The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, in partnership with Arts Alliance Illinois, the Goodman Theatre, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), invite you to a discussion about how the arts contribute to the development of a thriving region.

The conversation features Rocco Landesman, Chairman of the NEA and Ron Sims, Deputy Secretary of HUD discussing their recent collaboration through the Sustainable Communities Partnership. A panel of experts in business, community development, and the arts will discuss the role and value of integrating artistic and cultural activities into their work in Chicago. The discussion will be moderated by Chicago Public Media’s Steve Edwards. Panelists include Theaster Gates, artist, urban planner, Director of Arts Program Development at the University of Chicago and Loeb Fellow at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design; Lindsay Gaskins, Founder and CEO, Marbles: The Brain Store; and Jaime de Leon, Director, New Communities Program, ENLACE Chicago.

Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. Wednesday, April 27th from 1:00pm to 2:30pm. Reception to immediately follow discussion. This event is free but RSVPs are necessary by April 20th at arts&culture@macfound.org with your name, title, and organization.