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Illinois Humanities

@ilhumanities

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We strengthen the social, political, and economic fabric of Illinois through constructive conversation and community engagement. #ILHumanities

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Happy Zhou Brothers Day
Oct 16th 2026

Celebrating the extraordinary artistic vision of the Zhou Brothers, whose art and creativity helped transform an old warehouse into the Zhou B Art Center—an artist’s playground where creativity, collaboration, and community flourished.

Through their vision, the Center helped nurture the 3rd Friday art movement, contributing to Bridgeport’s growth as one of Chicago’s most vibrant and diverse artistic communities.

Enjoyed celebrating their artistic legacy, their impact on the community, and the power of art to bring people together across cultures.

Inquiries - m@zhoub.com

#chineseartists #zhoubrothers #zhoub #chicagoartist #artisticlegacy

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3rd Annual Latinx Festival of the Arts produced by OH Art Foundation

“Immigrant Owned”
Featuring Solo Exhibition by Jonathan Michael Castillo @joncastillophoto
Curated by J. Gibran Villalobos

Opening Reception October 16th, 2026
6pm- 9pm
October 16th, 2026 - November 13th, 2026
OH ART Foundation : 3314 S Morgan st Chicago

Inquiries - info@ohartfoundation.org

2026 programs funded by @elevated_chi @thechicagocommunitytrust @illinoisartscouncil @ilhumanities and Zhou B Group

#ohartfoundation #ohartevents #Zhoub #latinxartist #photographer

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First time shooting a portrait booth at the #ObamaPresidentialCenter for our friends at #ILHumanities and their annual awards ceremony!

#GlitterGuts #ObamaCenter #JacksonParkChicago

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My next Illinois Humanities Road Scholars talk takes me to Maroa in Central Illinois on November 6!

I’ll be presenting Fuller Visionaries: From Illinois to the World, exploring the connected legacies of Buckminster Fuller and Margaret Fuller and the important role Illinois played in both of their lives and work.

As I’ve traveled with this program, the talk has continued to evolve. I’m bringing more into focus the significance of Chicago and Southern Illinois to Bucky’s legacy, along with some fascinating discoveries about Margaret Fuller’s time in Illinois.

For example, Margaret Fuller is often recognized as the first woman permitted to use Harvard’s library. Did you know there’s an Illinois connection to that story? I didn’t either until I started developing this talk! And I thought I’d done my research. I keep discovering more, which is one of the things I’m really loving about being part of the Road Scholars program.

If you know anyone in Central Illinois, please share! I’d love to see some familiar faces and meet some new ones.

Friday, November 6 at noon
Maroa Public Library
Free and open to the public.

I’ll also be giving another presentation in Carbondale in January, and I’ll share more about that soon!

Thanks to Illinois Humanities and the Maroa Public Library District for making these conversations possible.

#IllinoisHumanities #RoadScholars #BuckminsterFuller #MargaretFuller #IllinoisHistory

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✨ Look what we made possible together! ✨

October is National Arts & Humanities Month, and we’re celebrating by looking back at an incredible summer that was filled with history, art, music, and community.

From the opening of “We the People of DeKalb County” special exhibit and our expanded campus, to the Sycamore Farmers Market, Crib Notes Summer Concert Series, new public art projects, and our community’s celebration of America 250, this summer was full of opportunities to connect with the stories and people that make DeKalb County special.

And none of it would have been possible without our donors. ❤️

To everyone who donated, volunteered, attended, visited, and supported the History Center: THANK YOU for helping us bring local history to life!

We’re so grateful for this community and can’t wait to see what we dream up next.

#ArtsAndHumanitiesMonth #LocalHistory #DeKalbCountyHistory #DeKalbCountyIL #SycamoreIL SummerMemories ThankYouDonors

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Last day of Hispanic Heritage Month calls for a reflection of all the celebrations bringing Mexican dance traditions to audiences throughout Chicagoland and our state.

Each star on this map represents more than a performance. It represents a space where hundreds of young people built confidence and leadership, families celebrated their heritage, and audiences connected with traditions passed down through generations.

To our grant funders, donors, and community partners: this is your investment in action. Your support helps us keep dance education affordable and creates opportunities for our students to share their talents on stages throughout Illinois.

These 22 public performances show both the reach of our work and the demand for it. Behind every appearance are hours of teaching, rehearsals, coordination, and the dedication of our dancers, instructors, volunteers, and families.

When you support BFC, you help preserve Mexican traditions, develop the next generation of leaders, and bring communities together through the arts. Thank you for helping make this work possible. 💙

#BalletFolkloricoDeChicago #HispanicHeritageMonth #MexicanDanceTraditions #ArtsEducation #CommunityImpact IllinoisArts

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On July 4, 2026, America turned 250 years old. Toni Morrison taught that the measure of a nation is not in its monuments, but in the stories it has the courage to face. In the face of all the forces daunting the spirit, she famously wrote: “This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair.”

We are thrilled to present America@250 - Now is the Time: Artists Go to Work, a curated suite of events that amplifies the deeply inspirational and vital creative work produced by Chicago-based artists working at the intersection of art and civic life.

Through exhibitions, performances, artist-led discussions, and opportunities for public participation, this series examines the nation’s history, the complexities of its founding ideals, and the role of artists in challenging established narratives, fostering dialogue, and imagining what America’s next 250 years might look like.

Featuring exciting partnerships with The Toni Morrison Foundation, Illinois Humanities, the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, the Smart Museum of Art, and UChicago Arts, now is the time for discussion, reflection, and action.

Now is the time we go to work.

Learn more and reserve your spot at the link in our bio.
....
🎨 “Tropicalamerican” by Edra Soto.

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3rd Annual Latinx Festival of the Arts produced by OH Art Foundation

“Immigrant Owned”
Featuring Solo Exhibition by Jonathan Michael Castillo @joncastillophoto
Curated by J. Gibran Villalobos

Opening Reception October 16th, 2026
6pm- 9pm
October 16th, 2026 - November 13th, 2026
OH ART Foundation : 3314 S Morgan st Chicago

Inquiries - info@ohartfoundation.org

2026 programs funded by @elevated_chi @illinoisartscouncil @thechicagocommunitytrust @ilhumanities and Zhou B Group

#ohartfoundation #ohartevents #soloexhibition #latinxartist #localartist

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OH ART FOUNDATION × AACM
Before It Is Heard

Renee C. Baker’s solo exhibition produced by OH Art Foundation
Performances by musicians of the AACM (the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians) @aacm_chicago
Curated by InJung Oh @injungoh and Renée C. Baker

Nov 20th - Dec 13th, 2026

Everything on these walls is music.
Not a painting about music. Not an image inspired by a piece. Music, written down — in a language Renée C. Baker built herself, because the one she was handed could not hold what she needed to say.

Inquiries - info@ohartfoundation.org

2026 programs funded by @thechicagocommunitytrust @illinoisartscouncil @elevated_chi @ilhumanities

#ohartfoundation #ohartevents #aacm #artandmusic #renéecbaker

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This will be my final presentation for Illinois Humanities @ilhumanities Road Scholars Speakers Bureau for this year.

Will be heading to Champaign, IL.

A Place to Call Home:
Understanding Asian Americans in Illinois Through Narratives
Host: Champaign County History Museum
Date: November 19, 2026
Time: 7-8pm
Location: Champaign Public Library
200 W Green Street, Champaign, IL.

Look forward to seeing everyone next month.

#illinoishumanities #illinoishumanitiesroadscholars

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Thank you Angela and Maple School at @d30schools for inviting me to share my story and explore the importance of intergenerational storytelling and building intimate community. Thank you for allowing me to model vulnerability and trust.

Grateful to interact with grandparents, parents and students. So good to hear students’ testimonies during the student panel.

Until next time.

This presentation is made possible by @ilhumanities Road Scholars Speakers Bureau.

#illinoishumanities #illinoishumanitiesroadscholars

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