Vol. 62: 60-day Grants + Jazz Along the Red Line

This Month’s Feature: Mandala South Asian Peforming Arts!

Mandala Arts is a MacArthur Award-winning organization founded by Executive Artistic Director Pranita Nayar. From classical to contemporary, Mandala offers evocative dance, theatre, and musical arts, connecting audiences and students with the vibrancy of the performing arts traditions of South Asia.

Mandala is pleased to announce its Red Line Jazz Project, a public arts initiative that is activating public transit and community spaces with free live music and cultural programming. Curated by acclaimed jazz musician and Mandala Artist-in-Residence Fareed Haque, the Project’s performances begin Thursday, May 21 in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood and continue for five months, culminating Friday, October 16 with Haque and other artists in a ticketed performance at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park.

Through a series of curated performances, local jazz musicians and ensembles are presenting short live sets at or near Red Line L stations, creating spontaneous moments of connection for commuters and neighborhood residents. The performances blend jazz improvisation with global musical influences, reflecting Chicago’s rich musical heritage and its diverse communities, including Rogers Park, Chatham, Chinatown, Uptown, Bronzeville, Roseland, and more.

Among the artists scheduled to appear, in addition to Fareed Haque, are Butter Chicken Brass Band, Ugochi Nwaogwugwu, Renee C. Baker of the AACM, Luciano Antonio, and more.

Program details are subject to change. Learn more about the Red Line Jazz Project at Mandala’s website.

Also, the Mandala Makers Festival continues with Purush: When Power Becomes Poetry tomorrow, Saturday May 2nd! Tickets are still available for purchase. See more details in our artist feature section after the grants.