Advocating on Behalf of Chicago's Independent Performing Arts Venues

Representing Chicago’s Independent Venues

Formed in 2018, CIVL represents venues that champion the Chicago performing arts community. Shows, concerts, and events at our independent venues are known to be some of the best in the world. Members include some of the preeminent independent music venues, comedy clubs, performing arts centers, dance centers, and theaters in our city. The CIVL member community consists of industry leaders and experts that inform our community impact, and advocacy.

CIVL acts to secure the long-term future of these and other venues for the benefit of our communities and emerging artists. Member venues have played a crucial role in the development of Chicago’s music over the last 50 years by nurturing local, national and international talent, and providing a platform for these artists to build their careers and develop their music.
Chicago's independent venues provide thousands of jobs, as well as millions of dollars in salaries, revenues, charitable donations and taxes. CIVL strives to gain recognition for the essential role these venues have played in defining the music culture as it exists in Chicago today.

Music Venues

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Comedy Clubs

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Performing Arts Centers

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Theatres

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Dance & DJ

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Music Venues ✶ Comedy Clubs ✶ Performing Arts Centers ✶ Theatres ✶ Dance & DJ ✶

$500 Million

in shuttered-venue relief funding was secured for venues/tourism across IL by the CIVL Advocacy team during pandemic.

$120,000

to 220 artists and venue workers with reduced income when venues closed, so we crowd-funded to support them.

305,000

calls made to Congress by CIVL stakeholders on behalf of independent venues for our monthly outreach campaign.

Zero

member venues permanently closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Impact

Our programs and relief efforts have broadened to incorporate support for the workers and artists who enliven Chicago’s world-class venues, and we’ve fostered cooperation between non-profit, public, and private sector arts organizations as we work to empower Chicago’s creative community.

Venues across the city fully reopened, getting thousands of creative-sector employees back to work. CIVL was awarded a Culture Snaps feature in the Chicago Cultural Center, honoring neighborhood cultural assets.