President Tenny Emphasizes the Necessity of Chicago Artists in Crain’s Chicago Business

A flag on the ground and a book on the wall.

On May 30, Crain’s Chicago Business ran a commentary from President Elissa Tenny. The article, “Arts and culture sector can help Chicago’s new mayor fight crime and support the economy,” focuses on Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson’s commitment to the city’s artists and creators, including the establishment of an arts and culture subcommittee. 

From there, Tenny expands on how artists are important to the city’s health. A 2019 study by Chicago Loop Alliance found that $2.25 billion of economic activity was generated annually by downtown arts organizations and their patrons. But beyond the Loop, artists are essential to Chicago. Tenny explores how artists improve the city’s economy, reach across neighborhoods, increase urban safety, and help build community following the lingering effects of the pandemic. 

One example is the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s North Lawndale campus, which partners with the Foundation for Homan Square on multidisciplinary, collaborative community projects. Through that program, Professor Eric Hotchkiss led a course in creating a lighted mural at a neglected intersection. “To facilitate connectivity and understanding among the community, everyone has to be at the table to figure out what this design interaction that we may be creating will be,” Hotchkiss said in the article. Projects like this bolster both curb appeal and safety: A recent Bloomberg Philanthropies study showed “asphalt art” decreased vehicle/pedestrian crashes by 50 percent.

From SAIC’s Homan Square campus to civic projects like the 606 trail, Tenny highlights the benefits of encouraging Chicago’s citizen artists. “Whether making our world more beautiful, more honest, or more in touch with who we could be, citizen artists are key to Chicago’s success,” Tenny writes. 

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