Old Town School of Folk Music
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Grants
21
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Total Awarded
$2,453,000
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Years
1984 - 2021
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Categories
Grants
2021 ( 7 months)
$20,000
The Old Town School of Folk Music provides a variety of music, dance, theater, and visual arts courses to people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds and presents live performances by local, national, and international artists. The award supports an organization-wide knowledge building and professional development series focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
2018 (1 year 2 months)
$50,000
The Old Town School of Folk Music is the largest independent, accredited, community arts school in the United States. Its education offerings include music, dance, theater, and visual arts classes for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. With this International Connections Fund award, Chicago-based Old Town School of Folk Music works with the Wits School of the Arts at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa to create a hip-hop and jazz ensemble that includes emerging musicians from Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood and Johannesburg’s Soweto Township. Public performances occur in Chicago and South Africa.
2016 (5 years)
$425,000
The Old Town School of Folk Music is the largest independent, accredited, community arts school in the United States. Its education offerings include music, dance, theatre, and visual arts classes for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Its programs serve over 6,000 students per week and a total of 16,500 registered students each year. The School also operates 65 different music ensembles and a signature early childhood music program, Wiggleworms. The School also presents 300 national and international folk music concerts and events each year. Recent performers include Emmylou Harris, Loudon Wainwright III, and international performers from India, Mexico, and Iran. The School operates out of three main sites, which are situated in the Lincoln Park and Lincoln Square neighborhoods and include a 150-seat and a 425-seat concert hall, two music stores, a café, a resource center/library, and 47 classrooms. In 2015, its programs reached more than 120,000 people. This grant is recommended to renew general operating support to the Old Town School of Folk Music.
2013 (2 years 4 months)
$48,000
In support of an exchange between music faculty at Old Town School and a conservatory in Turkey. Each organization will share its music and culture with the other's students and communities.
2002 (2 years)
$250,000
In support of a temporarily-restricted facilities development fund to be used for major capital expenditures to provide additional space for expanded school programming (over two years).
1994 (1 year)
$45,000
To support a capital campaign feasibility study to renovate the former Hild Library building as a site.
1993 (3 years)
$90,000
In support of general operations (over three years).
1991 (1 year)
$60,000
In support of general operations (over two years).
1990 (1 year)
$45,000
To purchase and modify a facility to provide expanded space for programs.
1988 (3 years 1 month)
$75,000
In support of general operations (over three years).
1986 (1 year)
$40,000
In support of general operations.
1984 (1 year)
$10,000
In support of general operations.
