We at the Chicago Labor & Arts Festival believe in our vocations. We believe in our instruments. We believe in the broad range of artistry needed. More than ever, we challenge our colleagues, as our mission says, to respond individually or collectively to the changing political, social and economic environment.
Our logo graphic for 2007 was adapted from a photograph of the mural designed by Mexican artist Daniel Manrique Arias on the wall of the UE building at 37 S. Ashland. It was unveiled as part of the first festival 11 years ago.
Since 1997, the festival has been holding arts events throughout the city of Chicago. These events have included visual art exhibits, poetry readings, dramatic works, music, dance and artist panel discussions -- all toward the goal of celebrating the joys and struggles of working class people.
In addition to planning festival events, the organizing committee distributes a regular electronic newsletter -- Chicago Labor & Arts Notes -- that highlights information of interest to the Chicago cultural community. To subscribe to the newsletter, please contact us at News At Chicagolaborarts.org.
We hope you enjoy the variety of art you will find in the festival, and that it will stimulate your creative enthusiasm. We hope it will provoke you. We hope that you will find in the festival's panel discussions that artists are serious about probing how the new community and working conditions we face demand new forms or content of creative work. And we hope you will join with us in the effort to broaden and expand this dialogue.