Bustling Spaces LLC supports artists, community groups, and creative businesses in historically disinvested communities to manifest their visions, access new resources, and tell their stories.
OUR IMPACT
In three years, Bustling Spaces has helped our clients write grants that have raised more than $5 million to support arts activities on Chicago's South Side. Additionally, we collaborated with Arts Alliance Illinois to promote the B2B Arts grant, which provides $50 million in COVID relief funding to Illinois arts organizations, artists, and creative businesses.
Artist Statement
Meet the Team
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FounderI am a theater artist, cultural planner, community developer, storyteller, arts advocate and strategic consultant. I have over 20 years of experience as a theater director, producer, playwright and non-profit administrator. I was an Artistic Associate and member of the Artistic Collective at the Goodman Theatre, where I directed seven seasons of their beloved holiday production of A Christmas Carol as well as numerous other productions, readings and workshops. I recently graduated from the Masters in Urban Planning and Policy program at the University of Illinois Chicago with a custom specialization in cultural planning. My primary academic focus was on the role that arts infrastructure and cultural programming in public spaces can play in generating equitable hyperlocal economic development in historically disinvested communities.
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MARKETING & ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR
Juevel Hutton (SHRM-CP, BSc. MSc) is a skilled HR and administrative professional with a strong background in human resources, marketing, and strategic planning. Holding a BSc. in Human Resource Management & Marketing and an MSc. in Human Resource Development (pending), Juevel specializes in HR strategy, job analysis, policy development, talent management, and workflow optimization. With experience supporting organizations across various industries, he is committed to enhancing operational efficiency and fostering people-centered solutions.
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PROGRAM ASSOCIATE
A vocalist, pianist and composer, Paige Brown occupies the dynamic space of helping to create opportunities, supports, and structures for Chicago artists and organizations while establishing herself as an artist in her own right.
As an arts administrator and as a fan/friend of many in the robust Chicago arts ecosystem, she constantly finds herself in awe of the talent and adventurousness of the creatives she is privileged to witness and support. Her experiences in grant writing and development, proposal review, and performing arts residency coordination have inspired her to develop new ways to disseminate information and strategies for procuring funding, platform expansion and more to emerging and underrepresented artists and arts initiatives, while simultaneously working to co-create a more accessible, supportive, and equitable arts landscape in the city as a whole.
Also a former bilingual educator serving over 15 years inside the classroom and out, Paige has extensive experience with coaching, mentoring, and tutoring in multiple contexts and across cultures. These experiences have greatly informed how she moves through the art world, further solidifying her belief that every person, no matter the age, thrives when seen as they are, met where they are, and valued for who they are. Skilled at tailoring support to group and/or individual needs using affirming strategies, she is dedicated personally and professionally to helping cultivate joy, curiosity, growth, and success for the creative and community-minded.
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CONSULTANT
Evin Marie is the Founder & Director of Maekeen Room, LLC, a strategic consulting firm that partners with Bustling Spaces to build development strategies in capital campaigns, messaging, organizational development, event strategy, board development, volunteer engagement, and more. With over 15 years of experience, Evin specializes in nonprofit fundraising, organizational culture, and social enterprise leadership, helping businesses, educational institutions, and social change makers expand their impact through strategic growth and resource acquisition.In addition to her consulting work, Evin is a seasoned creative, with a background in playwriting and public speaking. She has extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, having served on boards, managed teams, and executed fundraising initiatives. Evin’s passion lies in empowering others to create sustainable change, with a focus on equity, growth, and strategic partnerships.
Community ResourcesExplore valuable resources for artists, community groups, and creative businesses.
Discover a wealth of helpful resources specially curated for artists, community groups, and creative businesses. Whether you're seeking funding opportunities, strategic guidance, or storytelling support, our toolkit has it all! Empower your projects and fuel your community's growth with these valuable assets.