Apply to Perform at a DCASE Event or Venue

Every year the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) accepts music submissions (bio, tapes, cds, photos, etc.) for consideration for the Chicago Blues Festival, Taste of Chicago Bud Light Stage, Chicago Jazz Festival, Chicago SummerDance, Chicago Cultural Center and others. 

Chicago Blues Festival

• Dates: June 13-15, 2014

• Location: Grant Park, Chicago, IL

• Genres: Blues/ R&B, Traditional Blues, Contemporary Blues

• Submissions Accepted: Sept. 3 - Dec. 31, 2013
  

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Chicago Gospel Music Festival

• Dates:  June 26-29, 2014

• Location: Millennium Park, Chicago Cultural Center & Ellis Park

• Genres: Gospel, Contemporary Christian

• Submissions Accepted: Nov. 1 - Dec. 31, 2013

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Chicago Jazz Festival

• Date: August 28-31, 2014
• Location: Millennium Park and Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL
• Genre: All forms of Jazz music
• Submissions Accepted: Nov. 1 - Dec. 31, 2013
  

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Chicago SummerDance

• Dates: June 26 - September 14, 2014

• Location: Grant Park, Spirit of Music Garden

• Genres: Tango, Salsa, Ballroom, Swing, Other (please specify)

• Submissions Accepted: January 18 -March 15, 2013

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Cultural Center Film

• Dates: On-going

• Location: Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.

• Submissions Accepted: On-going

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Cultural Center Presents

• Dates: September 2013 – August 2014

• Location: The Storefront Theater, Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, Chicago Cultural Center Dance Studio and other locations.

• Genres: Theater, Dance, Performance

• Submissions Accepted: December 1, 2012 – January 15, 2013

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Downtown Sound: New Music Mondays

• Date: Mondays - May 27 to July 29, 2013

• Location: Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park

• Genre: Indie, Hip Hop, Undefinable

• Submissions Accepted: January 1,  2013 - March 31, 2013

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In The Works

• In the Works is the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events' residency program and gives emerging and established performing artists the opportunity to test-drive new work in a public setting. Each residency is tailored to the needs of the artist or company and their project and takes place in the most suitable DCASE space. Each showing is a unique opportunity for audiences to get a behind-the-scenes look at new work by Chicago artists.

• Submissions Accepted: Applications must be submitted by November 15, 2013. Late or incomplete applications will not be evaluated.

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Loops and Variations

• Dates: Pritzker Pavilion Stage on Thursdays between June 13th and July 18th (with the exception of June 20th), and continuing inside the Cultural Center beginning September 2013

• Location: Pritzker Pavilion Stage, Millennium Park and the Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL

• Genres: Electronic Music, New Music Ensembles

• Submissions Accepted: Submissions are evaluated on an ongoing basis and are reviewed by a committee of DCASE programmers. Due to the high volume of submissions for programs in the Chicago Cultural Center and in Millennium Park, please allow 4-5 months from the date of your submission for a decision.

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Maxwell Street Market

• Dates: Every Sunday

• Location: South Loop, 800 S. Desplaines St., Chicago, IL

• Submissions Accepted: Ongoing

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Sunday Salons and Classical Mondays

• Sunday Salon Series Dates: September through May on Sundays
• Classical Mondays Dates: Year Round on Mondays

• Location: Preston Bradley Hall, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL

• Genres: Western Orchestral Compositions, Contemporary Improvisational Forms, International Classical Traditions, Instrumentalists and Vocalists

• Submissions Accepted: Submissions are evaluated on an ongoing basis throughout the year and are reviewed by a committee of DCASE programmers. Due to the high volume of submissions for programs in the Chicago Cultural Center, please allow 4-5 months from the date of your submission for a decision.

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Taste of Chicago - Bud Light Stage

• Date: July 9-13, 2014
• Location: Grant Park
• Genres: A Capella, Acoustic, Adult Contemporary, Alternative, Americana, Bluegrass, Blues, Celtic, Classic Rock, Contemporary Christian, Contemporary Classical, Country, Cover Band, Folk, Funk, Gospel, Jam Band, Jazz, Latin, Pop, Punk, Reggae, Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Soul, Standards, Urban/R&B, and World Music.
  
• Submissions Accepted on Sonicbids: Nov. 8 - Dec. 31, 2013

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Under The Picasso

• Dates: Year Round, Weekdays at Noon

• Location: Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St., Chicago, IL

• Categories: Dance, Music, Flag-Raising, Theater, Other

• Submissions Accepted: On-going

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Wired Fridays

• Dates: October through May on the first and third Fridays of every month

• Location: Randolph Square, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL

• Genres: Electronic Music, House Music, Juke/Footwork

• Submissions Accepted: Submissions are evaluated on an ongoing basis throughout the year and are reviewed by a committee of DCASE programmers. Due to the high volume of submissions for programs in the Chicago Cultural Center, please allow 4-5 months from the date of your submission for a decision.

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World Music Festival Chicago

• Dates: September 11-21, 2014
• Location: Various locations, Chicago, IL
• Genres: World Music
• Submissions Accepted: Nov. 1 - Dec. 31, 2012

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