In a continued effort to broaden access to arts and culture across northern Illinois, ComEd and the League of Chicago Theatres announced the distribution of more than $200,000 in grants to 18 local arts organizations. Through the Powering the Arts Program, ComEd will provide individual grants of up to $25,000 to nonprofits, including local theaters, arts programs, cultural centers and youth- focused organizations dedicated to enriching their communities through artistic expression. Since its inception in 2018, the ComEd Powering the Arts Program has contributed more than $1 million to creative projects and workshops, helping foster community engagement, innovation and a deeper appreciation for the arts. Now in its seventh year, the Powering the Arts Program has supported nearly 100 arts organizations throughout its history. Each year, ComEd funds the initiative, while the League of Chicago Theatres – a coalition of over 200 theaters – manages the application review and award distribution process. A few of the recipients included:
Berwyn Public Art Initiative (Berwyn, IL) will honor the Latino heritage of Berwyn’s community, which makes up over 65% of the population, through a public art initiative. “Arte y Cultura” will engage residents in mural workshops and host a cultural event celebrating the rich traditions of the Latinx/o/e community. This project will amplify the voices of Berwyn’s Latinx/o/e residents while fostering community connections.
Sharing Notes (Chicago – Lakeview) will expand its live, in-person music performance programming for hospital patients at La Rabida Children’s Hospital, Ascension St. Joseph’s Hospital, Northwestern Medicine’s Memorial/Lurie Cancer Center and Plymouth Place Senior Living Community. This grant will enable them to double the number of patients served at these locations, providing music to nearly 1,800 patients, staff and families.
Free Street Theater (Chicago – North Lawndale) will continue its mission of uplifting joy, justice and the voices of marginalized communities through its artist-in-residence program, “In/House.” The program will support theater artists, particularly from Black, Brown, Queer, and Immigrant communities, in creating innovative and community-engaged work. This initiative will provide a space for unconventional theater projects to thrive and be shared with Chicago audiences.
