DCASE and Choose Chicago Launch Arts and Culture Visual Campaign: If It’s Art, It’s Here

New campaign spotlights Chicago's unrivaled arts and culture scene, inviting the world to experience the breadth of offerings

CHICAGO - The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and Choose Chicago announced today the launch of a new arts and culture campaign, If It's Art, It's Here. Designed to drive traffic and highlight arts and culture in every neighborhood across the city, If It's Art, It's Here will showcase Chicago's music, dance, theater, comedy, architecture, museums, public art and beyond.

A new website hub, ChiArtsandCulture.com, was created as part of the campaign, where locals and visitors can view a curated cultural calendar; explore signature Chicago events, iconic cultural institutions and neighborhood gems; and plan a trip with a Chicago cultural itinerary.

"Chicago's arts and culture are the heartbeat of our city. It reflects our history, celebrates our diversity and fuels our future," said DCASE Commissioner Kenya Merritt. "With the launch of If It's Art, It's Here, we are reminding residents and tourists that every neighborhood in Chicago is alive with creativity and expression. Whether it's music, theater, dance, or public art, this campaign invites everyone to experience the vibrancy that makes Chicago a world-class cultural destination."

"I'm proud to join our partners at the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events in launching this campaign that celebrates art and artists across our 77 neighborhoods," said Kristen Reynolds, President and CEO of Choose Chicago. "Visitors flock to Chicago year-round to experience our world-class museums, music venues, galleries, and theatre companies. If It's Art, It's Here will spotlight the city's rich cultural calendar and connect millions of visitors with the artists, events, and experiences that define Chicago."

Chicago's arts and cultural scene is unrivaled amongst other cities thanks to the breadth and depth of entertainment offerings. Chicago is the proud home of over 200 theatre companies, 50 museums, 175 dance organizations, and 200 music venues across our 77 neighborhoods. These cultural offerings are critical to Chicago's visitor economy, with 41% of visitors coming to Chicago for culture in 2024. The If It's Art, It's Here campaign comes at an important time for art and culture in Chicago and around the world, as attendance at most performance and cultural venues remains below pre-pandemic levels.

The new campaign will highlight the inclusivity, breadth, and diversity of Chicago's arts and cultural offerings through a wide variety of out-of-home advertising starting this week. Coinciding with the fall and holiday season, advertisements will run in local bus shelters, local and regional streaming platforms, on social media, digitally in key national markets and at O'Hare International Airport.

The If It's Art, It's Here campaign partners with Choose Chicago's broader Never Done. Never Outdone. campaign, which launched in June. Both campaigns evoke pride in local Chicagoans and capture a city that is always evolving, always pushing forward, and never satisfied with the status quo. The If It's Art, It's Here campaign will run through the end of 2025.

To explore the full breadth of Chicago's arts and cultural offerings featured in the campaign, visit ChiArtsandCulture.com. The site will provide highlights of performances, exhibitions and events happening across the city, along with resources to help residents and visitors plan their next cultural experience.

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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 the creative economy, and expands access and participation in the arts throughout Chicago's 77 neighborhoods. As a collaborative cultural presenter, arts funder, and advocate for creative workers, our programs and events serve Chicagoans and visitors of all ages and backgrounds, downtown and in diverse communities across our 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 across the city - serving a local and global audience of 25 million people. The Department offers cultural grants and resources, manages public art, supports TV and film production 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.

Choose Chicago
Choose Chicago is the official destination marketing organization responsible for promoting Chicago as a global tourism and meetings destination-the city that's Never Done and Never Outdone. Choose Chicago leverages the city's unmatched assets to enrich the community by attracting meetings, events, and more than 55 million annual visitors, generating over $20 billion in economic impact. Follow @choosechicago and tag #NeverOutdoneChi on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and X/Twitter. For more information, visit choosechicago.com.