Creative Chicago Survey- Deadline This Friday, February 25

The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs is conducting a survey of a all artists living in Chicago, with the deadline to submit a week away.

I’m not going to try to paraphrase what is already well written from them:

Sponsored by The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA), all creative practitioners who live and work in Chicago are asked to take it to describe who they are and what they need to thrive, including specific space and business assistance information. This information will help the City determine policies and programs to support the Creative Sector, and be shared with interested organizations, research and advocacy efforts. The Creative Chicago Survey is unique because it invites the creative community to opt-in and define itself, rather than working from a pre-determined list. To have the greatest impact, our goal is to hear from all creative people who live and/or work in Chicago.

The last line is the most important. For ‘creatives’ of color and our perspective to be represented, we must participate. I completed it yesterday; it is a well-rounded survey that doesn’t take too long to complete.

Who is a creative? Again, from their words:


Every person who engages in a creative practice as their job 
or their hobby is considered "a creative".... Professional or amateur artists, musicians, dancers and designers, crafters and cooks, your grandmother who quilts, your neighbor in the church choir, architects, arts administrators, teachers and students...

Take the survey and pass the word! Deadline is this Friday, February 25, 2011. 

Crescendo Cultural- July 15-16, 2011- Chi-town-- deadline coming up!

One of my favorite spots here in Checagou is the National Museum of Mexican Art, located in Barrio Pilsen, just west of downtown Chicago. The museum played a big role in my move here to the Windy City; the museum’s President, Carlos Tortolero has been a valued mentor of mine the last few years. He is a rather well-known person here in Chicago, but in my opinion doesn’t get the respect he deserves from the larger Latino arts community. Many of the museum’s and their youth-focused Yolocalli Arts Reach’s leadership is composed of talented, creative, young folks- la nueva generación.

This July they are hosting Crescendo Cultural, a convening of Latino artists and arts administrators under 35 to share and discuss the state of Latino arts and how we can help shape the future of the arts in the U.S. Although the description is a little vague and it’s a bummer that only ten people will be invited, it may mean that participants will have a lot of freedom in what the outcomes of this convening will be. Housing and travel will be provided to all those accepted. Applications are available here, and are due by February 18.

Chicago has one of the largest Latino populations in this country, and a major contributor to the arts- there is no reason why there shouldn’t be at least two Chicago-based artists/administrators in this group. The only way this can happen is if folks apply.

It should be a great opportunity to connect with other young leaders and artists around the country, and to contribute to a gathering that focuses on what is important to the emerging Latino artist/administrator. Space? Career opportunities? Training? Dealing with founder syndrome?

Don’t sleep on this Chicago, nor others from outside the area!  

Image: Ballads from My Land/ Corridos de Mi Tierra by Alfredo Arreguin, part of the permanent collection at the museum. 

Welcome! Bienvenidos!

Saludos everyone, and welcome to Checagou Conexiones, a site that I hope will be a valuable resource for artists, administrators and organizations of color. My name is Carlos Velázquez Acuña, and above all I am the proud son of Mexicano parents and fully reppin’ San José, California. For seven years I was the marketing manager for San José-based Teatro Visión, one of the longest running Chicano theater companies in the country. I was grateful for the organization’s willingness to provide me with mentors, send me to trainings and conferences, and allow me to learn and grow from my mistakes and successes.

The city of San José in 2008 conducted an artists survey, and a major finding was a strong desire from artists, specifically artists of color, for training on how to hone their craft and support themselves through their art. I noticed that although there were a number of resources available to these artists, they were often not aware of them. Also, many did not take advantage of networking opportunities that trainings and conferences offered to build their network and create a more united front of artists around the country. Since my move to Chicago this past summer, I have noticed the same trend.

With this blog I hope to connect artists with opportunities to network, workshops, conferences and other resources to help them move closer to sustaining themselves as an artist and to grow as a leader in the arts community. To ensure that there is equal awareness and use of the valuable resources and opportunities available to all. It is my hope this will ultimately build a stronger, confident and well-prepared community of artists ready to lead and succeed. Since I am now in Chicago most of the information will be geared towards the windy city, but will try to present info that will be useful to those in other areas.

I welcome any suggestions to help improve this blog. Any articles, resources, events, or wittier suggestions to the lame name I have for this blog would be very much appreciated. I can be reached at carlosvelazquez37@gmail.com