Ingenuity

Thank you to our sponsors, supporters, and partners who joined us for Tapestry 2026! We are proud to share that we raised a total of $502,820, supporting our mission to ensure that every student, in every grade, in every Chicago Public School, has access to a quality arts education. We could not reach this milestone without the generosity of our community. Thank you!

Save the date! Tapestry returns May 13, 2027 at the Four Seasons!

Congratulations to:
🩰 The Joffrey Ballet
🏆 Zach Lazar
🎨 Multicultural Arts High School
📸 Photos by Kyle Flubacker

Big news for arts education in Chicago! 🎉

Ingenuity is proud to announce the renewal of the Lollapalooza Arts Education Fund through a renewed $1.1 million investment supporting Chicago Public Schools students over the next three years.

Since 2021, this partnership has helped provide:
🎨 234 arts education grants
🏫 Support for 117 CPS schools
🌟 Access to arts learning for 82,000+ students

From music and dance to theater and visual arts, this continued investment helps expand creative opportunities for young people across Chicago.

We’re grateful to Lollapalooza for their continued commitment to arts education and Chicago students.

Read the full announcement at https://tinyurl.com/lolla-arts-fund

Thank you to our sponsors, supporters, and partners who joined us for Tapestry 2026! Last night, we celebrated the incredible leaders and community that prioritize arts education, hosted by journalist and advocate Sean Lewis WGN. With nearly 250 attendees, we affirmed our support of joyful creativity and a future where every CPS student has access to a quality arts education.

Plus, we announced a powerful reinvestment from Lollapalooza/ C3 Presents supporting arts education in schools across the entire city.

🚨 But wait! There’s still time to make an impact before final numbers. Donate to the Creative Schools Fund and become eligible to win a trip to Hapuna Beach, Hawaii, generously donated by Sean Lewis. Gifts of $250 or higher will be eligible for one entry.
Support the Creative Schools Fund: https://ingenuity.givecloud.co/tapestry-2026-ask

Congratulations to:
🩰 The Joffrey Ballet
🏆 Zach Lazar
🎨 Multicultural Arts High School
📸 Photos by Kyle Flubacker

We’re already thinking about the next school year and how strong partnerships take shape before it begins.

Arts organizations and teaching artists—join Ingenuity for Learning Institute #2: Summer Planning for Strong School Partnerships in the 2026–27 School Year

📅 Wednesday, May 13 | ⏰ 2:00–5:00 PM
📍 Puerto Rican Arts Alliance

Plan your summer outreach to Chicago Public Schools, hear from school leaders, preview the Creative Schools Fund, and connect with peers across the city. 🤝

If you’re an arts partner looking to build stronger school partnerships, this is a space to think ahead and leave with a clear path forward.

🎟️ RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/LearningInstitute2

Today we’re celebrating an incredible milestone: 10 years at Ingenuity with our amazing Operations Manager, Tash Fouch! 🎉

For the past decade, Tash has been a steady force behind the scenes, helping keep our organization running smoothly and ensuring our team has what we need to advance equity in arts education across Chicago. Her dedication, problem-solving, and commitment have made a lasting impact on our staff, our partners, and the communities we serve.

Tash’s work may often happen behind the scenes, but its impact is felt in every part of our mission. We are deeply grateful for her leadership, care, and ten years of excellence.

Please join us in congratulating Tash on this remarkable anniversary and thanking her for all she has done and continues to do for Ingenuity! 💙

Ingenuity is proud to share our 13th annual State of the Arts (SOTA) Report for the 2024–25 school year, offering a districtwide snapshot of arts education across Chicago Public Schools. 🎨

This year’s data highlights both steady progress and important shifts across the city:

✅ 100% of CPS schools (645 out of 645) submitted arts education data, marking a historic milestone for citywide participation
📈 Continued growth in schools rated “Excelling” in the arts over time
⚖️ Ongoing disparities in access across student populations and communities
📉 Notable declines in arts partnerships across several key areas

SOTA extends beyond the report:
🧰 Toolkit with ready-to-use visuals and talking points
📊 Interactive dashboard to explore data by school, network, and community

This report is a resource for reflection, planning, and action. The data points to where progress is happening and where greater investment and coordination are needed.

🔗 Explore the report: https://tinyurl.com/SOTARelease24-25

2024-25 State of the Arts - Ingenuity Through collaborative partnerships and data-driven advocacy, we work to ensure every Chicago Public School student has access to high-quality arts education.

Ingenuity extends its deepest appreciation to The Joffrey Ballet for their Lead Sponsorship for Tapestry 2026! Like Ingenuity, The Joffrey believes every student should have the chance to experience the arts’ power to unlock potential and inspire future leaders.

Through a longstanding partnership with Chicago Public Schools, The Joffrey brings world class dance into classrooms across the city, opening doors to creativity, confidence, and opportunity for students.

We’re honored to celebrate their leadership and partnership by awarding The Joffrey with the Equity in Arts Education Award. We hope to see you on May 6!

📅 May 6, 2026
📍Four Seasons Hotel Chicago
🎟️ Tickets & Sponsorships: https://tinyurl.com/Tapestry2026
📸 Images kindly provided by Uniting Voices Chicago

Join us for the State of the Arts Convening on April 29. 🎨

Each year, the State of the Arts report provides a districtwide snapshot of arts education across Chicago Public Schools. The convening is an opportunity to take that data further, creating space to reflect on what it means, connect with others across the field, and explore how it can inform planning and partnership moving forward.

Whether you are a school leader, arts partner, or advocate, this conversation is designed to support your work.

📍 The Art Institute of Chicago - Rubloff Auditorium
🗓 Wednesday, April 29
🔗 Register here: https://tinyurl.com/sotaconvening2026