One State in the Arts & Humanities 2027
Presented by the Illinois Arts Council and Illinois Humanities
Illinois’ largest gathering of arts & humanities professionals
Gather with people from across Illinois who are making arts, history, heritage, and culture happen in their communities.
At One State in the Arts & Humanities, you’ll meet new people, connect with colleagues, share what’s working, learn from each other, and discover ideas and resources you can bring home. Come ready to make connections, find new partners, and be part of the conversation about how to make Illinois a more creative, connected, thriving state.
Conference offerings are designed to spark new ideas, provide professional development, strengthen organizations, and bring best practices and emerging local and national trends to the forefront of our work.
Shaped by the theme “In Focus,” One State in the Arts & Humanities 2027 will help you sharpen your perspective, advance your work, and forge new possibilities for your organization and community.
SAVE THE DATE!
One State in the Arts & Humanities is back.
Join us March 3 – 5, 2027, at the David Rubenstein Forum in Chicago for three days of connecting, sharing, and building. The conference will begin in the afternoon of Wednesday, March 3rd and conclude in the afternoon of Friday, March 5th.
Registration & Lodging
Early Bird Registration will launch alongside limited lodging at a discounted rate on Monday, November 17, 2026.
What’s “In Focus” at One State in the Arts & Humanities 2027?
“What we pay attention to grows.” -adrienne maree brown
New technologies, shifting funding, evolving community needs, and daily and existential challenges impact our work and relationships.
In a moment like this, attention is one of our most valuable resources.
One State in the Arts & Humanities 2027 invites us to ask: What’s IN FOCUS? What conversations, innovations, and opportunities need our attention? What should be at the center of our work as we look ahead?
Through practical workshops, thought-provoking presentations and conversations, and opportunities to share knowledge and experience, we’ll explore what matters most—and where our attention can make the greatest difference for our organizations, our arts and humanities practices, and the communities we serve.
Who should attend and why?
One State in the Arts & Humanities is designed to serve Illinois' arts and culture sector, from institutions and organizations to creatives and artists.
You should attend to:
Envision & Innovate: Spark new ideas, explore novel approaches, and imagine new possibilities for the future of Illinois’ cultural sector
Collaborate & Connect: Expand access to professional development, skill-building, peer learning, and meaningful opportunities to connect with colleagues from across the state to advance the arts and humanities workforce
Unite & Inspire: Share best practices and emerging local to national trends, immerse ourselves in arts and humanities experiences, and deepen our understanding of cultural work in our state
Contact Us
One State in the Arts & Humanities
Hosts
Funders
Contact
Suite 650, 125 South Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60603
312.422.5580 312.374.6787 Fax
Illinois Humanities is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Illinois General Assembly [through the Illinois Arts Council], as well as by contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations.
Illinois Humanities respects the privacy of its audiences and will at no time sell or distribute personal information to any party not directly affiliated with Illinois Humanities and its programs.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed by speakers, program participants, or audiences do not necessarily reflect those of the NEH, Illinois Humanities, our partnering organizations, or our funders.
© Copyright 2026 Illinois Humanities