Roots & Culture Contemporary Art Center wants artists to have long lasting careers in Chicago that enrich the cultural landscape for all Chicagoans.

Our mission is to provide career-­strengthening opportunities for artists and curators and to engage and expand audiences in a welcoming exhibition space.

Two visual arts programs are the core of our programming: Double Exposure, which consists of exhibitions pairing two emerging and primarily Chicago-based artists; and CONNECT, which showcases curatorial projects by women of color curators, offering a three month residency and an exhibition to mount their projects.

Roots & Culture Staff:

Eric May, Executive Director
Bobby T Luck, Gallery Manager
Arend deGruyter-Helfer, Webmaster

Roots & Culture Board of Directors:

Lorelei Stewart, Chair
William Padnos, Treasurer
Ivan Lozano, Secretary
Sebastian Campos
Jen Delos Reyes
Todd Harding
Risa Puleo

Programming and general operating costs are partially funded by The Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, The Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and a generous grant from The Reva & David Logan Foundation