Calls for Artists and Creatives

Lake FX A&R Auditions

Applications open January 19 - February 5

The Lake FX Summit & Expo, the region's largest FREE conference for artists and creatives, is this May 13-15. New this year, the Lake FX A&R Auditions are an opportunity for select Chicagoland-based musicians to showcase their work live in front of A&R executives from DefJam/Universal, BMG, Big Machine Label Group and others. Solo artists and bands are invited to submit a FREE application with a two minute live performance video to be considered for an audition spot. For submission information and criteria, visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/LFX_AR_Auditions.

Taste of Chicago Vendor Applications

Applications open January 19 - February 26
Vendor Applications are now being accepted for this year's Taste of Chicago, the premier free-admission food festival showcasing the diversity of Chicago's dining scene. The event is a vibrant experience for visitors and vendors, with a diverse line-up of food options and world-class entertainment all set in beautiful Grant Park on Lake Michigan this July 6-10. Last year, Taste of Chicago attracted more than 1.4 million visitors, creating an ideal opportunity to market your restaurant to new audiences. There are three ways for a food vendor to participate: as a five-day vendor, a one or two-day pop-up vendor or as a food truck. This flexibility allows the festival to be accessible to all establishment types across the city. For more information on each vending type, eligibility requirements and how to apply, vendors should visit TasteofChicago.us.

Lake FX Marketplace by DOSE Market

Applications open now
As part of this year's Lake FX Summit + Expo, Dose Market will curate an extraordinary group of Chicago makers for a pop up marketplace on Sunday, May 15, 10am to 4pm at the Chicago Cultural Center. The second Lake FX Marketplace curated by Dose Market will feature approximately 80 makers creating in the disciplines of food, fashion, film, music and art, selling and showcasing the best Chicago-made work. Apply now to be a vendor at www.dosemarket.com/lakefx.

Performance Applications Open for DCASE Festivals

Chicago Gospel Music Festival New Artist Showcase

Dates: February 27 & March 19, 2016
Location: Feb 27: West Point MB Church, 3566 S. Cottage Grove; Mar 19: New Mt. Pilgrim MB Church, 3401 W. Washington Boulevard
Genres: Gospel, Contemporary Christian
Submissions Accepted: Applications must be received by Monday, February 8, 2016

Chamber Mondays

Dates: Year-round on Mondays
Location: Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL
Genres: Western Orchestral Compositions, Contemporary Improvisational Forms, International Classical and Jazz Traditions, Instrumentalists and Vocalists
Submissions Accepted: Ongoing

Wired Fridays

Dates: October through May on the first and third Fridays of every month
Location: Randolph Square at the Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL
Genres: DJs and Electronic Music
Submissions Accepted: Ongoing

Chicago Cultural Center Film

Dates: Ongoing
Location: Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.
Submissions Accepted: Ongoing

Daley Plaza Under the Picasso

Dates: Year-round, Weekdays at Noon
Location: Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St. Chicago, IL
Genres: Dance, music, flag-raising, theater, other
Submissions Accepted: Ongoing

Maxwell Street Market

Dates: Every Sunday
Location: South Loop, 800 S. Desplaines St., Chicago, IL
Submissions Accepted: Ongoing

Grants for Arts Organizations

2016 CityArts Program for Nonprofit Organizations

Application Open January 20, Submission Deadline February 24

Attention Not-for-Profit Arts Organizations! If you are a Chicago-based arts organization in search of funding, DCASE provides one-year general operating support grants to organizations with vibrant artistic or cultural programming. To check eligibility requirements, funding categories, grant amounts and grant calendar, please visit chicagoculturalgrants.org.

Events & Workshops for Artists and Creatives

Opening Your Own Venue: How to Navigate City Licensing

Tuesday, February 2, 5:30-6:30pm, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.

Wednesday, February 3, 12-1pm, City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St., Room 805
Dylan Rice, Director of Creative Industries-Music at the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events (DCASE), gives a primer on City licensing processes required to open a venue and provides helpful resources and tips that save time and money along the way. Referencing the City's new Venue Licensing Toolkit, this presentation walks through the application processes for the City of Chicago's Public Place of Amusement (PPA) license and Performing Arts Venue (PAV) license. No RSVP or reservation required. Seating is available on a first come, first serve basis. In collaboration with the Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection and the Small Business Center.

Chicago Farmers Markets Technical Workshops

Wednesday, February 3, 10am and 5pm, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.

Wednesday, February 20, 10am and 5pm, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.

Looking to start a Farmers Market in your area? Want to know what permits are required? Or just curious to see what it takes to start a market in your area? The Chicago Farmers Markets Program will be hosting a series of Technical Workshops to help put you in the right direction of starting a Farmers Market. Advance registration is required here.