Please help us welcome Mark Kelly as the new Commissioner of DCASE (pending approval by the Chicago City Council this month). Kelly previously served as the Vice President for Student Success at Columbia College Chicago, where he served in numerous leadership roles for more than 30 years. He is founder and chair of the Wabash Arts Corridor (WAC) initiative and is the artistic director of the Halloween Gathering, an annual parade and festival celebrating Chicago's cultural communities. 

 

Keep an eye out as you travel down the expressways this month. In an unprecedented citywide public art initiative, DCASE is partnering with EXPO CHICAGO, the International Exposition of Modern & Contemporary Art, to present the work of 15 artists on 28 digital billboards located throughout Chicago's City Digital Network. The art displays provide the artists, selected from EXPO CHICAGO 2016 Exhibitors, an innovative opportunity to push the boundaries of the image-based environment.

What started as a summer arts and cultural series in 2013, now brings more than 1,000 events throughout the year to neighborhood parks throughout the city, making community parks safe havens and hubs of cultural activity. From traditional performances and concerts, to peace rallies, community workshops, nature-based programs, dance performances, festivals and more, there is something for everyone happening in the parks and most of the activities are free! DCASE provides significant funding for this annual arts initiative that advances the goals of the Chicago Cultural Plan and includes DCASE programs like Chicago SummerDance and the World Music Festival Chicago.