Washington, DC—National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Jane Chu will visit Chicago, Illinois, June 11-13, 2015. Chairman Chu will give remarks at Americans for the Arts 2015 Annual Convention on Saturday, June 13. Leading up to this, on June 11 and 12 she will visit a selection of organizations in Chicago that the NEA has supported, including Chicago Architecture Foundation, Old Town School of Folk Music, and National Museum of Mexican Art. In FY 2015, 97 organizations in the Chicago metropolitan area, including the Illinois Arts Council Agency, received NEA support for a total of $3.4 million in funding. Follow @NEAJaneChu on Twitter for updates and photos on her trip to Chicago. On June 11, Chairman Chu will visit Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF). As part of this visit, Chairman Chu will learn more about Open House Chicago and tour the Fine Arts Building, one of the Open House Chicago sites. On June 12, Chairman Chu will begin her day at the Old Town School of Folk Music. As part of her tour, Chairman Chu will observe an early childhood music education class, meet artists in residence Deeply Rooted Dance Company, and see a short performance by Huasteco violinist and singer Juan Rivera. Next she will tour the National Museum of Mexican Art, which is participating in this summer’s Blue Star Museums. Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums across America to offer free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve, from Memorial Day, May 25, 2015 through Labor Day, September 7, 2015. On June 13, Chairman Chu will give remarks and participate in the discussion at the morning plenary session: Empowering Equity and Encouraging Innovation through the Arts at Americans for the Arts 2015 Annual Convention. Moderated by Michelle Boone, commissioner for the city of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, the discussion will also include Tom Finkelpearl, commissioner of New York City’s Department of Cultural Affairs. Media who wish to attend this session should contact Inga Vitols with American for the Arts at ivitols@artsusa.org or 202-371-2830. The following events are open to media. Media who wish to attend these events or request an interview with Chairman Chu must contact NEA Public Affairs at auclaire@arts.gov or 202-682-5744. Thursday, June 11, 2015 2:00–3:30pm  Site visit to Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) Locations:  2:00–3:00pm, CAF Offices, 224 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60604 3:10–3:30pm, Fine Arts Building, 410 S Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605 Participants:       Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts Lynn Osmond, president and CEO, CAF Dan Facchini, director of Institutional Relations, CAF Marilyn Jackson, vice president of Marketing and Audience, CAF Garrett Karp, manager of Open House Chicago, CAF Jen Masengarb, director of Interpretation and Research, CAF Patrick Miner, research and media planner, CAF Jen Van Valkenburg, vice president of Institutional Advancement, CAF

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Friday, June 12, 2015 9:00–10:00am Site visit to Old Town School of Folk Music Location: 4544-4545 N Lincoln Ave. Chicago, IL 60625 Participants:       Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts Bau Graves, executive director, Old Town School of Folk Music Scott Lundius, education director, Old Town School of Folk Music Juan Rivera Huasteco Trio

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2:00–2:30pm Site visit to National Museum of Mexican Art Location: 1852 W 19th St., Chicago, IL 60608 Participants:       Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts Carlos Tortolero, founder and president, National Museum of Mexican Art Tatiana Gant, executive director, Illinois Arts Council

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Saturday, June 13, 2015 9:00–11:15am Morning Plenary Session-- Americans for the Arts 2015 Annual Conference. Media who wish to attend this session should contact Inga Vitols with American for the Arts at ivitols@artsusa.org or 202-371-2830. Location: Chicago Sheraton, 301 East North Water Street, Chicago, IL 60611 Participants:       Jane Chu, chairman, National Endowment for the Arts Michelle Boone, commissioner, city of Chicago, Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events Tom Finkelpearl, commissioner, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs

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