Largest and longest running festival of international music in the United States returns to Chicago with over 80 artists at 30 venues throughout Chicago

The City of Chicago celebrates the best of today’s international music at the 12th annual World Music Festival this September 21-30, 2010. 

The city-wide, multi-venue, week-long festival has attracted over a half million concertgoers and has presented more than 500 artists and ensembles from over 75 countries since it began in 1999. 

This 2010 festival includes nearly twice as many artists as previous editions.

Organized by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA), the festival showcases both traditional and contemporary music from diverse cultures across the world. 

This year’s events will include performances by Khaïra Arby (Sarahan desert rhythms from Mali), Mahala Rai Banda (high energy gypsy sounds from Romania), Razia Said (a blend of African music and contemporary R&B from Madagascar), Pansori Brecht (a Korean narrative musical inspired by the work of Bertolt Brecht), Rajeev Taranath & Nayan Ghosh (top Indian classical musicians), Oreka TX (Basque masters of the percussion txalaparta), among many others. 

Presented at area museums, parks, cultural centers, plazas, theaters, clubs, and other venues, events include a combination of free and low-cost ticketed concerts, many of which are family friendly. 

A full schedule of events follows.  For more information, artist bios, and music samples, visit WorldMusicFestivalChicago.org.  Information is also available at 312.742.1938.

World Music Festival Chicago 2010 opens on Tuesday, September 21, at 6:00 pm, with a free concert at Millennium Park’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion featuring Zakir Hussain and special guest sitarist Niladri Kumar. 

A classical tabla virtuoso of the highest order, Zakir Hussain has established himself as a national treasure in India, as well as in the contemporary world music movement.  His playing is marked by uncanny intuition and masterful improvisational dexterity found while studying under his legendary father, Ustad Alla Rakha, the longtime tabla player for Ravi Shankar. 

Hussain has long been a favorite accompanist for India’s greatest classical musicians and dancers, and has performed with artists as diverse as George Harrison, YoYo Ma, Pharoah Sanders, Ravi Shankar, and Mark Morris. 

The concert will begin with an Indian classical dance program by leading Bharata Natyam (South Indian classical) dancer Mythili Prakash and Ensemble and is presented as part of India Calling, a three-day festival celebrating the arts and culture of India.

New for World Music Festival Chicago 2010

• The three-day India Calling! festival featuring free music concerts, arts exhibitions, cooking demonstrations, dance performances, yoga and meditation classes, and a handicrafts village.  These events take place in the Chicago Cultural Center and Millennium Park, from September 21 to the 23.
• A free documentary film marathon on Saturday, September 25, in the Chicago Cultural Center.  The screening includes films on festival performers DJA-Rara, Joan Soriano, and Oreka TX.
• The World of Instruments exhibition in the Chicago Cultural Center from September 27-30, in the Chicago Cultural Center.  The collaboration with Andy’s Music features a selection of instruments from Andy Cohn’s incredible and eclectic personal collection, rarely on view to the public.  The instruments are beautiful examples of those played by festival performers and artists around the world.
• A showcase of Chicago’s international music promoters, including Bhangratheque, RATIOnation, Arteyvidachicago, SoundCulture Chicago and GlobalGroove Chicago, to highlight the many events that are produced year-round in Chicago.
• Several new participating venues including Mayne Stage, St. Josaphat’s Church, Darkroom, and Second Presbyterian Church.
• Many Chicago debut performances by some of the world’s most talented musicians.

Returning highlights

• “Continental Drift” radio broadcasts of live performance and interviews on WNUR 89.3 FM each weekday of the festival.
• Concerts highlighting many Chicago-based international music groups.
• Free and low-cost events throughout the city.
• The always highly anticipated finale “One World Under One Roof”, a full night of music at the Chicago Cultural Center on September 30, 6:30-11:30 pm.

World Music Festival Chicago 2010 is presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and is made possible with generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts; The Chicago Community Trust; the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; United Airlines, the Official Airline of the World Music Festival; the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India; Chicago Public Radio 91.5 FM WBEZ; and the Chicago Office of Tourism.

Additional support has also been provided by Andrew I. Dane and Mary Elizabeth Ferraro; the Inner-City Muslim Action Network; The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Chicago; the Korea Foundation; Program of African Studies at Northwestern University; India Classical Music Society; WNUR 89.3 FM; Whole Foods; and Instituto Cervantes of Chicago.

The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs is dedicated to promoting an ongoing celebration of the arts and supporting the people who create and sustain them.

World Music Festival returns Sept. 21 with over 80 artists and 30 venues throughout Chicago | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Chicago Opera Theater (COT), partnering with the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs, are  proud to participate in this exciting, week-long celebration with “Pop-up Opera” performances around Chicago, a young professionals’ night at Rock Bottom Brewery and a free double bill of two one-act operas at Preston Bradley Hall in the Chicago Cultural Center.

National Opera Week is organized by OPERA America, the national service organization for opera with the support of the National Endowment for the Arts.

“At Chicago Opera Theater we strive to make opera accessible to contemporary audiences, and National Opera Week is a perfect way to let us demonstrate that,” said COT General Director Brian Dickie. “So, we are very excited to bring opera to people throughout Chicago, especially in places you might not expect!”

National Opera Week in Chicago begins with “Pop-up Opera” performances throughout the city.  These short “flash” performances of popular opera favorites will be performed by COT Young Artists in unexpected places.

Visit ChicagoOperaTheater.org/operaweek for hints on where and when “Pop-up Opera” will be that week!

On Wednesday, Nov. 18, Chicago Opera Theater’s young professional group, Opera Underground, presents “Beers and Baritones” at Rock Bottom Brewery.

The evening, aimed at young professionals aged 21 to 45, is only $25 and includes beer, wine, light appetizers, with a short performance by Leila Bowie and Martin Woods, both members of COT’s Young Artists Program.

Finally, on Friday, Nov. 20, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs presents Chicago Opera Theater’s double bill of two-one act operas: Jake Heggie’s At the Statue of Venus and Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari’s Susanna’s Secret.

This finale of National Opera Week takes place in Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center and is free and open to the public!

The two operas feature COT Young Artists Leila Bowie, Catalina Cuervo and Martin Woods.

The National Opera Week celebration will reach from coast to coast with over 90 opera companies from 32 states and will offer a range of programs for the public.

Opera Week will demonstrate the allure and accessibility of opera, this most multi-media of the arts, and will be accessible to both opera lovers and newcomers to the art form.

• For more information on Chicago Opera Theater Opera Week events, please go to ChicagoOperaTheater.org/operaweek.

• For more information on all National Opera Week events around Chicago and the country, please go to OperaAmerica.org/now.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Colleen Flanigan, 312-704-8420, Ext. 225
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
cflanigan@chicagooperatheater.org

Chicago Opera Theater Partners with City of Chicago Cultural Affairs to Present “National Opera Week” | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Chicago Public Radio’s Steve Edwards Moderates Conversation Featuring Audrey Niffenegger (The Time Traveler’s Wife) and Aleksandar Hemon (The Lazarus Project) Sept. 14.

Audience members are invited to join panelists and some of the other 28 contributors to Granta’s special Chicago issue for a reception after the discussion.

Admission is free but reservations are required by contacting Emily Long, emily.long@cityofchicago.org, 312-742-0821. For more information about the event, call 312-744-7097.

Who: Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Granata, The Magazine Of New Writing

What: London-based Granta magazine’s week-long celebration of its all-Chicago issue kicks off with Audrey Niffenegger, author of the best-selling The Time Traveler’s Wife, now a major motion picture, and Aleksandar Hemon, MacArthur fellow and National Book Award Finalist for The Lazarus Project, discussing how artists and writers from around the world represent Chicago in their work. Chicago Public Radio’s Steve Edwards moderates.

Granta magazine’s special Chicago issue features new essays, stories, art and poems about Chicago by 28 acclaimed authors and artists including Sandra Cisneros, Don DeLillo, Stuart Dybek, Aleksandar Hemon, Alex Kotlowitz, George Saunders, Elaine Showalter, Wole Soyinka and Chris Ware.

This is only the second time in its history that Granta, founded 120 years ago at Cambridge University, has devoted an entire issue to a single city.

When: Monday, September 14, 6 p.m.

Where: Chicago Cultural Center
78 E. Washington Street
Preston Bradley Hall

MEDIA CONTACT and RSVP:

Joyce Rowe, 312-742-2036
joyce.rowe@cityofchicago.org

Chicago Public Radio’s Steve Edwards Moderates Conversation Featuring Audrey Niffenegger and Aleksandar Hemon September 14 | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Mayor Richard M. Daley announced that the City has awarded 21 Neighborhood Arts Program grants totaling $64,177 for the year 2009 to individual artists providing arts and cultural services in low to moderate-income communities.  Grants awarded by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs through its Neighborhood Arts Program (NAP) ranged in size from $1,600 to $3,500.  See below for grantee highlights.

Tiffany Daniels will teach a Multi-Disciplinary Youth Dance Workshop fusing basic dance techniques and theories of Ballet, Modern, Jazz, African and Hip-Hop at John D. Shoop Academy, 11140 South Bishop Street. Daniel’s workshop aims to uplift the spirit and ignite the creativity of the youth and families of the Roseland Community. Alvaro Junebug Gonzalez will lead Click Rock Skate Roll, a photography and street arts workshop for teenagers at Clarendon Park, 4501 North Clarendon Avenue.

The students will explore experimental photography techniques by documenting skateboarding and break-dancing at the Clarendon Skate Park.  Danielle Klinenberg will teach a Summer Art Garden workshop in Neighborspace’s El Coqui Garden in Humboldt Park, 2600 West Crystal. Children ages 6 to 12 will learn and interact within a community garden setting garden and try art making techniques including sculpture and printmaking.

Andrea Pakieser will teach After–School Multilingual Choir classes for 8 to 12 year-olds at the United Church of Rogers Park, 1545 West Morse Avenue. Every week a new song will be introduced in a different language, which will be an opportunity for the students to learn about different cultures and their music.

The purpose of the Neighborhood Arts Program, a biennial multi-year grant, is to encourage and support the presentation of high-quality instructional art projects to benefit at risk youth, senior citizens, and people with disabilities in Chicago’s low and moderate income neighborhoods.

Priority is given to high quality proposals demonstrating the potential to generate ongoing community activities.  NAP grants are awarded for proposals in specific neighborhoods or by matching individual artists with communities in need.

Complete List of Grant Recipients:

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kennon Brown, 312-744-8948
Kennon.Brown@cityofchicago.org

City of Chicago Awards $64,411 to 21 Local Artists as Part of Neighborhood Arts Grant Program | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

“For all organizations of all sizes, the CityArts Grant Program provides important general operating support that helps arts groups fulfill their missions which in turn creates a rich and vibrant arts community in Chicago,” said Michelle Bibbs, Director of the Cultural Grants Division of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs.

Applications for the 2010-2011-2012 CityArts Grant Program are now available for download at cityofchicago.org/CulturalGrants.  Information on how to apply to the program is being distributed by the Department of Cultural Affairs at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. and at 35 other locations throughout the city.  The deadline for this year’s application is 5 pm, Monday, August 17, 2009.

About the CityArts Program

The CityArts Program is a triennial grant program that provides general operating support for Chicago not-for-profit arts and cultural organizations, and project support to social service agencies with established arts programs.  Subject to eligibility, grant requests range from $3,000 to $10,000. Organizations awarded grants in year 2010 are eligible to receive grants for two additional consecutive years.

Grants are awarded to arts organizations in four categories based on budget size.  CityArts I and II funds are available to “emerging” (annual budgets of less than $150,000) and “developing” (budgets of $150,000 to $500,000) arts organizations for general operating support and arts programming support for social service agencies.  Priority is given to organizations whose projects serve low- to moderate-income communities, seniors or people with disabilities.

CityArts III and CityArts IV provide financial assistance to “mid-size” (annual budgets of $500,000 to $2 million) and “major” (annual budgets over $2 million) arts organizations and cultural institutions.  Priority is given to organizations whose projects increase the accessibility of cultural activities for under-served populations and/or advance Chicago as a center for tourism through the local presentation of world-class arts and cultural activities.

All CityArts applicants are strongly encouraged to attend an application workshop at any of the following locations between now and August 4 (no RSVP is necessary):

• Monday, July 13, 1 pm; Chicago Cultural Center, 5^th Floor Garland Room, 78 E. Washington St.
• Tuesday, July 14, 5 pm;  National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St.
• Tuesday, July 21, 10 am;  Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave.
• Thursday, July 23, 4 pm; South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Dr.
• Monday, July 27, 3 pm; Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave.
• Tuesday, August 4, 4 pm; Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Room, 78 E. Washington St.

Information about how to apply to the CityArts program is available at 36 locations throughout the city. An electronic version of the application can be downloaded at cityofchicago.org/CulturalGrants and a hard copy of the application may be obtained by contacting the Cultural Grants Division of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs at 312-744-6443.

Visit CityofChicago.org/CulturalGrants for more information about DCA grant opportunities.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kennon Brown, 312-744-8948
Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs
kennon.brown@cityofchicago.org

Chicago Dept. of Cultural Affairs Announces Online Applications Now Available for the 2010, 2011 and 2012 CityArts Grant Program | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.