Chicago’s Creative Industries

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events supports and promotes the city’s music, theater, fashion and culinary industries.

Culinary

Chicago's Farmers Markets bring more than 70 vendors selling fresh fruits, vegetables, plants and flowers to neighborhoods throughout the City of Chicago.

Fashion

Chicago boasts more than 400 fashion designers and 375 independent boutiques. The Fashion Focus Chicago  Initiative supports and promotes the fashion designers living and working in Chicago through seminars, City programs and events, such as the annual Fashion Focus Chicago, which features runway shows, shopping events and industry seminars.

Music

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 and others. Apply to perform at Chicago Festivals.

The Chicago Music Summit is a new conference presented by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events to shine a spotlight on Chicago’s innovative and thriving music scene and connect professionals with local and national industry leaders. Featuring panels, workshops, concerts, and networking opportunities, the Chicago Music Summit provides free professional development and exposure to support Chicago’s music industry. The Chicago Music Summit will take place Friday, September 20th at the Chicago Cultural Center.

Also, new this year are the Creatives At Work Forums. The forums bring together experts from the music industry to talk about the most current and pressing issues relative to working musicians and music business owners.  It’s a chance to hear from leaders in the field directly and provides a space for dialogue and exchange of ideas among industry peers to stimulate professional growth.

Theater & Dance

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. For the first time In the Works will be housed not only at Jay Pritzker Pavilion but also in various other DCASE spaces. Each showing is a unique opportunity for audiences to get a behind-the-scenes look at new work by Chicago artists.

Chicago Cultural Center Presents is an on-going performing arts series that showcases critically acclaimed local, national and international music, theater, dance and multi-disciplinary artists, newly commissioned works and debut performances at the Chicago Cultural Center, The Storefront Theater, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, and other locations throughout the city.

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Services

• Chicago Sidewalk Sale Application
• Fashion Focus Chicago

Supporting Information

• Chicago Cultural Center Presents
• Chicago Music Summit
• Chicago Sidewalk Sale
• Creatives At Work
• Fashion Focus Chicago
• Fashion In Chicago
• Juicebox