Our mission is to inspire people to write and share their stories. We do this through events and workshops at our Writing Center and within the community, through our residency program, and by offering support to our writers.

We believe that connecting people from different backgrounds and cultures opens minds and makes for a more interesting and compassionate world. As our children were growing up we hosted multiple exchange students and always felt that we received far more than we gave. When our children left the nest we were left with an underutilized studio apartment space above our garage and we decided to start an artist residency program to provide opportunities and support to emerging artists. One of our daughters and our son-in-law are professional artists, and we have observed the challenges artists...

“MKE MaKEs” is a series to develop and present world premiere music theatre works. The program will encompass a wide range of new musical works from never-before-produced readings to fully produced world premieres. “Made in Milwaukee” is a proud moniker we will apply to all works under the MKE Makes umbrella,” said Michael Unger, Skylight Music Theatre Artistic Director. “Skylight feels that it is critical to the survival of the American music theatre to foster new works and new writers and encourage voices we have not yet heard to take center stage.”

Ox-Bow’s Artist-in-Residence program, located in Saugatuck, MI, offers artists and writers the time, space, and community to encourage growth and experimentation in their practice. During the fall residents are given the time, solitude, and focus often unavailable to so many working artists. Ox-Bow connects Artists to: -A network of creative resources, people, and ideas. -An energizing natural environment. -A rich artistic history and vital future.

In 2020, Creative 360 celebrates 25 years as a not-for-profit community arts and wellness organization. 25 years ago, Cynthia Keefe and Linda Z. Smith founded “The Creative Spirit Center” with a vision to make creativity accessible to all. Since then, the nonprofit has become Creative 360 and welcomed countless people through its doors to experience, express and expand the creative process in all its forms. Our vision, mission and core values are at the heart of everything we do. Vision We envision a world in which creativity is integral to every life and its value is recognized. Mission To...

American Players Theatre’s mission is to perform timeless, challenging, poetic texts, with Shakespeare at the center, to the broadest audience possible. We strive to share our understanding that great poetry and stories, both from our past and from the emerging voices of our future, can illuminate the ever-expanding experience of what it is to be human.

Nearly 200 residencies and fellowships are now offered annually to creative professionals of all types, making Ragdale one of the largest interdisciplinary artists’ communities in the country. Each session, 13 artists-in-residence experience uninterrupted time for dedicated work on a 5-acre historic campus beside a beautiful 50-acre prairie, 30 miles north of Chicago. With live/work studios, all meals provided, and unmatched staff support, Ragdale lets artists focus on what’s most important: creating new work.

The West Side Show Room makes room for everyone to participate in the performing arts. Core Values: Making Room We want everyone in our community to have the opportunity to experience and participate in high quality live performance, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, country of origin, nationality, religion, functional ability, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, body type, economic status, or education level. Excellence We strive to continually and transparently improve our productions and programs to ensure artistic, operational, and fiscal quality. Education...

Interrobang Theatre Project, in association with The Theatre School at DePaul University, is proud to announce The Playwriting Initiative. It is our belief that it falls on every theater in our community to nurture new work. Our commitment to playwrights will include providing a supportive environment with necessary resources such as actors, directors, and space.

Stage Left Theatre inspires debate by producing and developing plays that explore political and social issues. Downstage Left residencies are designed to help playwrights take a project from the conceptual stage all the way to a production-ready script. Playwrights work closely with one of our ensemble directors and members of the literary team to design a process tailored to the particular needs of their project.

Our versatile ensemble creates visceral experiences that challenge perspectives through passionate storytelling. Shattered Globe is inspired by the diversity of our city and is committed to making the theater accessible to all audiences. Through initiatives like our Protégé Program, we create a space which allows emerging artists to grow and share the ensemble experience with us. Shattered Globe Theatre brings its audiences dynamic re-imaginings of classic works, as well as premiere productions that celebrate new voices and innovative viewpoints.

Chicago Dramatists provides the training, space, and connections needed to realize new work for the stage and screen. This six-year residency provides Chicago-area playwrights with the resources to develop their plays and grow as artists.