For the last couple decades, Newcity has crafted an increasing number of annual lists documenting the cultural forces lifting Chicago, both the behind-the-scenes movers and shakers and the front-and-center artists, writers, musicians, actors, etc.
In order to keep the lists as fresh as possible, and to spread the recognition as widely as we can, we’ve settled on alternating annual focuses: one year we zero in on the behind-scene power players, and the other year we highlight the artists. Herewith, the most recent two of each list.
Art 50 2020: Chicago’s artists’ artists (“artists”)
Art 50 2019: Chicago’s visual vanguard (“behind the scenes”)
The Big Heat 2020: Chicago’s Food & Drink Fifty (“artists”)
The Big Heat 2019: Chicago’s Food & Drink Fifty (“behind-the-scenes”)
Design 50 2020: Who shapes Chicago (“artists”)
Design 50 2019: Who shapes Chicago (“behind-the-scenes”)
Film 50 2020: Chicago’s Screen Gems (“artists”)
Film 50 2019: Chicago’s Screen Gems (“behind-the-scenes”)
Lit 50 2020: Who really books in Chicago (“artists”)
Lit 50 2019: Who really books in Chicago (“behind-the-scenes”)
Music 45 2020: Who keeps Chicago in tune (“artists”)
Music 45 2019: Who keeps Chicago in tune (“behind-the-scenes”)
The Players 2020: The 50 people who really perform in Chicago (“artists”)
The Players 2019: The 50 people who really perform in Chicago (“behind-the-scenes”)
