After these introductions , artists were invited to tour the congregations ’ buildings , where they found underutilized spaces that had the amenities they were looking for . Congregations met artists and groups that were doing work that resonated with their own missions and who they would be excited to host in their spaces .
The SSASS program was based on Partners for Sacred Places ’ successful work in New York City , which brought together dancemakers and sacred places during the COVID-19 pandemic . Over three years and three cohorts , DiLossi introduced and refined a program that provided artists and congregations the tools and experiences needed to forge mutually beneficial relationships . The matches involve not only mission and values alignment but also physical space for particular artists ’ needs , congregational capacity to manage space-sharing relationships , and negotiations of “ minor ” details ( e . g ., insurance and fees for use ). These are particularly important conversations for congregations , whose experience and policies around sharing space tend to evolve organically and in isolation . As part of the program , artists and congregations practice negotiating contracts , and SSASS was able to bring in the Cook County Assessor ’ s Office to give a guest presentation on local tax considerations . “[ Congregations ] are not in it for the money . They just want to do the work , whether that work is spiritually based or artistically based ,” DiLossi said . “ They ’ re not thinking about taxes or legal forms … and we want to make sure that they ’ re crossing their t ’ s and dotting their i ’ s .”
The training was eye-opening for Rev . David Black , pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago , located in the city ’ s Woodlawn neighborhood . Rev . Black came to First Presbyterian from New York City ’ s Judson Memorial Church , which built a reputation as a hub for artists . Coming to First Presbyterian in Chicago , Rev . Black immediately began building connections and relationships with local artists to use the massive Gothic structure in creative ways . For First Presbyterian , the SSASS program ’ s coverage of the nitty-gritty details was enlightening , especially the conversations around financial compensation for space . In college and at seminary school , money was treated as an “ ugly necessity ,” Black said . In contrast , SSASS “ taught us how to think about space-sharing agreements , how to think about the value of a space and also the value that ’ s created by the use of the space ,” he said . “ It completely changes the conversation .”
The SSASS program allowed Partners to
Top : An artist creates in his church studio space . Above : A hallway gallery of the work of artists participating in the SSASS program . Arts Alliance Illinois
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