Live Podcast Recording: Arts of Life

October 17, 2019 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Drawing Room Library

Art Director Vincent Uribe and Hector Jones, Artist at Arts of Life’s studios, joins us for our latest recording of Checking In. Listen in as they share stories about the local non-profit’s positive impact inside the creative arts community by providing artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities a collective space to expand their practice and strengthen their leadership.

Arts of Life relies heavily on studio volunteers. If you’re interested in learning more, we recommended participating in the Q+A after the conversation. Or, by visiting the volunteering page on the Arts of Life website.

Arts of Life is a 501©3 non-profit founded in January 2000 with a shared vision: to create a working, person-centric, artistic community while providing a work environment of equality in Chicago. Motivated by founding artist Veronica Cuculich along with two co-directors Arts of Life brought nine other individuals with developmental disabilities to create the organization we are today. Our shared vision grew from a passion for artistic expression and a need for an alternative system.

For artists at Arts of Life, a career in the visual arts is an opportunity for meaningful employment. Each artist has their own studio space and works independently from individualized project plans or receives 1:1 visual arts facilitation to increase their artistic skill set. Artists earn a monthly stipend for participation in the program with eligibility to receive bonuses based on personal annual art sales.

Today, we have two professional art studios and represent over 60 artists with varying levels of physical and intellectual disabilities. Each studio is 6,000 square feet and includes a community gallery that is open to the public.

Checking In
Checking In is a live interview series hosted by the Chicago Athletic Association hotel. It features discussions with innovators who shape how we consider contemporary art and culture. Now moving well into its second century of existence, the Chicago Athletic Association hotel remains intent on capturing stories from those who write today’s narrative – because it’s never too late to start preserving history. The Checking In series is recorded in front of a live public audience, complimentary, and open to all. Find all past recordings here.