all about artnight
Okay, but what actually
happens at an ArtNight event?
The ArtNight night starts off with a vibe. As people filter in, we hang out, talk to strangers who'll become our friends, and we settle down before we settle in for the next couple hours.
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The Artnight itself starts off with a welcome activity. Don't worry, it's not your classic, awkward high school ice breaker.
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Now it's time for the main event. The people who volunteered to share do their thing. We watch and listen and experience and ask questions and fall in love with them loving their passions.
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In between the sharing, we take a break for that meaningful discussion we keep mentioning. Every Artnight has a specific discussion topic, and everyone is encouraged to share their experiences. It's always a dialogue, never a debate.
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The Artnight closes out with a vibe. We eat, and we reconnect with the people we met earlier. All of this was to get to know people for who they actually are - so we keep doing it.
How it all started.
ArtNight began as a series of house-concerts that Jared organized in his bedroom while studying at the Oberlin Conservatory. There would be a hip-hop group followed by a string quartet followed by a solo trombonist with a loop-pedal. Conservatory-trained musicians would come together to share with people of all musical disciplines and backgrounds. Soon, people began to share on everything from science presentations to sign language demonstrations while bringing food and tea for everyone to enjoy. After college, Jared returned home to Chicago and continued organizing ArtNights.
Today, Jared has taken a more advisory role and 5 co-directors now help plan each and every ArtNight. The ArtNight takes place in peoples’ homes, dorm rooms, outdoors, and public spaces. Every month, there is an ArtNight geared toward 20 and 30-somethings along with spontaneous collaborations with public organizations for people of all ages.
What we're trying to do.
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Establish spaces where doing what you love is normal.
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Promote passion instead of perfection. You don’t need to be famous, talented, attractive, virtuosic or wealthy - it's meaningful and important to do what you love no matter who you are and you should be supported.
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Create genuine connections in substance-free environments.
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Encourage curiosity and learning.
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Be a place where you can have fun without shame or embarrassment.
Individuality and self-expression. People are invited to share whatever they love.
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A supportive environment. EVERYONE has an opportunity to share - whether in the discussion or sharing. It's always a dialogue, never a debate.
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Learning is caring. With a wide variety of sharing and meaningful discussions, our emphasis is on learning about and celebrating our differences.
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Passion over perfection. Everyone gets the same amount of time to share, and it doesn’t matter whether you’re renowned or just starting out.