Serving Dance in Chicago A Planning Process for Small to Mid-sized Companies and Independent Artists Executive Summary by Suzanne Callahan with Brooke Belott May, 2005 1. Background: The Chicago Dance Community and the Need for a Study 2 Scope of Planning Process 5 2. Summary of Findings 7 Comparative Document of Services Available to Artists 7 Artist Focus Groups 7 Artists’ Priorities for Service Provision 8 The Role of Chicago Service Organizations 9 Service Provision in Other Cities 10 Models for Service Provision in New York 12 Other Suggestions for Service Provision 14 3. Consultant Talking Points 15 4. Conclusion 19 SUZANNE CALLAHAN, CFRE, FOUNDER 1000 CONNECTICUT AVENUE NW SUITE 505 WASHINGTON, DC 20006 TEL 202.955.8325 FAX 202.955.8324 EMAIL
[email protected] WEB WWW.FORTHEARTS.ORG Serving Dance in Chicago, Executive Summary, Page 2 This document summarizes a full report on the planning process that was designed to study and respond to the needs of the Chicago dance community for service provision, with a focus on Small to Mid-sized companies and Independent artists in Dance (referred to as SMID, in this study). Funded by the Chicago Community Trust, the full report is available under separate cover. The Planning Process was co-directed by three artists whose companies and ways of working fall into the categories of independent and small/mid-size: Julia Rhoads of Lucky Plush Productions, Eduardo Vilaro of Luna Negra Dance Theater, and Ginger Farley, independent artist. It also benefited from the advice of a steering committee1 and the Dance Advisory Committee (the Advisory) to the Chicago Community Trust (CCT or the Trust).2 Background: The Chicago Dance Community and the Need for a Study Chicago can boast of a diverse dance community, one that spans the city and suburbs.