Join local music industry professionals and working musicians for the ChicagoMade Music Collective, a networking series at locations throughout the city. This panel discussion, in collaboration with the 10th Annual Global Mixx Music & Film Forum, discusses what it takes to make it in today's new industry model - signing (or not) with a major label, branding yourself and building a successful team. Rel Carter, A & R coordinator for RocNation and founder/CEO of Carter Wisdom Management LLC, will moderate this conversation with The Boy Illinois, Katie Got Bandz and Sir the Baptist. This event is free but advance registration is required.

The Chicago Film Office has launched the Independent Film Initiative (IFI) designed to retain, promote and provide career-enhancing opportunities for local film industry professionals and media makers. A centerpiece of the initiative is a filmmaker residency program - a year-long commitment with the Chicago Film Office that provides the selected local filmmaker with a $10,000 cash grant plus a package of industry discounts on equipment rentals and permits, meeting space and other incentives to assist in the completion of an original work. For information about the application, requirements and additional benefits, visit chicagofilmoffice.us.

The Chicago Cultural Center is seeking Chicago-based arts and culture organizations wishing to present free, high-quality arts, culture, humanities or creative industries-related public programming at the iconic Chicago Cultural Center between October 2016 and May 2017. Five organizations will be selected to present their proposed series of free programs and receive technical and marketing support, free space and a $5,000 award to facilitate the programming. This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. For the application and additional information, visit cityofchicago.org/dcase.

DCASE is excited to invite Chicagoland musicians and bands to apply to perform live for a panel of Artists & Repertoire (A&R) executives from major labels in downtown Chicago on October 22. To apply for a FREE audition slot, musicians of all genres are encouraged to submit a two-minute live performance YouTube video. All applicants must be 18 or older and reside in the Chicagoland area. Submissions will open August 22 at cityofchicago.org/dcase.