If you want to immerse yourself in the arts in Evanston and beyond, you’re in luck. The area is full of places to go for all things arts, from shows to museums. Don’t be afraid to venture off campus and participate in the Evanston and Chicago art scene.
Music
SPACE Evanston is a live music venue, with concerts available almost every day. Ticket prices vary. Another performance venue, Studio5, was opened by Northwestern alumni Béa (Communication ’78) and Steve Rashid (Bienen MM ’83). Studio5 offers music, dance and theater performances.
The city of Evanston also hosts the Starlight Concert and Movie Series, with dates through November 5 and October 7 respectively.
Theater
Evanston is home to several professional theaters. The Fleetwood-Jourdain Theater, which opened in 1979, focuses on African-American and African Diaspora-centered storytelling. Formerly known as Theo Ubique Cabaret Theater, Theo is a professional, nonprofit theater focused on celebrating humanity and building community through performance art. The players of the 2nd act produces original theatrical works, focusing on “act 2” events in people’s lives, such as divorce or heart disease.
Art and museums
The Evanston Art Center is a nonprofit organization that provides free galleries to the public. There are also public events, such as the annual Winter Art & Craft Exhibition. The Block Museum of Art on NU’s campus is also free to all, featuring art exhibitions, artist talks, symposia and more. Evanston is also home to specialty museums (with ticket purchase) like the American Toby Jug Museum. or the Halim Time & Glass Museum.
The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian showcases indigenous history, culture and art. The museum offers permanent exhibitions, as well as spotlights on storytelling, music and visual arts artists.
NU also has museum partnerships with the Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, so all students receive free admission if they present a Wildcard at the box office..
One of the area’s most popular arts organizations is Evanston Made, a community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting artists. Evanston Made hosts a multitude of events ranging from maker markets to artist boutiques and more.
Dance
Adults can take classes at the Evanston Dance Center, with classes costing about $17 or $18 per session. In addition to Studio5, the Evanston Dance Ensemble presents several productions each year, such as “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” EDE also created ede2, which brings the studio’s productions to underserved areas.
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Twitter: @karapeeler
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