💰tephanie koch

Dear Chicago arts community, this report is for you.

Over the past six years, I’ve been part of a small team working on the Chicago Arts Census, a project that began in the early days of quarantine and has grown into a citywide effort.

We’ve just launched the public reporting phase!

The Census brings together what arts workers across Chicago shared about housing, healthcare, wages, caregiving, and the conditions that shape whether a life in the arts is sustainable. The launch includes a written report, an interactive dashboard, and a series of town halls across the city.

This has been a long, collaborative process, shaped by years of organizing, data collection, peer review, and community work. I’m grateful to have worked alongside Kate Bowen, Alden Burke, Tiffany Johnson, Anthony Stepter, and Adia Sykes, my beautiful co-organizers 💞

The GIF here is made from 482 screenshots from our meetings over the years, and it still doesn’t include the larger sessions with advisors and peer reviewers.

If you’re in Chicago, take a look at the report, explore the data, or join an upcoming session. If you’re an arts practitioner interested in data collection, it offers considerations you can adapt for your own work!

More to come! Chicago, ilysm🤓🫶🏽👩🏽‍🔬🧚🏽

@chicagoartscensus