ArtsBridge.org

Arts Bridge strengthens the nonprofit cultural community by assisting emerging cultural groups with the "business" of arts. We are Chicago's only arts service organization that offers office space, office equipment and administrative support services. Arts management resource library and publications.

Since 1986, our programs have supported over 300 cultural groups, enabling them to become successful and important contributors to the arts community.

In 1998, Arts Bridge began extending select Incubator Program services to a membership base of non-resident groups through Art Works. The program offers ongoing management training events and material resources developed specifically for small to mid-size, Chicago-area arts organizations. Art Works services include:

• * 20 to 25 workshops and other training events annually;
• * Our monthly calendar of funding deadlines and workshops, networking events, etc.;
• * Bi-annual newsletter focusing on various areas of organizational development from the perspectives of professional administrators, consultants, funders and board members;
• * Access to our arts and nonprofit management resource library.
• * 3 hours of diagnostic consulting with Arts Bridges knowledgeable, friendly staff.

Incubator Program

Arts Bridge's primary project is a business incubator for small, emerging and innovative nonprofit arts groups. The Incubator Program offers a comprehensive network of support services. Since 1987, we have provided participants with personalized technical assistance in key management areas such as fundraising, finance, marketing and board development. These organizational development services include annual planning and extensive consultation, management training and material resources.

We maintain a facility at the Athenaeum Theatre Building that houses our Incubator Program participants under one roof. Groups benefit from individual and shared administrative space, essential office equipment and administrative services. This cooperative environment nurtures synergy, peer support and mentoring amongst groups.

Incubator participants represent a diverse mix of artistic endeavors -- dance, theatre, music, literature, and visual and media arts -- and cultural influences that span the globe. These groups report dramatic increases in earned and contributed revenue, and in board, staff and audience development as a direct result of their participation in the Incubator Program.