36th Annual Chicago Blues Festival Millennium Park + Citywide Programs June 7-9, 2019
Open Invitation to Cross-Promote Blues during 36th Annual Chicago Blues Festival
MISSION
The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) is dedicated to enriching Chicago’s artistic vitality and cultural vibrancy. This includes fostering the development of Chicago’s non-profit arts sector, independent working artists and for-profit arts businesses; providing a framework to guide the City’s future cultural and economic growth, via the Chicago Cultural Plan; marketing the City’s cultural assets to a worldwide audience; and presenting high-quality, free and affordable cultural programs for residents and visitors.
BACKGROUND
The Chicago Blues Festival is the largest free blues festival in the world and remains the largest of Chicago's music festivals. During three days on seven stages, blues fans enjoy free live music by top-tier blues musicians, both old favorites and the up-and-coming in the “Blues Capital of the World.” Past performers include Bonnie Raitt, the late Ray Charles, the late B.B. King, the late Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy, the late Koko Taylor, Mavis Staples, Shemekia Copeland, Gary Clark Jr, Rhiannon Giddens, Willie Clayton and Bobby Rush.
With a diverse line-up celebrating the Chicago Blues’ past, present and future, the Chicago Blues Festival features live music performances of over 60 local, national and international artists and groups celebrating the city’s rich Blues tradition while shining a spotlight on the genre’s contributions to soul, R&B, gospel, rock, hip-hop and more.
AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITY
In honor of the 36th Annual Chicago Blues Festival in 2019, DCASE will extend an open invitation to existing Blues venues and promoters to have their event marketed along with the 36th Annual Chicago Blues Festival. In addition, we are waiving festival artist/band exclusivity for touring artists to enable Chicago-based venues the rare opportunity to present after sets featuring artists and bands that are performing at the 36th Annual Chicago Blues Festival.
Our goal is to encourage unique artist collaborations within the greater Blues community and to have these after sets promoted and marketed as part of the overall Blues festival experience. With 32% of our audience from outside Illinois and 15% of our audience traveling from abroad, we aim to share the many blues-related cultural experiences happening outside the festival grounds with those who have made the journey to the “Blues Capital of the World.”
GUIDELINES
Award Amount
No direct financial support will be provided. Applicants may apply to receive marketing support and promotion via the Chicago Blues Festival if they have after sets featuring blues artists and bands leading up to the 36th Annual Chicago Blues Festival (June 3-9). Festival exclusivity for all out-of-town, touring and festival artists has been waived, too, for participating venues.
Please note the following:
● DCASE will NOT be involved in artist negotiations and/or contracting for after set performances. ● DCASE will NOT provide financial support to artists performing after sets or venues. ● Venues can sell tickets to after sets. Venue keeps 100% of ticket and/or food + beverage sales. DCASE will NOT take a percentage. ● Paid/ ticketed events are NOT officially part of the Chicago Blues Festival at Millennium Park, but these paid/ticketed events CAN be promoted in our materials and at the event. They will be listed highlighted as “Blues Around Town” events in selected promotion, printed materials and collateral.
Applicant Eligibility
● Music venues and/or nonprofits that offer Blues music performances on a weekly basis or at least have a 3-5 year history of presenting blues programming. ● Venues and organizations must be located and/ or incorporated within the City of Chicago. ● Venues must have an up-to-date PPA license. ● Individuals are not eligible. ● Multiple applications are not permitted; only one application per venue/ organization.
Program Eligibility
● All programs must take place between June 3-9, 2019. ● All programs must occur within the City of Chicago.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be reviewed by the Chicago Blues Festival Program Committee and evaluated on the following criteria:
● Potential of program to create a unique, definitive Chicago Blues experience. ● Potential of the program to reach traditionally underrepresented areas of the city. ● Applicant’s prior success as an event producer/promoter.
Credits and Media Availability Selected venues/ organizations will be asked to recognize the Chicago Blues Festival and DCASE including name or logo in all advertisements, programs, and websites and other promotional information. Reciprocally, DCASE may also include selected programs in Chicago Blues Festival promotions and collateral.
Final Report Partners will be asked to submit a brief final report to prove that the event was completed within the terms and conditions of the support.
Final Reports must include:
● An event summary including attendance numbers ● Documentation: Photographs or video of event, showing the audience and performers Partners who do NOT submit a final report by the deadline will NOT be eligible to apply for future programs.
Timeline
● Deadline to submit a letter/notification of interest: Monday, April 29, 2019. ● Notification of marketing/promo support will be sent by email: Monday, May 13, 2019. ● All programs must take place between Monday, June 3-Sunday, June 9, 2019. ● Final reports will be accepted no later than August 31, 2019.
To submit a letter/notification of interest, please contact Blues Festival Director Carlos Tortolero at [email protected] OR call 312-744-1430.
Questions should be directed to:
Carlos Cuauhtémoc Tortolero Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events City of Chicago 78 E. Washington Street Chicago, IL 60602 [email protected] 312.744.1430 - office [email protected]