KEYNOTE - Fireside Conversation
David Chávez, Programming at Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
Daniel Crane of 2112 Chicago to interview
Keynote Speaker:
David Chavez, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
David Chavez is a festival curator and event organizer in the city of Chicago. He's worked in the industry for almost 20 years presenting artists from all over the globe in venues and theaters as well as festivals across Chicago. Throughout his career, he's helped broaden the audience for international music in the city, debuted many artists, helped launch music programs and festivals at various venues, commissioned new works, consulted major arts and educational institutions, and helped open the city's first Music Industry Office.
On behalf of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special events, he continues to be an integral civic curator of many festivals including the Chicago World Music Festival, Millennium Park Music Series, Taste of Chicago, and founded the Chicago House Music Festival and Conference.
Through his own organization Sound Culture, he continues to consult on global events and festivals across the city and beyond with the hopes of introducing new artists to new audiences and creating unique cultural experiences that both enlighten and challenge through the performing arts.
Daniel Crane, Program Director of the Center for Creative Entrepreneurship
Daniel’s professional experience expands over 20 years in the arts with success in performing, presenting, organizing, operating and cultivating a diverse network and community. After studying at music conservatory, he began his career as a full-time musician performing 4-5 nights a week in Chicago, playing in award winning global music bands, teaching private lessons and at schools, studying music in Brazil/India and creating events at venues across Chicago. After 10+ years of being a full-time musician and independent curator he was hired by Navy Pier as a new initiative to help the pier become a cultural district. While at Navy Pier he created, planned and operated Chi-Soul Fest: an inter-generational music festival that highlights Chicago’s soul history. LatiNxt Festival, a music and art festival presenting Latinx artists who are creating new scenes for themselves. Housegiving, a donation drive for the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless featuring the best in Chicago’s house djs and Holi, an Indian celebration of spring that became the largest in Chicago. These programs have become a cornerstone for Navy Pier’s mission and important for the community.
In his current role as Program Director of the Center for Creative Entrepreneurship he is creating educational programs, building a new digital platform suite and connecting entrepreneurs in the creative space to build a more equitable and sustainable ecosystem for the creative industries to flourish and grow. Recently, he started Story7 Inc, a cultural programming consultancy and production house which was awarded The Mission Diversity grant from Music Innovation Hub (Italy). Daniel loves to build things that elevate culture and help sustain creative careers while supporting artistic expression and facilitating the chance for people to connect, learn and get in touch with their own humanity. It is his lifelong work to continue to build culturally rich communities that help push our society into new places and support the creative sector.