DCASE Announces Fall and Winter Season of Art, Film, Music and Creative Programs at the Chicago Cultural Center

CHICAGO - The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) today announced a season of exhibitions, films, performances, workshops and cultural programs at the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington) this fall and winter. Admission to all exhibitions and DCASE programming is free and open to the public.

From exhibitions exploring memory, identity and freedom to film screenings focused on the realities of creative work, the season offers Chicagoans multiple ways to engage with artists, ideas and each other at the Cultural Center.

The season brings together Chicago artists, filmmakers, creative workers and cultural partners through contemporary exhibitions, hands-on workshops, film screenings, industry conversations and live music. Highlights include the new visual arts exhibitions To Be Remembered: Woven Matters of the Heart, Creative Rebellion and Freedom Fighters by Dorothy I. Burge; the return of Under the Dome; and a new series of Claudia Cassidy Theater Film Club screenings presented in connection with the city's "Creative Worker Rights: Art is Labor" initiative.

"The Chicago Cultural Center continues to be a place where people can come together, experience new ideas and perspectives, and discover something new," said DCASE Commissioner Kenya K. Merritt. "This fall and winter, we are investing in artists and creative workers while activating this historic building with visual art, film, music and hands-on programming. By providing free access to a wide range of arts and cultural programming, we are connecting Chicagoans and visitors with the artists, ideas and experiences that make Chicago such an extraordinary cultural city."

The Chicago Cultural Center programming is sponsored by Chicago Transit Authority and Millennium Garages. This continued support helps keep Chicago Cultural Center programming free and accessible.

2026 Fall and Winter Chicago Cultural Center Exhibitions

To Be Remembered: Woven Matters of the Heart
Through Feb. 28, 2027
Chicago Rooms, 2nd Floor North
To Be Remembered: Woven Matters of the Heart embraces the reflective ways in which five contemporary textile artists illuminate their rich interior worlds through their unique fiber practices. The artists ebere agwuncha, Nnaemeka Ekwelum, Hale Ekinci, Josué Esaú, and Thương Hoài Trần each visually intertwine time, memory, and emotion to conjure deeply felt histories across spatial geographies, venerating the cultural traces that connect us to the motherlands.     

Through layered designs, motifs, research and handwork, the exhibition considers how personal and cultural histories are preserved, transformed and passed forward.

Freedom Fighters - Dorothy I. Burge
Oct. 2, 2026 - Oct. 3, 2027
Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Hall
Celebrated Chicago artist and activist Dorothy I. Burge presents a new series of quilts honoring Black veteran freedom fighters whose struggles extended beyond the battlefield.

Through textiles and portraiture, Burge connects military service with abolition, civil rights, antiwar organizing and broader struggles for freedom. The series begins with Harriet Tubman and extends to the Fort Hood 43, Black soldiers who refused deployment to Chicago for "riot control" during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Presented in the historic GAR Hall, the work creates a counter-archive of memory, mourning, political education and freedom struggle.

Creative Rebellion
Oct. 2, 2026 - March 7, 2027
Exhibition Hall - 4th Floor
Creative Rebellion is one of the featured exhibitions of RESISTING THE LONG WAR, the 2026 Veteran Art Triennial. The exhibition examines artists' creative defiance of war and militarism while presenting alternative visions of peace, healing and justice generated by communities impacted by war.

Additional Triennial exhibitions will be presented at Elmhurst Art Museum, Hyde Park Art Center and Walls Turned Sideways.

Great Ideas of Humanity: One of a Series
Ongoing
Landmark Chicago Gallery, 1st Floor West
Presented in partnership with the Design Museum of Chicago, this ongoing exhibition explores great ideas through contemporary visual responses by artists and designers. Inspired by the Container Corporation of America's historic Great Ideas of Western Man campaign, the project reflects a more global world and the cross-pollination of ideas, philosophies, societies and cultures.

For the latest information on exhibitions at the Chicago Cultural Center, please visit the website.

2026 Fall and Winter Chicago Cultural Center Programming

PROBLEMISTA Screening and Talkback
Wednesday, Sept. 30, 6:30 p.m.
Claudia Cassidy Theater - 2nd Floor
Julio Torres's deadpan and surreal odyssey follows an aspiring toy designer as he navigates the seemingly impossible labyrinth of immigration policy, sparking timely and thought-provoking conversations about what it means to be a creative worker and the many challenges creatives face in today's world.

Presented as part of DCASE's "Art is Labor" programming initiative and the Claudia Cassidy Theater Film Club, the screening will be followed by an engaging discussion with Stephanie Manriquez, Director and Executive Producer at Lumpen Radio, and Jorge Valdivia, Executive Director of the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance.

Chicago Industry Exchange: Pitching Master Class
Friday, Oct. 2, 6 p.m.
Claudia Cassidy Theater - 2nd Floor North
Four-time Emmy-nominated producer Deniese Davis leads an in-depth discussion about navigating the entertainment industry, pitching projects and getting work noticed.

Produced by Cinema/Chicago as part of its free Chicago Industry Exchange professional development programming, the event will include a discussion and audience Q&A focused on the pitching process and building a career in entertainment.

Visual Lecture: meditation on: sculptural portals
Saturday, Oct. 3, 12:30-2 p.m.
Claudia Cassidy Theater - 2nd Floor North
Transdisciplinary artist ebere agwuncha presents a visual lecture expanding on the research and process behind the site-specific sculptural portals created for the To Be Remembered exhibition. Drawing from familial archives, oral histories of agwuncha's parents immigrating from Nigeria to Chicago in the 1980s and traditional Igbo craft, the program examines art-making as an active archiving practice.

Consult DCASE
Wednesday, Oct. 14; Thursday, Nov. 18; Wednesday, Dec. 16, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
DCASE staff will host monthly workshops and exchanges offering access to city resources, professional industry feedback on creative projects and opportunities to engage with department programming.

The October session will include the Chicago Film Office and Creative Worker Rights teams; the November session will include the Public Art and Exhibitions teams; and the December session will include the Cultural Grants and Programming teams.

Creative Hour
Wednesday, Oct. 14; Thursday, Nov. 18; Wednesday, Dec. 16, 1-3:30 p.m.
Learning Lab - 1st Floor
Creative Hour is a monthly artist networking and salon session that brings creatives together through conversation, creative sharing, and connection. Curated by Alexie Young (Art West LLC) and powered by DCASE, each session offers a welcoming, structured space for creatives of all personalities to connect and engage with Chicago's creative community.

Woven Vessel Workshop
Saturday, Oct. 17, noon - 2 p.m.
Chicago Rooms - 2nd Floor North
Artist ebere agwuncha will lead a hands-on workshop for all skill levels introducing traditional basket-weaving techniques and guiding participants in creating functional woven objects adorned with beads. Supplies will be provided.

This program was developed in support of the exhibition To Be Remembered: Woven Matters of the Heart.

Industry Days: The Pitch
Sunday, Oct. 18, 10 a.m.
Claudia Cassidy Theater - 2nd Floor North
Produced by Cinema/Chicago as part of the Chicago International Film Festival's Industry Days programming, The Pitch showcases emerging narrative feature projects from Chicago and the Midwest.

Selected filmmakers will pitch their projects before a live audience and panel of industry judges, with the winning project receiving an in-kind package of consultation, production and post-production services.

I LOVE BOOSTERS Screening and Talkback
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 6:30 p.m.
Claudia Cassidy Theater - 2nd Floor North
Fashion design, labor issues and political theory collide in a vibrant explosion of color and music in Boots Riley's endlessly imaginative satire. The film takes a bold look at the creative work pipeline, exploring cycles of exploitation while imagining how collective action and community support can help break them.

Presented as part of DCASE's "Art is Labor" programming initiative and the Claudia Cassidy Theater Film Club, the screening will be followed by an engaging discussion with experts and advocates working to advance creative worker rights.

Under the Dome
Thursday, Oct. 22, 5-9 p.m.
Preston Bradley Hall - 3rd Floor
Audiences are invited to gather Under the Dome for an evening celebrating Chicago music and sustainable fashion at one of the city's most iconic cultural landmarks.

The all-ages program will feature two Chicago musical artists alongside a clothing swap with Chicago Fair Trade and Conscious Closet Club, bringing music and sustainable fashion together for an evening designed especially to engage younger audiences.

ASL interpretation will be provided. Please email [email protected] by Oct. 19, 2026, if other accommodations are needed.

Crocheting Oya Workshop
Friday, Nov. 6, noon - 2 p.m.
Chicago Rooms - 2nd Floor North
Artist Hale Ekinci leads participants in creating small, crocheted shapes inspired by oya, traditional Turkish lace edging. The workshop, in connection with the To Be Remembered: Woven Matters of the Heart exhibition, explores oya's history as a symbolic language for expressing personal sentiments and invites participants to translate their own experiences into colorful fiber forms.

On Set Conversations: Kathy Byrne from SAG-AFTRA and Director George Ellzey
Friday, Nov. 6, 6:30 p.m.
Claudia Cassidy Theater - 2nd Floor North
Join SAG-AFTRA's Kathy Byrne and director George Ellzey for a candid conversation exploring today's film and television industry from both creative and professional perspectives. The discussion will offer insights into storytelling, collaboration, career experiences and the evolving opportunities and challenges shaping the industry.

City Civics Day
Saturday, Nov. 14, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
G.A.R. Hall and Rotunda, Claudia Cassidy Theater & Yates Hall - 2nd Floor North and 4th Floor North
The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) and DCASE will host the fourth annual City Civics Day on Saturday, Nov. 14. Neighbors, community organizations and City officials will gather at the Chicago Cultural Center for this free, day-long celebration of civic involvement and community connection for all Chicagoans.

Residents from all walks of life are invited to learn about opportunities to participate in civic life, meet others who share their interests and connect with organizations throughout the city. Learn more at Chicago.gov/CityCivicsDay.

SHOWING UP Screening and Talkback
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 6:30 p.m.
Claudia Cassidy Theater - 2nd Floor North
SHOWING UP offers a witty and warmly observed look at the everyday realities of an artist's life through Michelle Williams. As she prepares for her latest art show, she navigates the demands of her day job, home responsibilities and the unexpected obstacles that come with making space for creativity.

Presented as part of DCASE's "Art is Labor" programming initiative and the Claudia Cassidy Theater Film Club, the screening will be followed by an engaging discussion with experts and advocates working to advance creative worker rights.

Embroidering Symbols Workshop
Saturday, Nov. 21, noon - 2 p.m.
Chicago Rooms - 2nd Floor North
Participants will learn simple embroidery stitches, surface design and embellishment techniques with To Be Remembered: Woven Matters of the Heart artist Hale Ekinci. Beads, sequins and appliqué may be incorporated into personal fabrics or clothing, encouraging storytelling and creative reuse through traditional stitching practices.

Accessible Weaving Workshops
Saturday, Dec. 5, and Friday, Dec. 11, noon - 2 p.m.
Chicago Rooms - 2nd Floor North
Artist Thương Hoài Trần leads two beginner-friendly workshops demonstrating how weaving can be practiced with affordable, everyday materials, including cardboard and secondhand yarn. The sessions are designed to remove financial and technical barriers to fiber arts and make the practice accessible to new participants.

DON'T THINK TWICE Screening and Talkback
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 7 p.m.
Claudia Cassidy Theater - 2nd Floor North
Mike Birbiglia explores the complicated emotions that arise when two members of a veteran sketch comedy troupe find the success they have been working toward. As opportunity knocks, the bonds between collaborators are tested, revealing the pressures of ambition, competition and success in a creative career.

Presented as part of DCASE's "Art is Labor" initiative and the Claudia Cassidy Theater Film Club, the screening will be followed by an engaging discussion with experts and advocates working to advance creative worker rights.

For the latest information on Chicago Cultural Center programming and events, visit the Chicago Cultural Center calendar at ChicagoCulturalCenter.org.

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Chicago 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.