Now is the Time: Artists Go to Work
On July 4, 2026, America turned 250 years old. To reckon with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence is to reckon with freedom declared in words long before it was lived in practice, and grapple with a history that has constantly faced erasure.
Toni Morrison taught that the measure of a nation is not in its monuments, but in the stories it has the courage to face. In the face of all the forces daunting the spirit, she famously wrote: “This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair.”
A collective of institutions and organizations from across the University of Chicago—along with Illinois Humanities, in partnership with The Toni Morrison Foundation—have partnered to curate a suite of events that respond to Morrison’s charge and amplify the deeply inspirational and vital creative work produced by Chicago-based artists working at the intersection of art and civic life. Through exhibitions, performances, artist-led discussions, and opportunities for public participation, this series examines the nation’s history, the complexities of its founding ideals, and the role of artists in challenging established narratives, fostering dialogue, and imagining what America’s next 250 years might look like.
Now is the time for discussion, reflection, and action. Now is the time we go to work.
Attendees are invited to customize their experience by selecting their preferred events from the broader menu of offerings. Of the entire suite of events, we are proud to host the following:
Court Convening 1: America@250
November 5, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Breasted Hall at the University of Chicago’s Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures
Join this dynamic Town Hall conversation that directly explores the age-old question, “What is a Classic? And why now?” and offers an inside look at Court Theatre’s 2026/27 season.
Arts and America at 250: We Stand at the Intersection of Creativity and Politics
Keynote Conversation
November 6, 12:30pm – 1:45pm
Penthouse, Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts
Artists, curators, and journalists explore America@250 through the cultural, political, and aesthetic lens of now.
Artists Go to Work
Keynote Conversation
November 6, 2:30pm – 4:00pm
Penthouse, Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts
Continuing our artist-centered examination of America@250, our second keynote features a conversation between Chicago-based artists who work at the intersection of art and civic life, nominated through a partnership between Illinois Humanities, Court Theatre, UChicago Arts, Smart Museum of Art, and the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts.
Artists Go to Work (Breakout Sessions)
November 6, 4:30pm – 6:00pm
Penthouse, Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts
Interactive breakout sessions hosted by Chicago-based artists who work at the intersection of art and civic life, nominated through a partnership between Illinois Humanities, Court Theatre, UChicago Arts, Smart Museum of Art, and the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts.
Tituba, by Winsome Pinnock
December 10-20
Rockefeller Memorial Chapel
A multidisciplinary theatrical spectacle in an iconic location featuring original music by Grammy Award-winner esperanza spalding. A bonfire of laughter. A shift in perspective that fundamentally alters how we view an American classic. She will make the Reverend pay.
Tituba: Artist Talk Featuring esperanza spalding and Josephine Lee in Conversation with Avery Willis Hoffman
December 14, 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Performance Hall, Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts
A special artist talk exploring the vibrant sonic world, melodies, and rhythms of Court Theatre’s Tituba.