Chicago Cultural Alliance

Fresh Legacies: A Conversation with Joel Hall Dance Center
2024-04-13 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Newberry Library, 60 West Walton Street, Chicago, IL, 60610, United States
How did the Joel Hall Dancers get their start? What’s their future? How do you keep a Chicago legacy fresh and vibrant – while championing new visions and growth?
Join Co-Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus Joel Hall and Interim Artistic Director William Gill in conversation with Nicole Clarke-Springer, artistic director for Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre, at the Newberry Library on Saturday, April 13. Part of the 50th Anniversary events for Joel Hall Dancers & Center, this conversation closes a day of inspiring dance education and the WERKQ that distinguishes Joel Hall Dancers & Center as a dance pioneer in Chicago.
Presented in partnership with the Newberry Library and the Ruth Page Center for the Arts. Special thanks to the Chicago Dance History Project.
50th Anniversary events for Joel Hall Dancers & Center are supported by the National Endowment for the Arts. We are grateful to them – and all of our supporters. Learn how YOU can help support the next half-century of electrifying Urban Jazz dance.

ACCE x Dima Zaghal Present: Home "وطن"
2024-04-13 14:30 - 16:00 | Abrahamic Center for Cultural Education, 55 W Van Buren Street, Suite 220, Chicago, IL, 60605, United States
Saturday, April 13th, 2024 | 2:30-4:00 pm
ACCE x Dima Zaghal Present: Home “وطن”
Abrahamic Center for Cultural Education
55 West Van Buren Street, Fifth Floor Chicago, IL 60605
ACCE is excited to announce that they will be hosting NEW art in their rotating exhibition space! This spring, they will be hosting artist, Dima Zagha, and her interactive installation titled, “Home” or “Watan” in arabic. Come join them for an afternoon of viewing this installation, listening to Dima’s artist talk, and enjoying light refreshments. As always, this event is FREE and open to the public. Registration is REQUIRED.

Scenes of Parkway Ballroom
2024-04-13 14:00 - 16:00 | IL

Constructing Jathi Choreography with Harini Nilakantan
2024-04-13 13:15 - 14:15, 2024-04-06 13:15 - 14:15 | 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

Urban Jazz Day: Joel Hall @ Ruth Page
2024-04-13 12:00 - 15:00 | Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St, Chicago, 60610
Join members of the Joel Hall Dancers & Center family at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts for FREE classes in the signature style of the Joel Hall Dancers, Urban Jazz. Part of our 50th Anniversary celebration activities, join us and experience some of the WERKQ that makes Joel Hall Dancers & Center unique in Chicago.

From Noon – 1:30 PM, join First Company Member Melissa Metro in a FREE open-level Urban Jazz class, the signature style of the Joel Hall Dancers. Reserve your spot, today!
From 1:30 – 3 PM, join Co-Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus Joel Hall for 90-minutes of his Breathing Floor WERKQ Barre technique. Reserve your spot, today!

These classes are generously supported by the Ruth Page Center for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. We are grateful for their generosity – and the generosity of all our supporters! Learn how YOU can support Joel Hall Dancers & Center as it begins another fifty years of electrifying Chicago and the nation with Urban Jazz.

FREE Guided Tours at the National Hellenic Museum
2024-04-13 11:00 - 15:00, 2024-04-06 11:00 - 15:00 | National Hellenic Museum, 333 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL, 60661, United States
Join us for our FREE, limited-time offer guided tours every Saturday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. These one-hour tours offer a comprehensive journey through the museum’s rich exhibitions and artifacts.

Puerto Rican Arts Alliance: Studio Arts Program
2024-04-13 10:30 - 14:30, 2024-04-06 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.

Kino, Kaffee und Kuchen
2024-04-13 10:30, 2024-04-06 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

Ukrainian Easter Egg Workshop
2024-04-13 10:00 - 14:00 | 2249 West Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60612, 2249 West Superior Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, United States
Let your creative juices flow as you create a piece of artwork to add to your treasure trove.
Each workshop is 4 hours long from 10:am-2:pm. Dates: March 9, March 23, April 13, April 27. Seating is limited to 18 participants per workshop. Participants must be 17 years of age or older. Registration fee $45 per person.
Register here:https://ukrainiannationalmuseum.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events#/events/2655

Scottish American History Forum
2024-04-13 10:00 - 11:30 | IL
Date: April 13 | 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Location:

Topic: Scottish American Military Society – The Legacy and the Pride
Presenter: Kenneth A. Lloyd, National Commander, The Scottish American Military Society, USA

Jazz Series: Jazz Appreciation Month
2024-04-12 19:00 - 21:00, 2024-04-06 12:00 - 15:00 | Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, 4046 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago, IL, 60639, United States
The Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center is hosting their very own Jazz Appreciation Month series of events. This years line-up includes Chris Madsen, Raíces Latin Jazz, Julián Pujols Quall, La Cantera & Friends Jam Session at The California Clipper, and Gabriel Rodriguez. This event is free and open to the public.

Special master class for aspiring young musicians with Chicago-based saxophonist Chris Madsen. Participating performing ensembles include College of DuPage Jazz Combo led by Matt Shevitz and SRBCC’s La Cantera.

Raíces was modeled on the famous Cal Tjader Quintet of the 1950’s & 60’s by the late Chicago percussionist Rubén Alvarez and is now led by vibraphonist Joe Sonnefeldt. Since their post-pandemic return, the group has thrilled audiences at area music festivals and Chicago performance venues. Raíces includes Stuart Seale on piano, Eric Ferrer on bassist , Bobby Delgado on timbales, and Jorge Leal on congas.

Julián Pujols Quall and Jonathan Suazo bring two music projects together in an exploration of Afro-Puerto Rican and Afro-Dominican Jazz.

After playing alongside New York Times’ “Top 10 Jazz Musicians of 2023” Jonathan Suazo and Santana’s Paoli Mejías, La Cantera is hosting a Jazz Appreciation Month Jam session with some of Chicago’s top jazz artists as part of their monthly residency at The California Clipper in Humboldt Park. No cover before 7:00 pm!

Gabriel Rodríguez’s unique style, a balanced medley of musicality, knowledge, feelings and an incredible understanding of his Latin nature has made him one of the most sought after bassists on the music scene.

Cooking Class | Brezeln: German Pretzels
2024-04-12 18:30 - 20:30 | DANK Haus German American Cultural Center, 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
The Pretzel Blitz is back!We are hosting 2 pretzel making classes this fall. Why? We LOVE pretzels! These pretzel-making classes will be offered in-person. We will host up to 20 students in our industrial kitchen at the DANK Haus. These 20 students will get hands on training from Reinhard Richter, our resident Pretzel Meister, and take home their homemade pretzels at the end of the class.
We have 2 classes to choose from. All students will get the recipe and be able to communicate directly with our chef.
Class also offered on the following dates:

Friday, April 5th @ 6:30 PM

Fee: Friends of DANK: $20 | Public: $30
What to expect? Students will receive one free beverage of choice and will take home freshly baked pretzels. Class time estimated 2 hours.
Questions? Email samantha@dankhaus.com!

3831 CINEMA: FOR THE LOVE OF BLACK ARTISTS
2024-04-12 17:00 - 20:00 | South Side Community Art Center, 3831 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, 60653, United States
We’re thrilled to host filmmakers Rachel Gadson and Briana Clearly for rotational film screenings as part of Art After Hours Powered by Gertie, for EXPO art week!
Sponsored by Arete Wealth & Masterworks, AAH takes place from 5-8 pm on Friday, April 12 during EXPO ART WEEK and offers extended hours at over 45 galleries and creative spaces throughout the city of Chicago. With a myriad of exciting events unfolding throughout the evening!
EXPO ART WEEK partners annually with the city’s most prestigious institutions to feature select programming, including museum exhibitions, gallery openings, and more. EXPO CHICAGO showcases leading contemporary and modern art galleries each April at Navy Pier’s Festival Hall, alongside a diverse and inventive program of talks, on-site installations, and public art initiatives.
Inaugurated in 2012, EXPO CHICAGO draws upon the city’s rich history as a vibrant international cultural destination, while highlighting the region’s contemporary arts community. In 2023, EXPO CHICAGO was acquired by Frieze, the world’s leading platform for modern and contemporary art.

If The Sky Could Dream: Art, Climate, Community, and Social Change
2024-04-12 17:00 - 19:00 | Heritage Museum of Asian Art, 3500 S Morgan St, Chicago, IL, 60609, United States
As part of EXPO ART WEEK, Elizabeth Corr, Associate Director of Arts and Cultural Partnerships at the National Resources Defense Council, discusses environmental activism in art, including past exhibitions at EXPO Chicago, in conversation with a performance installation by Irene Hsiao, as part of the Heritage Museum of Asian Art’s Year of the Dragon: Early China to LEGO exhibition.
Elizabeth Corr collaborates with artists, writers, museums, and cultural institutions to heighten public awareness of and interest in environmental issues facing communities.
Irene Hsiao creates performances in conversation with visual art in museums, galleries, and public spaces. She is 2024 Resident Artist at Heritage Museum of Asian Art.
Heritage Museum of Asian Art provides an interconnection between the arts and cultures of Asia for the residents of Chicago and for visitors from all around the world.
“If The Sky Could Dream” is funded in part by a Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant.
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.

Behind the Strings: The Shanghai Quartet Documentary Film
2024-04-12 16:00 - 19:00 | Online Event
CAMOC is hosting a free virtual screening and LIVE Q&A on Behind the Strings.
This is a documentary film based on one of the outstanding string quartets on the world’s stage, The Shanghai Quartet. Learn about their lives and experience with stardom in China where Western classical music was once banned and punishable. The Quartet has been instrumental in reviving Western classical music’s popularity in China.
The event is on Friday, April 12 at 4 pm. Register at bit.ly/register-SQFilm

Neighborhood Nights
2024-04-11 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!

Opening Night: 40th Chicago Latino Film Festival "The Wingwalker"
2024-04-11 17:30 | IL
One of the most special nights of the 40th Film Festival happens on Opening Night. The summary of all the effort and work is celebrated in a Gala night with Special Film presentation and a reception with Directors, Actors and Producers participating in CLFF.
Come join us for this very special evening at the DAVIS Theatre (4614 N. Lincoln. Ave) Doors Open at 5:30pm and the Program will begin at 6:15pm.
A Special Reception Cocktail Party will follow at the DANK HAUS (4740 N. Western Ave.) – Evening Dress is strongly encouraged.
Tickets – $75 gen. admin and $65 for ILCC Members will be available on March 7th, 2024 through the link below.
Parking is Free and Meter Parking on the Street and Pay Lots are also available. (4519 N. Lincoln, 2357 W. Leland Ave & 4650 N. Western)
Starring Mexican actor and comedian Omar Chaparro and Teatro Vista Ensemble member Max Arciniega (who also co-wrote and executive produced the film), “The Wingwalker” is the story of Julian, a father and widower whose life takes an unexpected turn when a misdemeanor lands him in jail and he is eventually deported to Mexico. Julian’s nine-year-old daughter, Sofia, who has been diagnosed with a terminal heart disease and is scheduled for a heart transplant in two weeks, is left in the care of her irresponsible uncle, Nick. Knowing the possibility of never seeing his daughter alive again is real, Julian fights to go back by any means necessary. In the process, he comes face to face with the harsh realities faced by many migrants who make their way to the U.S. border. “The Wingwalker” is a moving, suspenseful, sometimes terrifying exploration of one of the most urgent issues facing this country today.

UIC Arab American Heritage Month April 2024 Programming
2024-04-11, 2024-04-10 | Arab American Cultural Center UIC, UIC 701 S Morgan, Chicago, IL, 60607, United States
The Arab American Cultural Center is partnering with a diversity of institutions at UIC and outside to celebrate and educate about Arab American history, culture, diversity, joys, pains, and identities.
At UIC, this year we are partnering with the Global Middle East Studies Working Group of the Institute for the Humanities, the Gender and Sexuality Department, the Diversity and Inclusion at UI Health.
Outside UIC, this year we are partnering with several community organizations, museums, institutions, and schools including: the Field Museum, Chicago Public Library, The Little Red School House Nature Center (Forest Preserve), D300, and more.
Click the link here for more info: https://arabamcc.uic.edu/programs/arab-american-heritage-month/#arab-american-heritage-month-april-2024-programming

April Free Day
2024-04-10 10:00 - 17:00 | IL
Date: 2024-04-10
Location:
3001 Central Street, Evanston,IL 60201, United States

Join us for a day of free admission at the Mitchell Museum on Wednesday, April 10th, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Thank you to our Sponsor Grace Lutheran Church!
For more information about this program, please contact: info@mitchellmuseum.org | (847) 475-1030

BENDING LIGHT ARTIST TALK: SOUTH SIDE NIGHT x EXPO CHICAGO
2024-04-09 17:00 - 19:00 | South Side Community Art Center, 3831 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, 60653, United States
Paul Branton, artist and curator of SSCAC’s current exhibition Bending Light, will facilitate an artist talk with the exhibiting artists of SSCAC’s current exhibition Bending Light, detailing the exhibition’s themes and subject matter as it relates to explorations of color and identity.
The artists explore the impact of color on Black identity, potential, and the intricate interplay between societal perceptions and individual existence. Artists will include Eddie “Edo” Santana, Pearlie Taylor, Courtney Collins, Rober Lewis Clark, and Bryant Lamont.
As the official start of EXPO ART WEEK, South Side Night features exhibitions, tours, talks, and performances. Visitors are encouraged to explore the many galleries, museums, and exhibition spaces in this dynamic community for arts and culture.
EXPO ART WEEK partners annually with the city’s most prestigious institutions to feature select programming, including museum exhibitions, gallery openings, and more. EXPO CHICAGO showcases leading contemporary and modern art galleries each April at Navy Pier’s Festival Hall, alongside a diverse and inventive program of talks, on-site installations, and public art initiatives.
Inaugurated in 2012, EXPO CHICAGO draws upon the city’s rich history as a vibrant international cultural destination, while highlighting the region’s contemporary arts community. In 2023, EXPO CHICAGO was acquired by Frieze, the world’s leading platform for modern and contemporary art.

Skyline Sketching
2024-04-09 12:00 - 14:00 | Chicago Architecture Center, 111 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL, 60601, United States
Explore the dynamic world of urban landscapes in our adult drop-in workshop on sketching Chicago’s great skyline. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned artist, join us for a hands-on experience where you’ll refine your sketching techniques and discover the artistry within the city skyline. All supplies for this workshop will be provided.
Free with Advanced Registration

Artist Discussion w/ Chelsea Bighorn
2024-04-08 | IL
Date: 2024-04-08
Location:
3001 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201, United States

Join us for our artist discussion about their work and who they are as artists. There will be a live Q&A at the end of each discussion.
Chelsea Bighorn was born and raised in Tempe, Arizona, her tribal affiliations are the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux tribes from Montana and the Shoshone-Paiute from Northern Nevada. Bighorn’s hand cut paper artwork is the result of her combining traditional Native American design elements with elements from her Irish American heritage. Using this process, she tells her personal history through her designs. Bighorn has shown her work at the Museum of Contemporary Native Art, SITE Santa Fe, and The Balzar Gallery. She graduated with honors from The Institute of American Indian Arts in 2021 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Arts. Bighorn currently resides in Chicago, Illinois where she is attending the School of The Art Institute of Chicago to get her Master of Fine Arts in Fiber and Material Studies. https://chelseabighorn.com/home.html
Artist Statement
I explore art and design in a way that merges natural and geometric elements through a variety of mediums, including fiber arts and cut paper works. The subject matter varies from abstract to realistically illustrative depending on the concept and series. My most recent series of works are hand-cut paper patterns that resemble screens or stained-glass windows, which were the original inspiration. In addition to the inspiration drawn from my Catholic roots, I incorporate traditional beading and weaving patterns from my Native American heritage into my design work. I bring together disparate elements into a design that demonstrates balance and harmony.

SAI Screenings: Before You Were My Mother
2024-04-06 15:30 - 17:00 | South Asia Institute 1925 South Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL 60616
South Asia Institute Presents,
A special screening of the Nepali documentary “Before You Were My Mother” as part of our new “SAI Screenings” series on Saturday, April 6 (3:30 pm).
About the film
Born and brought up in Manipur and currently living in New York, Ibemhal (59) left her childhood home in Manipur and moved to Nepal after her marriage. Ibemhal’s whole life has been dedicated to raising her two daughters while trying to find her own identity in new places. Who is Ibemhal beyond her identity as a mother and a wife? What was her life like in Manipur?
Prasuna (30), Ibemhal’s eldest daughter longs to understand the person that is her mother. Prasuna’s bond with her mother is shaped by the conflict-ridden socio-political environment in which she was raised, patriarchal expectations of being a woman in a Nepali society and years of living apart. When Ibemhal returns to Nepal to visit Prasuna in 2020, both of them take a trip to Manipur to visit Ibemhal’s mother, Prasuna’s grand mother.
This 73 minutes deeply personal observational documentary explores the relationship between mothers and daughters and unearths layers of their childhood, youth and past traumas. Prasuna tries to come to terms with the differences she has with her mother and seeks a way to define her own life.
About the director
Prasuna is a documentary filmmaker from Kathmandu. She works as a DocLab Coordinator at kimff and is one of the Filmmaker Mentors for the Camera Sika project run by The British Council Nepal. She was also one of the Filmmaker Fellows of One World Media’s Global Short Doc Forum 2021. Her documentary ‘Dolpa Diary’ (2019) was screened at many film festivals in and outside of Nepal. The documentary was awarded in the category of Best Adventure Film at kimff 2018 and Best Woman Filmmaker at Human Rights International Film Festival (HRIFF) 2019. Prasuna’s work broadly concerns collective memory and an in-depth account of personal experiences.

April Call to Peace- One Earth Collective
2024-04-06 12:30 - 13:30 | IL
Join us for this interactive and uplifting event as we send love and peace and love to all countries either in-person at The Peace School or online.
Kick off April’s Earth Day observance by joining us at the April 6 Call to Peace!
This month’s special guest: Ana-Garcia Doyle, Executive Director, One Earth Collective (https://oneearthcollective.
Ana Garcia-Doyle believes there is no time like the present to focus on the future of our planet and generations to come. One Earth Collective began as Green Community Connections in suburban Oak Park in September 2010. Ana came to the group in 2012 with an idea to use film to engage residents about the environment and through intense hard work, the One Earth Film Festival was born. One Earth Collective now engages more than 7,000 people annually through the One Earth Film Festival (https://www.oneearthfilmfest.org), One Earth Local and One Earth Youth Voices. It has built environmental awareness and inspired action in the Chicago area as well as nationally, with an emphasis on developing youth leadership.
Get ready to be inspired by Ana’s enthusiasm and commitment to working collectively for the betterment of our one and only Earth. Don’t miss the April 6 Call to Peace!
The Peace School:3121 N. Lincoln Ave. Or
Join the event on Facebook Live or Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83467732930 (Meeting ID 834 6773 2930)
