Elevated Chicago and DCASE to Present INTERSECTIONS: Art, Planning and Place


Elevated Chicago and DCASE to Present INTERSECTIONS: Art, Planning and Place

First event in a new series examines how arts and culture foster belonging, strengthen communities, and advance equitable development.

CHICAGO, IL–Elevated Chicago, in partnership with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), is excited to launch INTERSECTIONS: Art, Planning and Place, a series of creatives expos designed to bring together artists, creative entrepreneurs, developers, community leaders, and cultural practitioners to explore how arts and culture can shape more vibrant, connected, and resilient neighborhoods.

Taking place on Friday July 17 from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Alt_ Chicago, 5645 W. Lake St. in the Austin neighborhood on the West Side, the inaugural expo is centered on the theme, “The Art of Belonging: Social Cohesion & Community.” Through workshops, a panel discussion, networking opportunities, and creative activations, participants will explore the role of arts and culture in strengthening social cohesion, fostering belonging, and advancing community-centered development. Sessions will provide practical tools for artists to engage in neighborhood development, help developers and planners integrate creative and cultural strategies into their work, and create opportunities for cross-sector collaboration. Partnership with DCASE expands Elevated Chicago’s Creatives Table curriculum–part of its Culture Near Transit strategy–into a larger public forum for learning, collaboration, and action at the intersection of arts, planning, transit, and community development.

“Arts and culture are essential to building neighborhoods where people feel seen, connected and empowered. Intersections brings together artists, residents, planners and community leaders to demonstrate how creativity can shape more equitable, vibrant and inclusive communities,” said DCASE Commissioner Kenya K. Merritt. “DCASE is proud to partner with Elevated Chicago to support conversations and collaborations that invest in both the cultural identity and future of Chicago's neighborhoods.”

Featured workshops include:

● Equitable Community Engagement in the Arts Participants will explore co-creation strategies, community engagement frameworks, and real-world case studies that support authentic and inclusive collaboration.

● Creative Business Foundations: Structure, Contracts & Fair Pay An introductory session designed to help artists and creative entrepreneurs build sustainable business practices through business planning, legal protections, budgeting, contracting, and fair compensation strategies.

● Storytelling Your Impact This workshop focuses on documenting and communicating community impact, helping participants capture social, cultural, and economic outcomes through compelling storytelling and evaluation methods.

● Wellness for Creative Changemakers Centered on trauma-informed practices, balance, and inclusive design, this session will explore strategies for sustaining well-being while doing community-centered work.

The expo will also feature a multidisciplinary panel discussion–titled How Art Shapes Community–featuring artists, developers, and community leaders sharing stories and real-world examples of how creative practice strengthens belonging, reinforces community identity, and drives neighborhood transformation. The conversation will be complemented by live storytelling and visual documentation that capture community voices and creative impact.

The Creative Table Expo Series is part of Elevated Chicago's ongoing commitment to advancing arts and culture as essential components of equitable transit-oriented development and community well-being across Chicago's neighborhoods.

About Elevated Chicago

Elevated Chicago is a collaborative of community-based organizations, artists, advocates, and public agencies working to advance equitable transit-oriented development across the Chicago region. Through its Culture Near Transit strategy, Elevated Chicago supports creative placekeeping, cultural preservation, and community-driven development that centers people, place, and process.

Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events

The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) supports artists and cultural organizations, invests in Chicago's creative economy, and expands access to and

participation in the arts throughout the city's 77 neighborhoods. As a collaborative cultural presenter, arts funder, and advocate for creative workers, DCASE engages Chicagoans and visitors of all ages and backgrounds, from downtown to neighborhoods across the city, to strengthen and celebrate Chicago. DCASE produces some of the city's most iconic festivals, markets, events and exhibitions at the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park and in communities throughout Chicago, serving a local and global audience of 25 million people. The Department offers cultural grants and resources, manages public art, supports film, television and other creative industries, and permits special events throughout Chicago. For details, visit Chicago.gov/DCASE and stay connected via our newsletters and social media.

For media inquiries, contact Brandon Patterson at bpatterson@ruddresources.net. For partnership opportunities or event information, contact Nicole Murray, Elevated Chicago’s Arts & Culture Strategy Lead, at nicole@agapecollective.com.

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