We no longer have to imagine life without culture; thanks to the statewide lockdown, we’re living it. For now, we take solace in its eventual return. But culture in all its aspects—from the artists and restaurant workers who live paycheck-to-paycheck or gig to gig to the largest institutions—faces existential issues that will outlive the pandemic. On this page, we’re aggregating links to fundraisers and other initiatives that are springing up to counter the effect of the outbreak that has threatened our livelihoods and culture itself. Though not listed here, almost every nonprofit in the city that takes donations needs them now more than ever. If you can help, here’s how. We’ll all thank you for your role in saving Chicago culture.
The state of Illinois, city of Chicago and the philanthropic community have just teamed up to launch Arts for Illinois, featuring grants to nonprofit cultural institutions and artists alike.
Art
6018 North has launched a weekly “Sanctuary Sessions: Wellness During Quarantine”
Chicago Dance Crash: is streaming “Bricklayers of Oz: The hip hop origin story of the Yellow Brick Road” through March 31.
The Fly Honeys are doing a weekly “Live From the Hive” livestream compilation on Fridays at 8:30pm beginning April 17 and running through May 1.
The Joffrey Ballet hosts a weekly check-in with company artists every Thursday at 2pm via Instagram Live. Each week, the company highlights a production on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.
Lucky Plush Productions: Plucky Lush Virtual Party. Lucky Plush’s annual fundraiser party moves online. May 22, pay-what-you-can tickets start at $10.
Dance Center of Columbia College: The Dance Center is making full length videos of past performances available to stream through the end of May.
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago has a COVID-19 Crisis Relief Fund to cover salaries and healthcare for dancers and staff.
Synapse Arts is hosting an all-day Dance Break April 30, with performances, mini-classes, dance films and activities for all ages.
Hedwig Dancesmoves Hedwignites fundraiser online, Friday, May 8 at 7:30pm.
Winifred Haun & Dancers streams a new short dance film about the quarantine, “We Are Doing Fine,” streaming April 24 at 6pm on both Facebook and Instagram.
The hospitality industry has been especially hard hit, with thousands of employees laid off. Many restaurants, nearly all of them small businesses, are open for carry-out and delivery, even when that is not their normal m.o. Others are hosting GoFundMe campaigns for their workers.
Dining at a Distance: Jenn Galdes of Grapevine PR helped launch a directory of restaurants open for carry-out and delivery.
Chicago Hospitality United: Cody Hudson designed a line of T-shirts and sweatshirts (and more) to support hourly Chicago workers.
Restaurant Workers Relief Program: West Town Bakery has been transformed into an ongoing headquarters for worker relief, offering to-go dinners and grocery bags to unemployed restaurant workers.
Chicago Cinema Workers Fund “With the assistance of fiscal sponsor Full Spectrum Features and community partners, Chicago International Film Festival and Nightingale Cinema, we have started a fund for hourly cinema workers who have been furloughed or seen a reduction in compensation. Funds raised will be distributed evenly between applicants, with the goal of providing $300 relief, equivalent to 20 hours of work at $15 an hour. Every $10,000 we raise would provide approximately 30 workers with relief funds at this level.”
The Gray Center for Art & Inquiry is launching weekly Gray Sound Sessions April 7 at 8pm. Its debut performance will Opera Povera’s Full Pink Moon: Opera Povera in Quarantine.
Various musical theater stalwarts are teaming up for Seasons of Concern Chicago’s virtual benefit concert, Chicago Offstage! Live at Home on April 19 at 6pm.
