DCASE Announces Fall & Winter Programming at Chicago Cultural Center

Highlights Include the Chicago Architecture Biennial, "Not a Soft Thing: A Group Exhibition by Artist Mothers," an Under the Dome concert and More

CHICAGO - The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) today announced a dynamic slate of new exhibitions and programs at the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington St.). This fall and winter season highlights include the tenth anniversary of the Chicago Architecture Biennial, the powerful opening of Not a Soft Thing: A Group Exhibition by Artist Mothers, September and December Chicago Cultural Center Open House events and a luminous concert experience with Under the Dome. Admission to all exhibitions and events is free and open to the public.

Chicago Architecture Biennial (CAB)
The sixth edition of the Chicago Architecture Biennial will open Friday, Sept. 19, kicking off at the Chicago Cultural Center. Since its 2015 launch, the Biennial has become the largest contemporary architecture and design exhibition in North America, welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world.

This year's theme, SHIFT: Architecture in Times of Radical Change, will highlight the work of over 100 projects by architects, artists, and designers from 30 countries. Alongside major installations at the Chicago Cultural Center, the Biennial will extend into neighborhoods across the city, offering site-specific projects, performances and public programs in collaboration with cultural partners citywide.

Visitors can expect immersive installations, interactive exhibitions and opportunities to engage with architects and artists during panel discussions, workshops and tours.

Event Details
Chicago Architecture Biennial - SHIFT: Architecture in Times of Radical Change
Date: Sept. 19, 2025 through Feb. 28, 2026
Location: Chicago Cultural Center and citywide sites
Admission: Free and open to the public
More Information: chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org

World Music Festival: Ragamala
Opening World Music Festival Chicago, Ragamala at the Chicago Cultural Center returns for its 13th year. Known as the country's largest all-night presentation of live Indian classical music, Ragamala offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience ragas, or traditional melodic frameworks, in the late-night and early morning hours when they were originally meant to be performed.

The celebration takes place in Preston Bradley Hall Friday, Sept. 26, from 6 p.m. until Saturday, Sept. 27, at 8 a.m.

Event Details
Date: Sept. 26, 6 p.m. through Sept. 27, 8 a.m.
Location: Chicago Cultural Center, Preston Bradley Hall
Admission: Free and open to the public
More Information

Chicago Cultural Center Open House
The Open House series continues in September and December at the historic Chicago Cultural Center. Open House offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience the Chicago Cultural Center after hours, reimagined as a hub of global traditions, contemporary creativity and community connection.

The September event will tie into the World Music Festival: Ragamala programming with highlights including live music and dance in G.A.R. Hall featuring Ethnic Dance Chicago, Mandala Arts, and an Arab folktale presented with Bellydance by Phaedra. Cultural experiences continue throughout the building with South Asian artist listening sessions and shopping in Buddy, henna and garland-making in the G.A.R. Rotunda, and live participatory rangoli making in the Learning Lab with artist-in-residence Indira Johnson.

The December Open House will be a family-friendly celebration in time for the holiday season on Dec. 13.

Event Details
Dates: Sept. 26, 4 - 8 p.m. and Dec. 13, 1 - 6 p.m.
Location: Chicago Cultural Center
Admission: Free and open to the public
More Information

Elaborate
Elaborate is a new pilot program at the Chicago Cultural Center designed to showcase works-in-progress and highlight the creative process that goes into developing new artistic projects, as an extension of the artist-in-residence program. This fall's event will feature Echo Network, a dance and technology performance by Christopher Knowlton that reimagines digital social networks through movement and sound, and frikiNation, a concert version of a new Cuban punk rock musical by Krystal Ortiz with music direction by Alan Mendez.

In the Chicago Cultural Center lobby, visitors can explore the Echo Network app through an interactive station that showcases the augmented reality body-tracking sound app for smartphones developed by Knowlton in collaboration with musician and creative technologist Bill Parod. Echo Network is presented in partnership with High Concept Labs, and frikiNation is presented in partnership with UrbanTheater Company.

Event Details
Date: Oct. 1
Doors open at 6:45 p.m. | Performances begin at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Chicago Cultural Center, Claudia Cassidy Theater
Admission: Free and open to the public
More Information

Under the Dome
Audiences are invited to step Under the Dome for a one-of-a-kind concert experience at the Chicago Cultural Center on Thursday, Oct. 23, where the soaring Tiffany dome becomes the stage for a vibrant fusion of music and atmosphere. The October installation of the concert series features electrifying performances by Chicago-based rapper and songwriter Rich Robbins and singer-songwriter Demetruest, two artists whose sounds reflect the creativity and energy pulsing through Chicago's music scene. Their artistry will be amplified by the breathtaking setting, transforming a historic landmark into a space for innovation, connection and cultural celebration.

A clothing swap, in partnership with Chicago Fair Trade, from 5-8 p.m. will kick off the event. More than a concert, Under the Dome continues DCASE's mission to bring art to all, making every performance an unforgettable meeting of history, artistry and innovation as a free and open to the public event.

Event Details
Date: Oct. 23
Doors open: 5 p.m. | Performances begin: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Chicago Cultural Center, Preston Bradley Hall
Admission: Free and open to the public
RSVP is not required, but recommended. RSVP
More Information

"Not a Soft Thing: A Group Exhibition by Artist Mothers"
On view from Oct. 25, 2025, through Mar. 22, 2026, in the Chicago Rooms (2nd Floor North), this exhibition explores the intersections of caregiving, creativity and community through the work of 15 artist mothers with diverse cultural backgrounds, disciplines, and stages of caregiving.

Through painting, photography, ceramics, texts, and installation, the exhibition explores the question: "What does it mean to create in the margins of care?" Not a Soft Thing is both a call to action and an invitation: to recognize caregiving not as a barrier to creativity, but as a powerful, generative force within it.

Several works are uniquely designed to be child-friendly and invite audience participation, creating meaningful, intergenerational experiences for visitors.

Exhibiting artists include: A.Martinez, Angela Lopez, Aubrey Ingmar, Bobbi Meier, Connie Noyes, Cydney M Lewis, Jenny Halpern, Jihae Park, Katie Kirk, Keeley Haftner, Noelle Garcia, Orr Menirom, Sarana Mehra, Tulika Ladsariya and Yemisi Oyeniyi.

Event Details
Not a Soft Thing: A Group Exhibition by Artist Mothers
Dates: Oct. 25, 2025 - Mar. 22, 2026
Location: Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago Rooms, 2nd Floor North
Admission: Free and open to the public
More Information

New Play Residency
Performances of The Rosina Project (TRP), a contemporary adaptation of Rossini's opera The Barber of Seville will take place at the Chicago Cultural Center as part of the New Play Residency program. Mixing hip-hop MCs, opera singers and street-dance artists with a live DJ and beatboxer, this production presents a female-driven story of empowerment and friendship as an immersive house party.

First developed in 2018, the 2025 DCASE residency of TRP introduces new cast members, incorporates live instruments and clarifies the story's focus on Rosina and its other female characters through revised lyrics and dance sequences. TRP is a co-production of Chicago Fringe Opera and BraveSoul Movement.

The Rosina Project is one of several upcoming Chicago Cultural Center New Play Residency projects. The New Play Residency is an incubator offering space, time and funding for the development of new text-based plays and musicals. The additional projects to be announced will include public readings in February 2026 with full details available later this fall.

Event Details
Dates: Saturday, Nov. 8, 2 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 9, 2 p.m.
Location: Chicago Cultural Center, Cassidy Theater
Admission: Free and open to the public
More Information

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Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) supports artists and cultural organizations, invests in the creative economy, and expands access and participation in the arts throughout Chicago's 77 neighborhoods. As a collaborative cultural presenter, arts funder, and advocate for creative workers, our programs and events serve Chicagoans and visitors of all ages and backgrounds, downtown and in diverse communities across our city - to strengthen and celebrate Chicago. DCASE produces some of the city's most iconic festivals, markets, events, and exhibitions at the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park, and in communities across the city - serving a local and global audience of 25 million people. The Department offers cultural grants and resources, manages public art, supports TV and film production and other creative industries, and permits special events throughout Chicago. For details, visit Chicago.gov/DCASE and stay connected via our newsletters and social media.