Chicago Cultural Alliance

Freestyle Art
2023-05-27 11:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture, 3015 W Division Street, Chicago, IL, 60622, United States
Join us for Mental Health Awareness Month to doodle, color, and re-create your interpretation of our artworks. We welcome you to come and express yourself through art.

Music of Cambodia
2023-05-27 11:00 - 12:00 | Chicago Public Library – Rogers Park Branch, 6907 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60626, United States

Творчий вечір Горових в Чикаго
2023-05-26 19:00 - 22:00 | Ukrainian National Museum, 2249 W. Superior St., Chicago, IL, 60612, United States
Друзі, приходьте. почитаємо вам з нових книжок. Зберемо на циганський двіж і ЗСУ. ваші Руслан і Людмила.

An Evening with Comic Books Author & Illustrator Lucie Lomová
2023-05-25 19:00 | T. G. Masaryk Czech School, 5701 W 22nd Pl, Cicero, IL, 60804, United States
Join T. G. Masaryk Czech School for a conversation with Lucie Lomová, award-winning Czech comic book artist, author and illustrator.

Starship Chicago II: World Premiere
2023-05-25 18:00 - 19:30 | Chicago Architecture Center, 111 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL, 60601, United States
This film features Chicago’s James R. Thompson Center as it transforms from a public office building into Google’s downtown headquarters, raising questions about architecture.

Architecture Basics in Seven Structures
2023-05-24 12:00 - 13:00 | Online Event
Believe it or not, all of architecture boils down to seven basic structures. Yet they can be combined in more than 5,000 ways to create our built environment. Join us to learn more.

Job Readiness Workshops
2023-05-22 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual, Chicago, IL, United States
Are you looking for new jobs or getting ready to apply for one? Sign up for HANA’s virtual job readiness workshops coming up soon! Available in English and Spanish.

The People’s Tongue: Music &Words in Celebration
2023-05-21 16:00 - 18:00 | American Writers Museum, 180 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, 60601, United States
Join us at the American Writers Museum for musical performances and readings in celebration of the 2023 anthology “The People’s Tongue: Americans and the English Language.”
The event will begin with a short performance by Paquito D’Rivera, renowned Cuban-American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist and composer and Fareed Haque, Pakistani-Chilean-American jazz and classical guitarist, followed by discussion moderated by Ilan Stavans, editor of the The People’s Tongue and Ambassador Carolyn Curiel, and conclude with several short readings from the anthology.
This program will also be livestreamed.

In Concert: Pt. Tejendra Mujumdar and Pt. Tanmoy Bose
2023-05-21 15:00 - 17:00 | South Asia Institute, 1925 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60616, United States
A Special Recital of Hindustani Classical Music at SAI
South Asia Institute & South Asian Classical Music Society Present Pt. Tejendra Mujumdar and Pt. Tanmoy Bose in concert.
Pandit Tejendra Narayan Majumdar’ is one of the most brilliant and popular classical artists from India. A dedicated musician who is also interested in composing, arranging and experimenting in other areas of music. From composing the background score of meaningful films to musical ballets – Tejendra is always ready to take on any musical challenge. He has composed the music for the Bengali films like ‘Shongshoy’ and ‘Hononkal’ of Saibal Mitra, Tollylights of Arjun Chakraborty, and a lot of Telefilms. He has also composed and arranged music for different singers like Ghulam Ali, Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty, Haimanti Shukla, and Arati Mukherjee.
Tejendra plays the fretless sarod and represents the Maihar gharana (school) having learned the instrument for many years from Bahadur Khan before his passing and later from his cousin Ali Akbar Khan.
Tanmoy Bose is a percussionist and tabla player, musical producer, film actor and composer. Born and raised in Kolkata, the cultural capital of India, Bose grew up in downtown Kolkata at a time when Indian Music was being paid serious attention in the West due to the efforts of the legendary maestros. His house used to throb with activity-business, music, medicine at all and was rightfully considered as a nodal point of practitioners and connoisseurs of all the above and could boast of being a landmark in the area. Bose is one of the foremost musicians in contemporary world music and an indispensable member in the global fraternity of percussion. Bose received his early tutelage from the legendary Kanai Dutta. Bose became the Gandabandh Shagird {formally initiated disciple in Indian classical music} of the noted torchbearer of the Farukhabad gharana Pandit Shankar Ghosh.
For Tanmoy, music and life are inseparable. Rhythm is his quest of truth and beauty- it transcends all other priorities in his life.

Ethnobotany in Our Region: Native Plants and Indigenous Culture
2023-05-21 14:30 - 16:00 | Virtual, Chicago, IL, United States

Introduction of Balinese Gamelan Angklung
2023-05-21 14:00 - 15:00 | Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
Check out this new workshop and learn to play music from Bali. Angklung is an orchestra of metallophones that is traditionally used to accompany funerals as a celebration of life in Bali, Indonesia. These four-note instruments are a perfect introduction to the world of gamelan music. You’ll learn the interlocking melodies and communal nature of gamelan. Between slow gong cycles and shredding gangsa parts his ensemble has something for everyone.

Live: Cambodian Museum Mahori Musicians and Crossing Borders Music
2023-05-21 14:00 | Global Citizenship Experience Lab School, 9 W Washington St, Floor 4, Chicago, IL, 60602, United States
Crossing Borders Music joins the National Cambodian Heritage Museum Traditional Music Ensemble for an amazing afternoon of musical fusion!

Crossing Borders Music joins the National Cambodian Heritage Museum Traditional Music Ensemble for an amazing afternoon of new arrangements of Cambodian classics! The performance includes beautiful new arrangements made by Crossing Borders Music violinist Rasa Mahmoudian and overseen by Nisa Pov for the 2021 Cambodian Day of Remembrance. Be one of the first people to ever hear this amazing fusion of Cambodian and European traditional instruments – live and in-person!

On-Site Film Screening: “The Pianist from Ramallah”
2023-05-21 14:00 | Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie, IL, 60077, United States
Join us on-site at the Museum a film screening presented in partnership with JCC Chicago Jewish Film Festival:
The Pianist from Ramallah shares four years in the life of Muhammad “Misha” Alsheikh, a talented teenage pianist from Ramallah. The son of a Palestinian father and a Russian mother, it takes Muhammad 3 hours to get from his house to his piano lessons, but his dreams are bigger than borders. Between checkpoints, auditions, and his father’s will that he will become a doctor, Muhammad chases his aspirations of becoming a professional pianist – and of staying happy.
Please call 847.763.3507 for assistance.
Clicking the link below will redirect you to the JCC Jewish Film Festival website for registration.

A Passport to Haiti: Art Making
2023-05-21 13:00 - 17:00 | Haitian American Museum of Chicago, 4410 N Clark St, Chicago, 60640, United States
Join the Haitian American Museum of Chicago (HAMOC) in A Passport to Haiti! A Passport to Haiti is a four-event program spanning over several months that focuses on the cuisine, movement, culture, and art of Haiti. This event focuses on Art Making and is to be held on Sunday, May 21st.
In this event, guests will interact with artist Ameera Lys as she explains her inspirations, and then guests will be able to make their own pieces of art that are representative of their identities.

May 17: Book Discussion: American Born Chinese
2023-05-21 13:00 - 15:00 | Chinese American Museum of Chicago, 238 W. 23rd St, Chicago, IL, 60616, United States
Book talk and discussion series on the graphic novel and Disney+ series “American Born Chinese”
RSVP HERE
AMERICAN BORN CHINESE has been adapted as a genre-hopping action-comedy series based on the graphic novel of the same name by Gene Luen Yang.
In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we are hosting a book talk and discussion series on the graphic novel and what it means to be American Born Chinese. We begin the series with a book reading and discussion, followed by a weekly screening and discussion of each episode.
You may purchase a copy of the graphic novel through the museum, or you can bring your own copy. Weekly attendance is encouraged, but you can attend any or every discussion meeting.
Please select the PAID TICKET option if you’d like to purchase your copy through us.
Register on Eventbrite

Destinos al Aire
2023-05-21 13:00 - 14:00 | National Museum of Mexican Arts, 1852 W 19th St, Chicago, IL, 60608, United States
The center of Peruvian Arts will perform in this important event promoting music and dance.
The performances are an important means of expressing Peruvian Indigenous heritage – past, present, and future adopting a ‘best practice’ approach and encouraging respect for the cultures of Indigenous. This performance expresses the native life through his or her relationship with land, waterways, animals, and plants, and his or her relationships with other people.
The performances incorporate different art forms based on the expressions of the Indigenous Peruvian people – ceremony, storytelling, celebration, mourning, coming together, and telling of events in Indigenous people’s lives, both past and present times, and divided into categories of traditional and contemporary. In this transmission, the viewer can enjoy the conservation of the ceremonies, storytelling, preserving the language y some indigenous experiences. In this performance, we attribute to all Indigenous cultures, the source community, writers, actors, dancers, directors, designers, choreographers, technical personnel, and cultural consultants who contributed to the work at all stages. In this way, we can be continuing with the vision of the Indigenous people that have a responsibility to ensure that the practice and transmission of Indigenous cultural expression are continued for the benefit of future generations.

A Murder Mystery Party and Balzekas Museum Women's Guild "FUN"draiser
2023-05-21 12:30 - 16:00 | Mayfield Banquet Hall, 6072 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL, 60638, United States
Come enjoy the all-immersive experience where you can be the detective. This party promises an afternoon of mystery and intrigue.

Sponsored by: The Women’s Guild of the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture
What: Annual Fundraiser
When: Sunday, May 21, 2023 / Social Hour: 12:30PM / Lunch 1:30PM to 2:30PM / In-House Raffle: 3:30PM
Where: Mayfield Banquet Hall / 6072 Archer Ave Chicago, IL 60638

Tasveer Ki Aawaz
2023-05-20 19:30 | National Indo-American Museum, 815 S Main St, Lombard, IL, 60148, United States
Join NIAM for an enchanting evening with renowned poet Iqbal Patni and dancer Anagha Sundararajan who will be performing a unique fusion of Hindustani Poetry with Arts, Visuals and Dance. Suggested donation is $30 for event.

ИВАН ЛАНДЖЕВ в Споделена библиотека Магура
2023-05-20 18:30 | Magura Cultural Center, 415 W Golf Rd #7, Arlington Heights, IL, United States
В навечерието на 24 май представаме Иван Ланджев – един от най-талантливите, обичани и четени млади български поети и есеисти.
Заповядайте в културен център “Магура” на 20 май от….. ч.
Вярваме, че Иван Ланджев в разговор с Ангелина Илиева (Чикагски университет) и Изидора Анжел (поет и преводач) ще опровергае собствените си думи, че поетите не могат да говорят поетично.
Ще чуем негови стихове, но не само. За първи път пред гостите на събитието Иван ще прочете фрагменти от новата си книга с есета “За неизбежната случайност”. Ще слушаме джаз и нови български песни по текст на госта ни.
Заповядайте да празнуваме българските букви в компанията на един виртуоз, който ги превръща в изящно слово.
Вход свободен

The Borinqueneers Book Presentation
2023-05-20 15:00 - 18:00 | Puerto Rican Arts Alliance, 3000 N Elbridge Ave, Chicago, IL, 60618, United States
Don’t miss a book presentation of The Borinqueneers by Noemí Figueroa Soulet. Learn about the 65th Infantry Regiment and the impact they made. Taking place on Saturday, May 20th from 3-6pm at PRAA Center.

Haitian Heritage Month Fundraiser and Social
2023-05-20 15:00 - 18:00 | My Buddy’s, 4416 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640, United States
May is Haitian Heritage Month. Join HAMOC at MyBuddy’s in Uptown for an afternoon social including food, music, and community. Guests will have access to a raffle, a live performance, buffet-style food, specialty Haitian drinks, and free admission to view HAMOC the day of the event!

The event will be on May 20 from 3PM to 6PM.
For more information, please reach out to info@hamoc.org.

Lecture: Discovering the Art of Japan: A Guide to Collecting Japanese Art
2023-05-20 14:00 - 15:30 | Heritage Museum of Asian Art, 3500 S Morgan St, Chicago, IL, 60609, United States
Instructor: Megan Sadler, Associate Specialist, Asian Works of Art

Throughout the lecture, you will gain an introduction to the world of Japanese art, from its history and evolution to its various styles and mediums. You will learn what to look for in a piece, how to assess its quality, and how to determine its value in the market.

In this lecture, the expert instructor will guide attendees through Japanese art collecting fundamentals, including identifying and appreciating different styles and mediums such as ukiyo-e prints, ceramics, lacquerware, and textiles. They will discuss the importance of provenance, condition, and authenticity when collecting Japanese art and provide tips on researching and authenticating a piece.

Attendees will also learn about the different channels for acquiring Japanese art, such as auctions, dealers, and online marketplaces. The instructor will share their insights on how to navigate these channels, how to build relationships with dealers, and how to bid effectively at auctions.

By the end of this lecture, attendees will have gained a solid foundation in Japanese art collecting and be equipped with the knowledge and skills to start building their collections. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn from an expert in Japanese art collecting.

Walk Like a Preservationist
2023-05-20 13:30 - 15:00 | Chicago Architecture Center, 111 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL, 60601, United States
How can you look at an historic building and know that it should be preserved or landmarked? Join Adam Rubin, CAC Director of Interpretation, and member of the Commission on Chicago Landmarks, and learn what to look for to determine if a building qualifies for preservation designation.
Chicago’s historic resources lend our city its unique sense of place. But what does it take to legally ensure a building’s protection? How are historic construction materials cared for differently than newer materials? And what will we need to do differently to protect a newer and expanded class of culturally significant sites as they become “historic”?
This program is $15 to attend and $7 for CAC Members.
This outdoor program will focus on sites near the CAC and the Chicago River and will involve walking less than a mile. The program will begin and end at the CAC.
PROGRAM SPEAKER: ADAM RUBIN

Adam Rubin is an architectural historian and has worked as a researcher, writer and preservation educator in cities across the country. He currently serves as Director of Interpretation at the Chicago Architecture Center. Prior to assuming this position, Adam contributed work to an historic resources study of properties along Chicago’s North Lake Shore Drive, with an emphasis on the documentation of Modernist residential high-rises along the lakefront. Previously, Adam has developed and led public education initiatives and outreach programs focused on historic resources and landscapes at Docomomo US, Landmark West, the Brooklyn Historical Society and the Los Angeles Conservancy.

TAKING ROOT: Poetry Event with the Guild Literary Complex
2023-05-20 13:00 - 17:00 | South Asia Institute, 1925 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60616, United States
In honor of AAPI Month, the South Asia Institute and the Guild Literary Complex bring you TAKING ROOT. This arts event features an exhibition tour, poetry, music, book signing, and more…
Poetry reading moderated by Faisal Mohyuddin, with poets George Abraham, Czaerra Galicinao Ucol, Samina Hadi-Tabassum, and Saba Keramati. Music by Maninder Singh.

Lift Every Voice - Storyteller Showcase
2023-05-20 13:00 - 15:00 | Mandrake Park Recreation Facility, 3858 S. Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago, IL, United States

Trickster Cultural Center Community Gathering
2023-05-20 10:00 - 14:00 | Trickster Cultural Center, 190 S Roselle Rd, Schaumburg, IL, 60193, United States

The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
2023-05-19 20:00 | Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, 4046 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago, IL, 60639, United States
BY José Guzmán Borrero featuring special guest Víctor García
The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective’s upbeat music emulates the Cuban Son ensemble by using the electric guitar instead of the piano. Led by guitarist Jose Guzman, the band embraces traditional repertoire from Puerto Rican and Cuban songbooks, and expands their sonic palette by incorporating modern jazz harmony and melodic angularity.
José Guzmán Borrero – Bandleader, guitarist, composer, arranger
Featuring special guest Víctor García- Trumpeter, composer, arranger

CLASSIC.RELEVANT: Ukrainian Contemporary Art from the Andrii Suprunenko Collection
2023-05-19 - 2023-06-02 | Ukrainian National Museum, 2249 W. Superior St., Chicago, IL, 60612, United States
This exhibit showcases modern classics from one of Ukraine’s best private collections, demonstrating the multidimensionality and deep intuition of Ukrainian modernist style.

SOUL REMEDY, ROOT, & CULTURE LOOP
2023-05-18 19:30 | Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, 4046 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago, IL, 60639, United States
Our annual collaboration with Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre brings their newest work to SRBCC. Our audience will enjoy $10 tickets while supplies last, using code “RUIZ”.
SOUL REMEDY – May 18 – An energetic and joyful exploration of the Aesthetic of the Cool, a culturally specific phenomenon rooted in the Black American experience; a celebration of jazz and Black excellence without appropriation
Alongside SOUL REMEDY, we will feature ROOT and CULTURE LOOP, two other recent works by choreographer Monique Haley, that audiences have enjoyed for the past few years – made new each season by the dancers in our company.
Food and beverage available for sale at this event.

A Passport to Haiti: Konpa Sware and Flag Day Celebration
2023-05-18 19:00 - 23:00 | Room 43, 1039-1041 E. 43rd St, Chicago, IL, 60653, United States
Join the Haitian American Museum of Chicago (HAMOC) in A Passport to Haiti! A Passport to Haiti is a four-event program spanning over several months that focuses on the cuisine, movement, culture, and art of Haiti. This event focuses on Konpa Sware, the dance and music style traditional to Haiti. This event is to be held on May 18th, which is Haitian Flag Day.
In this Passport event, guests will be able to immerse themselves in Haitian culture by interacting through dance and music. Guests will also learn about the history of the flag. This event is appropriate for all ages and skill levels.
Konpa Sware is a recurring event on the third Thursday of the month, but this is the only Konpa event that is free for the public, so register today! Please note that this event is held at Room43 at 1039-1041 E 43rd St, Chicago, IL 60653.
In addition to the 50 tickets here, we are accepting walk-in guests until maximum capacity is reached.
