela* by Dominican creator Andrés Farías Cintrón will be screened this Saturday in Chicago as part of an event organized by DAMA, the Dominican American Midwest Association.

The production, which has received multiple awards and has been an official selection at numerous festivals, is inspired by the novel of the same name by Dominican writer Rey Andújar.

The Dominican American Midwest Association is a nonprofit organization that aims to create opportunities for analysis and planning of political, social, cultural, and economic activities for Dominicans in the Midwest region of the United States.

The film screening will take place at 2956 North Milwaukee Avenue, at the headquarters of the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance. The event is scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM and will feature a reception and discussion with writer Rey Andújar.

Threads of Identity: Stitching Stories Through Portrait Quilts
2025-06-01 14:00 - 16:00 | Heritage Museum of Asian Art, 3500 S Morgan St, Chicago, IL, 60609, United States
In this unique presentation, artists will share their deeply personal approaches to transforming photographic images into expressive textile art. Through storytelling and visual examples, they will discuss their inspirations, creative processes, techniques, fabric selection and sourcing, as well as the technical challenges they’ve encountered—and the innovative solutions they’ve discovered along the way.
The event will conclude with an open Q&A, offering the audience a chance to engage directly with the artists.
This event is part of the Stitching Stories workshop and exhibition series. This is a collaboration between the Heritage Museum of Asian Art and the Needles and Threads Quilters Guild (ntqg.org), supported by Healing Illinois.

Artist bio:
Joyce Weathington
Joyce Weathington has been sewing since her teenage years, but she found her true artistic calling five years ago when she discovered quilting. In particular, she has developed a passion for portrait quilting—capturing faces, memories, and stories through Needles and Threads Quilters Guild. Her work reflects both her love of fabric and her desire to experiment with textile as a storytelling medium.
Dorothy Burge
Dorothy Burge is a multimedia artist and community activist whose work is deeply rooted in social justice. Drawing inspiration from both historical and contemporary struggles for equity, she uses quilting as her activist voice. A self-taught fiber artist, Dorothy began creating quilts in the 1990s. She comes from a long line of Mississippi quilters, whose traditions of repurposing old clothing into beautiful quilts continue to influence her powerful work today.
Doris Barnes
Doris Barnes fell in love with sewing at a young age in Mississippi, where she was taught by her godmother. Since then, her passion for sewing and quilting has only grown. Known for her bold color choices and non-traditional patterns, Doris creates garments and quilts that reflect her vibrant personality. An award-winning quilter, she quilts every single day and considers it her life’s passion. She also shares her skills by teaching quilting at her church and making charity quilts for those who are ill or homebound.
Accessibility:
The museum is wheelchair accessible. Audio Description will be available for those who need it.

Tickets & Support:
If cost is a barrier, we warmly invite you to email us at info@heritagemuseum.org to reserve a spot—no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
We look forward to making something beautiful with you!
