Supporting Illinois' Arts Sector

Celebrating its 95th anniversary in 2026, the Music Institute of Chicago (MIC) stands as one of the nation’s most esteemed community music schools. Serving over 1,900 students ranging from just a few months old to over 90 years across 133 Illinois zip codes, MIC is dedicated to fostering connections through lifelong engagement with music. Its mission is to educate, inspire, and build a thriving, inclusive community by offering exceptional instruction, inspiring performances, and community-focused programs. The joy and discipline of music are at the heart of MIC's efforts to enrich lives and unite individuals from diverse backgrounds.

A key highlight of MIC’s winter season is the 23rd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration Concert. Scheduled for Sunday, January 18 at 3 p.m., the event will be held at Nichols Concert Hall in downtown Evanston. This free concert is a tribute to Dr. King’s enduring legacy, blending music, reflection, and dialogue to honor his contributions. The celebration will feature a keynote address by Dr. Jonathan Bailey Holland, Dean of Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music. Attendees will also be treated to a world premiere by Abisola Toukourou, commissioned by MIC and performed by Chroma, Hearing in Color’s new professional chamber ensemble of performers with marginalized identities. Additional collaborators include Evanston Children’s Choir, Reach Teach Play, Chicago Musical Pathways, and the Evanston Art Center.

Jennifer Bienemann, Vice President and Chief Development Officer at MIC, expressed gratitude for the support offered by the Illinois Arts Council. “Support from the Illinois Arts Council helps make it possible for MIC to present programming that reflects our community, elevates new voices, and brings people together through music,” she emphasized.

Dianna Frid is a distinguished artist whose work explores the realms of books and textiles. Born in Mexico City, Frid immigrated to Canada in 1983 and to the USA in 1999. She has been a professor in the Art Department at the University of Illinois at Chicago since 2006. Her art practice encompasses sculpture, works on paper, and other media, with a focus on asking open-ended questions about time, language, and the transformation of matter. Frid’s work reflects her experiences as a bilingual, twice-immigrant artist, and she often collaborates with literary communities and fellow artists.

Diana Frid's upcoming exhibition, "Matter Is the Nectar of Writing," at Illinois State University Galleries, will run from January 12 to March 1, 2026. Curated by Kendra Paitz, the show features new and recent works, including tapestries, artist’s books, embroideries, photographs, and mixed-media sculptures. This exhibition marks the U.S. premiere of works created in Mexico and Chicago between 2023 and 2025. It showcases Frid's interest in the interconnectedness of texts and textiles, inspired by "worm-holed" books at the Burgoa Library in Oaxaca. The exhibition will be accompanied by a range of public programs, including workshops, lectures, and tours.

Reflecting on her creative process and support from the Illinois Arts Council, Dianna Frid states, "I am truly grateful for the support I received from the IAC. With this grant, I have been able to cover many studio expenses, hire young artists whom I mentored, and experiment with new processes and materials. Without the ability to experiment, my work would not challenge me in ways that can only enhance the long-term commitments I made to my practice many years ago."