FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: MAYOR LIGHTFOOT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMay 5, 2021CONTACT:Mayor’s Press Office312.744.3334press@cityofchicago.orgMAYOR LIGHTFOOT ANNOUNCES SUMMER EVENTS ACROSS THE CITY — THENEXT PHASE OF THE MAYOR’S “OPEN CHICAGO” INITIATIVE“Open Culture” signals the reopening of Chicago’s diverse and legendary cultural scenewith music, dance, public art, markets, and more at Millennium Park and venuescitywideCHICAGO – Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, the Department of Cultural Affairs and SpecialEvents (DCASE), Choose Chicago, and Chicago’s cultural community todayannounced “Open Culture” — the next phase of Open Chicago, the Mayor’s latestinitiative to safely and fully reopen the city.Summer cultural events for Chicago residents and visitors alike will include avariety of activities. Music lovers will get a chance to experience “Chicago In Tune,” anew citywide festival celebrating Chicago’s diverse and legendary music scene andthe 2021 Year of Chicago Music, as well as concerts at the Jay Pritzker Pavilionfeaturing the 2021 season of Grant Park Music Festival. Fans of dance will enjoyperformances in Millennium Park by American Ballet Theatre presented by theAuditorium Theatre, Dance for Life presented by Chicago Dancers United, andpartake in neighborhood-based Chicago SummerDance lessons and live music. Newpublic artworks by Nick Cave, Bob Faust, Andrea Carlson, and other celebratedartists will be on display. Chicagoans and visitors can also mark their calendars forthe return of Chicago City Markets including, the historic Maxwell Street Market,Taste of Chicago To-Go community meals, and more. The City will welcome dozensof other free and affordable, in-person, and hybrid cultural activities throughout thesummer. Most DCASE events will have limited capacity and require advanceregistration. All summer events will adhere to the latest public health and safetyguidelines.“Despite the unimaginable challenges that were thrown our way last year, we werestill able to persist and come together to slow and stop the spread of this virus andput our city on the right path toward a safe reopening,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “OpenChicago — including Open Parks, Open Streets and now, Open Culture — is not onlythe direct result of these efforts, but it also serves as the latest step in our mission tofully restore a sense of normalcy within our city by bringing back and reimagining

some of our favorite summer- and fall-time activities. I am grateful to every City,arts, community, and business leader who partnered with us on this incredibleinitiative as well as our residents, who continue to follow public health guidance andkeep our COVID-19 metrics low enough to launch efforts like these.”City officials are also highlighting upcoming vaccination events for the artscommunity at The Promontory (5311 S. Lake Park Ave) on May 20 at 12-7 p.m. andTheater Wit (1229 W. Belmont Ave) on May 21 at 12-7 p.m., plus mobilevaccinations at many City-sponsored summer events. Additionally, arts workers areinvited to attend seven virtual information and drop-in sessions to engage inconversation about the Arts 77 arts recovery plan — starting with a 2021Neighborhood Access Program Info Session on May 5 at 4-5 p.m. To learn more,visit Chicago.gov/Arts77.“Chicago’s arts landscape has been devastated by the pandemic. We all must do ourpart to support the recovery of this vital sector, which is so necessary to oureconomy and our sense of belonging,” said DCASE Commissioner Mark Kelly. “I amalso excited to know that the arts will be on the leading edge of the city’s reopeningas our music clubs, theaters, and festivals come back to life and energize Chicago.There is so much to be excited about as the arts return. During this Year of ChicagoMusic, our “Chicago In Tune” festival will emerge as a joyous month-long celebrationof Chicago’s amazing music scene. Our Chicago Presents and Chicago Band Rosterprograms will animate our entire city with music, theater, and dance. The arts mayhave su

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 5, 2021 CONTACT: Mayor’s Press Office 312.744.3334 press@cityofchicago.org MAYOR LIGHTFOOT ANNOUNCES SUMMER EVENTS ACROSS THE CITY — THE NEXT PHASE OF THE MAYOR’S “OPEN CHICAGO” INITIATIVE “Open Culture” signals the reopening of Chicago’s diverse and legendary cultural scene with music, dance, public art, markets,