I spent most of 1991 at Roosevelt University’s Institute for Metropolitan Affairs attempting to create center for cultural policy that would act as a source of inspiration and planning for the metro Chicago area’s arts and cultural sector. I worked without pay to organize this work. I got $5,000 from the MacArthur Foundation to visit six cities to collect program models of unique, powerful, and innovative of arts support – from the business sector, the government sector, and from the arts sector, themselves.

“The mission of the Center is to:

(1) Achieve a comprehensive, ongoing overview of the metro Chicago cultural eco-system

(2) Research effective models for new resources and capacity building for the arts

(3) Explore and develop new methods and mechanisms for integrating the arts into community life.

The Center will undertake the following activities:

– Data Collection & Dissemination
– Survey Research
– Symposiums & Colloquies
– Coalition Building
– Advocacy Training
– Technology Transfer
– Demonstration Projects

We are currently preparing the Cook County Arts Census, a survey of nonprofit arts groups in Cook County to be published in directory form in early 1992.”

We presented a $200,000 two-year budget proposal to the MacArthur Foundation board in late 1991. The proposal was declined. However, the program director, Nick Rabkin, went on to start a center for cultural policy at Columbia College, which was in place from 2001 to 2008.

Download the results of the six city research tour. One outcome was Tom founding Greater Chicago Citizens for the Arts, modeled after the San Francisco Arts Democratic Club.

Download the list of projects we were gearing up to launch.