Arts & Business Council

Have you heard about the great developments taking place in Chicago to facilitate the use of arts in K-12 curriculum? Recent collaborations involving Arts Alliance Illinois, Ingenuity Incorporated and... Read more

 In a city that boasts a world-renowned cultural scene and one-of-a-kind performances and artistic experiences, the Arts & Business Council of Chicago invites you to join us for a night... Read more

We share the sad news of the passing of one of our organization’s founders, Sheila Frank. Sheila was instrumental in the early development of Chicago’s Business Volunteers for the Arts... Read more

This annual event presents a wide range of activities with a visual arts focus. Here's a great way to learn about, and experience, how individual artists and arts collectives are... Read more

October is Illinois Arts & Humanities Month (AH! Month) The Illinois Arts Council and the Illinois Humanities Council are pleased to present the 4th annual Illinois Arts & Humanities Month, a... Read more

September 19, 2011The Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) announced that Peter Kuntz has resigned as Executive Director of A&BC.  Kuntz has decided to pursue other professional opportunities.“We thank... Read more

Individual artists have an impact on a given community through the dynamic aspects of their work and the realization of their creative vision. Often these artists have a lot of people assisting in the delivery of their art. They may be associated with an arts organization. They may have production and administrative teams dedicated to helping them achieve their vision, not to mention the support of family and friends. And, if they are lucky, there may be a cadre of patrons and donors who believe in what they do. There is another cohort of individuals, more than 200 strong, who taken together also has a large impact on Chicago’s arts community—the many dedicated people from the business community who donate their time and talent to assisting arts organizations every day as Business Volunteers for the Arts (BVA). Read more

A&BC’s annual benefit, on Friday, November 11th, continues its tradition of presenting a unique blend of dazzlingly creative performances by some of Chicago’s most innovative and talented arts organizations along with fizzy cocktails, a sumptuous dinner, and exciting live and silent auctions. The night’s performances will feature the heart-stopping, Emmy-nominated Chicago Human Rhythm Project among other arts movers and shakers. Read more

Professionally, I help organizations to be sustainable through their people processes. I value people learning and having fun while they get results. I am a Talent Management and Organization Development Leader with extensive experience in the Healthcare, Consumer Products and Government sectors. I have worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield, Quaker, Pepsico, and the Internal Revenue Service. My introduction to the Arts & Business Council of Chicago sprang from a brief, and seemingly casual conversation Read more

A&BC’s annual Business Essentials for the Arts Workshop series recently completed its three “Marketing Matters” sessions. These three marketing-focused workshops progressed from the “big picture” of considering how your organization’s mission statement influences all aspects of our marketing message to the very specific practice of utilizing online analytic tools to see if your online strategies are working. Read more

Committed arts organizations work tirelessly to build an audience. Their Cultivation activities capture the attention of existing and prospective donors. And their presence in the Community builds opportunities for cultural understanding and collaboration. But how do they align themselves to the people and resources they need to grow strategically and managerially? By CONNECTING with the Arts & Business Council of Chicago…its network of artists, arts organizations and arts supporters…and its expanding corps of skilled and dedicated business volunteers. Read more

As many of us gear up for summer vacations, trips to the lake, and firing up the grill on the upcoming (hopefully) sunny holiday weekend, the 19 graduates of A&BC’s On BOARD Spring 2011 Program are excited for another reason - they are taking the first steps as board members of a nonprofit arts and culture organization in Chicago. This excitement has blossomed over the 4-month training, during which the candidates attended sessions on the Legal, Financial, Fundraising, and Leadership aspects of nonprofit board service, and met over 25 different arts organizations seeking to add to their current Board of Directors. Why do they do it? Read more

Including an Interview with Kimberly Bares, Rogers Park Business Alliance. In Chicago and elsewhere, the still-struggling economy and the political choices it demands have given renewed focus to the fact that small, entrepreneurial businesses are likely to be a main driver of much needed economic growth. The economic value of Chicago’s small businesses is being scrutinized as the City undergoes its transition to a new mayoral administration—and arts organizations in the Chicago area appear uniquely positioned to take advantage of this attention. Read more

The Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) strives over time to provide each of its arts organization clients with a carefully thought-out sequence of services that coincides with the group’s capacity, developmental stage and increasing proficiency—what we like to call a “continuum of care.” An excellent example is A&BC’s ongoing relationship with Chicago’s Oistrach Symphony Orchestra (OSO). Read more

It’s May. Your list of “back burner” projects is not getting shorter. Your staff is working at capacity but adding a position is not in the cards this year. And your last intern went to the lavatory and never returned. So how do you get your projects done? A well-planned Internship Program may be the answer. Read more

Are you a fan of the arts in Chicago? Would you like to enhance your business leadership skills while contributing significantly to the local cultural community? Or do you know someone who would make the perfect board member? Get to know A&BC’s On BOARD program! Volunteering to join the board of an arts or cultural organization is a great way for business people to enhance their management and leadership skills while, at the same time, actively help to strengthen Chicago’s cultural community. Read more

A roundtable discussion with Americans for the Arts President and CEO, Robert Lynch. For government officials and politicians to arts practitioners and supporters, the importance of arts and culture and its funding has been a key topic of discussion - or at least it should be. It’s definitely a key focus for A&BC. Read more

A&BC is pleased to announce the formal launch of its latest FREE consulting service to individual arts managers and executives. Read more

A preview to A&BC’s upcoming workshop, “Identifying and Cultivating Individual Donors.” Read more

A&BC is proud to be lead support partner to The Chicago Community Trust’s four-year capacity building SMART Growth Program serving community-based arts and culture organizations. Read more

A&BC is a semi-finalist in the Treacy Marketing Group’s “20 for 20” Campaign. Read more

A&BC is proud to participate in the ARTS POWER CHICAGO advocacy effort intended to ensure that Chicago mayoral candidates recognize “the arts matter.” Read more

A&BC is pleased to share news of its accomplishments this year in service to Chicago's amazing nonprofit arts community. Thanks to all of the individuals and organizations that have expressed... Read more

 Here’s to big audiences, loyal subscribers and enthusiastic participation during this new season! Autumn is also a very busy and exciting time for so many of our arts organization “clients” as... Read more

Summer is almost over! Hopefully you have had a chance to experience and participate in some of the many arts and cultural activities that make Chicago a great place to... Read more