NON:op's immersive platform for virtual performance and participation
volume 6:1
Please Join Us
as we investigate alternative futures
through music, art, poetry, performance, and observation
SHARE. INTERACT. COLLABORATE.
AND SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMMING WITH A DONATION.
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Welcome to the January 2025 issue of NON:onLINE!
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On Joining the NON:op Board
Jason Boulware
 As we welcome a new year and new programming, NON:op welcomes Chicago filmmaker and educator Jason Boulware to the board of directors. Jason received an MFA from the School of the Art Institute in film, video and animation. His portfolio is a broad range of work from commercial to web series, radio to academic settings. In addition to this, he has produced and directed short and long form films with his most recent work in documentary format.Joining the board of NON:op is an incredible opportunity to align my passions as an artist and filmmaker with an organization dedicated to fostering creative expression and community impact. As someone deeply rooted in Chicago, I am particularly focused on ensuring that marginalized communities and voices are represented in the arts. My work often explores themes of justice, equity, and the transformative power of storytelling, and I believe that creative expression is not just a form of art but a fundamental part of our humanity. By joining the board, I hope to bring my perspective and experiences to support NON:op’s mission and vision.
My passion for juvenile justice and creating opportunities for young people stems from a belief in the potential of all individuals to thrive when given the tools to express themselves. I have seen firsthand how access to creative programs can inspire hope, healing, and growth, especially for those who have been systemically excluded or overlooked. Chicago’s vibrant arts scene has the power to uplift and empower these communities, and I am excited to collaborate with the board to expand programming that reaches young people, amplifies their stories, and connects them to a broader audience.
I look forward to contributing to the growth and impact of NON:op’s programming as we deepen our commitment to the Chicago community. Together, I hope we can create initiatives that not only celebrate diverse voices but also ensure lasting change through education, advocacy, and artistic innovation. Being part of an arts organization that values inclusion and representation is both inspiring and energizing, and I am thrilled to help shape the future of NON:op as a platform for transformative art and social impact.
Jason
PS: NON:op will announce a new home and partnership in the North Lawndale neighborhood on Chicago's west side very soon. Stay tuned for more information!
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[ OPPORTUNITY ] SAY THEIR NAMES Commissioning Program
SAY THEIR NAMES: Remembering Black Americans Killed by Police Violence is a memorial and interactive map that tells the stories of the lives of Black Americans killed by police. As part of SAY THEIR NAMES and with the support of Healing Illinois, NON:op and Guild Literary Complex are commissioning two to three poet/composer teams to create new works in response to SAY THEIR NAMES — whether in response to individual cases, groups of cases, the map, or the entire project.
Commissions will be publicly announced at the March 29, 2025 STN Engagement Salon at Experimental Station in Woodlawn and will be presented in a concert with other works in the Fall of 2025. Selected commissions will receive a total of $1,000 for their commissioned work.
More information on the SAY THEIR NAMES project, proposal requirements,
and application form may be found HERE.
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SAY THEIR NAMES Community Engagement Salon
Join us on March 29 at Experimental Station in Woodlawn as we remember Black Americans killed by police violence and honor the memory of Ronald Browne, lead researcher and one of the originators of the SAY THEIR NAMES project. The salon will also present the STN commissioned artists who will talk about how their new works will engage with the map. Version two of the interactive database and map will also be introduced.
April 6, 5pm • Experimental Station
6100 S Blackstone Ave, Chicago, IL 60637
Experimental Station is wheelchair accessible.
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[ NEW PROGRAM ] Equipment Sharing Program
Do you need AV equipment for your next show or project,
but can't afford to purchase or rent it?
?
Beginning in February, NON:op will begin offering audio and video equipment and services to toher small Chicago non-profit organizations and individuals with whom we share a vision and creative aesthetic. This high-quality gear—purchased with funding from DCASE's CARP grant—may be used for both in-person and live-stream productions. Equipment and services will be made available at a very reasonable rate and/or in exchange for equipment and resources that we do not have.
For more information about this exciting new program, contact Theo at esp@nonopera.org.
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[ INTERACT ] New Website Launch
We are very, very excited to be finishing a year-long web development project and will be rolling out our shiny new website on February 1. This new interactive website will make it easy to directly participate in multiple NON:op projects. Here's a peek at the home page...
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[ PARTICIPATE ] 2025 Performances and Events
Mark your calendars for the following 2025 performances and Events:
- March: Hear Below, Listening to Chicago Underground, our annual partnership with the Midwest Society for Acoustic Ecology. Stay tuned for details and routes.
- April 6: STN FEED Salon at Experimental Station in Woodlawn. This engagement salon and gathering will include the presentation of our first STN commissions, a demonstration our new STN map, and food and beverages in a relaxed and engaging setting.
- May: Feed Salon with performances and location to be announced.
- August - October: Season two of our Listening Across Neighborhoods
- October: Performances of Christophe Preissing's RE|ambiguation and IS : SI NG, a collaboration with visual artist and poet Matt Bodett. Venue to be announced.
- Other collaborations with Andy's Music and Theatre Y are in the works and will be announced soon.
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2024 was a year of tremendous growth and support for NON:op, its mission, and its projects. NON:op is on the cusp of realizing our vision of serving all Chicagoans with creative participatory projects that use the arts to create a more just society. In support of our mission, NON:op will announce a new home and partnership in the North Lawndale neighborhood on Chicago's west side very soon. Stay tuned for more information!
 If you support our mission and programs please consider making a donation, volunteering, or joining the NON:op board of directors.
Thank you!
Christophe Preissing, Founder + Artistic Director |
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[ WOW ] 2024 Fundraising News!
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IMPACT THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES: JOIN THE NON:op BOARD!
NON:op is growing, and like many organizations coming out of the pandemic, we are growing with projects, installations, and performances. It's quite an exciting time for us! Are you savvy about one or more aspects of running a non-profit? Join our board of directors. Do you have a passion for planning engaging events and projects? Join our programming committee. For more information, contact Christophe at non [at] nonopera [dot] org. And to find out more about NON:op Open Opera Works and our initiatives visit our WEBSITE.
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Governing and Programming Board Positions
Do you believe in the work we are doing? If so, please contact non [at] nonopera [dot] org to find out how you can support NON:op as a Board member. NON:op is seeking creative, passionate, and inspired individuals to join our board of directors in one of the following roles:
Programming Committee
The programming committee meets monthly with the artistic director and is responsible for supporting current programming and devising and producing future programming and events.
Governing Committee
The governing committee is responsible for finances, governance, and legal matters in support of the organization and its programming. The governing committee meets once per quarter and is joined by members of the programming committee.
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Thank You to All of Our Funders
- Healing Illinois for SAY THEIR NAMES public engagement support
- Richard H Driehaus Foundation for two-year funding for Listening Across Neighborhoods and a board development project
- Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Chicago Arts Recovery Program and CAP Grant to improve our digital and technical infrastructure, create a new website and to support general operations
- Field Foundation, A Road Together, to support general operations
- New Music USA New Music INC grant to support general operating and organization development, and to fund a New York performance of L'sGA
- ComEd/Powering the Arts for a series of three L'sGA concerts in three Chicago neighborhoods
- Field Foundation Funding to support the continued development of the SAY THEIR NAMES Project and a public launch of the updated interactive map and database
- Illinois B2B grant to support general operations
- MacArthur Fund for Culture, Equity, and the Arts at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation to support programming and general operations
- Robert H. and Terri L. Cohn Family Foundation for their generous support of our programming and general operations
- Illinois Arts Council Agency grant to support general operations
- Illinois Humanities to support SAY THEIR NAMES
- Hyde Park and Kenwood Interfaith Council to support SAY THEIR NAMES
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 Volunteer, Intern, and Other OpportunitiesNON:op is seeking volunteers, interns, participants, assistants, artists, and all who have creative ideas and who would like to work with NON:op to implement a shared vision. Please contact Christophe at non [at] nonopera [dot] org if you would like to find out more and join us as we create an alternative future.
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Click here to order and support NON:op and its artists. |
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Thank you for taking care of each other by staying indoors and practicing social distancing.
We hope you and yours are well and staying safe as we work to create an alternative future.
SHARE. INTERACT. COLLABORATE.
Christophe, Saba, Theo, Ja Nelle, Jason, and all of NON:op's creatives, staff, volunteers, and interns
NON:op is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Please consider supporting NON:op's program initiatives, creatives, and mission with a donation today.
All donations are tax deductible according to federal guidelines. Thank you.
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Volunteer, Intern, and Other Opportunities
