Three popular past DCASE events have been folded into one colossal event this spring to give creative professionals in film, music, fashion, culinary and performing arts a place to meet and learn more about their craft from experts.
Organized by DCASE, the Dept. of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and presented by Google, the free Lake FX Summit + Expo, April 16-19 will headquarter at the Chicago Cultural Center and spread to venues and neighborhoods throughout the city.
“Chicago’s creative community is one of this city’s greatest assets,” says DCASE Commissioner Michelle Boone. “We’re always looking for new opportunities to support their efforts and industries and to leverage their expertise.”
Towards that goal, the Summit will offer think tanks, business development panels, workshops on topics such as career development, branding, business startups, along with film and music showcases, networking, an Expo Resource Fair and an artisan marketplace.
The Gene Siskel Film Center will host the Film Track discussions and networking. Scheduled so far are creatives from Kartemquin Films on documentary and social issue filmmaking and award-winning recording engineer Leslie Anne Jones of Skywalker Sound (“Apocalypse Now”) discussing her career.
Macy’s will host the Culinary Track; Virgin Hotels the Fashion Track and the Cultural Center for Visual and Performing Arts Track.
Guest speakers scheduled so far for this year’s inaugural Summit, which will explore the theme “Improvisation and Innovation,” are The Second City members; Sire Records founder Seymour Stein; Rochelle Trotter, wife of renowned chef Charlie Trotter; artist Carlos Rolón/Dzine; Sun-Times columnist Hedy Weiss; Kickstarter co-founder Charles Adler and Jimmy Chamberlin of the Smashing Pumpkins.
Loop venues are the Cultural Center, the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park, Virgin Hotels Chicago the Hard Rock Hotel Chicago the Gene Siskel Film Center and Macy’s on State Street
Evening showcase events will be programmed by CIMMfest and the Recording Academy/Chicago Chapter and take place throughout Hyde Park, Pilsen, West Town, Logan Square and Uptown and other neighborhoods.
Strategic marketing partners include American Airlines, Bank of America, Kendall College, Goose Island, Discover America.com, Chicago Dept. of Aviation, Illinois Tourism and IBTM America.
