The University of Chicago Future of the City: The Arts Symposium

Future of the City Arts Symposium explored arts' role in shaping Chicago's future.

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Future of the City: The Arts Symposium

The University of Chicago presented Future of the City: The Arts Symposium, on June 7, 2011. This event was a one-day gathering of leaders who are shaping the cultural landscape of Chicago and beyond.

Arts and culture are proving their power as economic and social catalysts for the creative transformation of cities. Strategic collaborations between government, businesses, foundations and academic sectors have helped to rejuvenate neighborhoods, inspire civic and community engagement, and incubate the next generation of creative entrepreneurs. We explored these themes, related research, and public policies as they apply to Chicago and other urban centers.

David Simon and Wendell Pierce (The Wire and Treme) held a special lunch-time conversation during a day full of discussions between internationally recognized researchers, artists, academics, and civic leaders.

John Holden, author of Capturing Cultural Value: How Culture Has Become a Tool of Government Policy, provided introductory remarks to expert panelists discussing how cultural policies and arts practices around the world are evolving as individuals, organizations, and cities adjust to social changes, technological advances and economic uncertainty.