Cook County Arts Collective connects teaching artists in Chicago with women at the Cook County Department of Corrections. Through performances and regular dance classes we strive to create space for joyful movement with detained women.
A special message from CCAC Director Jane Sawyer:
Dear friends,
Due to the spread of COVID-19, Cook County Arts Collective has suspended weekly dance programming at Division 5 and Grace House. We will return as soon as possible, but we recognize that detained individuals are in an extremely dangerous position due to overcrowding, lack of testing, and “the revolving door” of Cook County Jail.
Here is what we are doing while we can’t be in the space with our CCAC dancers:
With hope and health,
Cook County Arts Collective
A special message from CCAC Director Jane Sawyer:
Dear friends,
Due to the spread of COVID-19, Cook County Arts Collective has suspended weekly dance programming at Division 5 and Grace House. We will return as soon as possible, but we recognize that detained individuals are in an extremely dangerous position due to overcrowding, lack of testing, and “the revolving door” of Cook County Jail.
Here is what we are doing while we can’t be in the space with our CCAC dancers:
- We are providing written materials to detained participants in the THRIVE program and at Grace House, so that dancers can follow our class plan on their own.
- We are following the lead of the Chicago Community Bond Fund and encouraging members and friends of our collective to advocate for the release of as many individuals as possible from the jail in the wake of this public health crisis.
- We are checking in on our elderly and immuno-compromised neighbors.
- We are staying in as much as we can in social solidarity with service workers and health professionals.
- We are finding new ways to connect and dance with each other through videos.
- We are exploring the concept of Recognition scenes in literature and in our experiences with dancers in detainment. Our goal is to collaborate with the artists who have come inside with us, and to create movement with detainee dancers around the idea of recognizing each other and ourselves in a new way. Stay tuned for updates!
- We are finding gratitude in unexpected places.
With hope and health,
Cook County Arts Collective