History
In 1961, Jessie Woods, Charles Burns, Dr. Raymond Jerrems, Connie Williams and Helen Kolar founded Urban Gateways to address the lack of artistic exposure in Chicago-area schools, especially those in the inner-city.
The five original founders believed in arts education as a mechanism for social change, and as a result, focused their efforts on providing neighborhood schools with free tickets to attend musical recitals, orchestra concerts, operas, and theater productions. In 1962, just one year after its founding, Urban Gateways received its first major donation for $20,000 in the form of concert tickets for neighborhood children and schools. And we’ve just kept on growing.
Now 50 years later, we provide more than 100,000 Chicago-area youth with in-and out-of-school arts programming in the literary, media, performing and visual arts disciplines. See some of our historical highlights below.
URBAN GATEWAYS’ HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS
1960s
Urban Gateways offers its first arts education program at Raymond School on Chicago’s South side.
Urban Gateways receives its first major gift of $20,000 in the form of reduced tickets for concerts and performances from Harry Zeler, President of Allied Arts Corporation.
341,513 students, teachers and volunteers participate in Urban Gateways programming.
Governor Ogilvie issued a proclamation designating September 14-20, 1969 as Urban Gateways Week in Illinois.
1970s
Urban Gateways cited by the National Endowment for the Arts as a national model for community based arts/education programs.
The first artist-in-residence program is designed.
Urban Gateways founder, Jessie Woods receives an appointment from President Carter to serve on the National Council for the Arts.
1980s
Urban Gateways receives the Illinois Arts Council: Top Cultural Institution in Illinois.
Urban Gateways receives the Governor of Illinois’ Award for the Arts.
1990s
Urban Gateways is serving over 1 million students, teachers, parents and principals.
Urban Gateways was awarded a $700,000 Challenge Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the largest award given in this category. The same year Urban Gateways was also awarded the National Medal of Art from President Clinton.
2000s
Urban Gateways launched “Art Options,” a studio apprenticeship program in the visual arts.
Urban Gateways was selected as one of 10 national sites for the National Endowment for the Arts new initiative, Summer Schools in the Arts.
Urban Gateways established itself as a key educational planning and implementation partner with 6 Chicago communities that authored Quality of Life Plans in LISC's New Communities Program.
Initiated a model summer film apprenticeship program in partnership with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Partnered with Harpo Radio for an 8-week youth broadcasting program.
Initiated the "Arts-Wired" school adoption project, a private/public partnership in which schools are "sponsored" by the corporate sector.
Recognized for leadership in embedding the arts into community development efforts, Urban Gateways was designated the lead education partner in the Chicago Community Trust's Arts Infusion violence prevention initiative for high-needs teens. Urban Gateways was also selected as a Chicago Public Schools "Culture of Calm" provider.