Organizers Announce 2016 Chicago Cultural Mile Halloween Gathering Event Date, Sponsor And Creative Spirit Fellow Honorees

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Jul 05, 2016, 07:00 ET

CHICAGO, July 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chicago Cultural Mile Association today announced the date for their second annual Halloween Gathering Parade and Festival, showcasing Chicago's vast and diverse creative communities. Additionally, organizers also introduced their Crescent Sponsor and announced a partial list of the Halloween Gathering Creative Spirit Fellows who are being honored this year.

2015 Chicago Cultural Mile Halloween Gathering Parade

2015 Chicago Cultural Mile Halloween Gathering Creative Spirit honorees Joe Shanahan, Lupe Fiasco and Kevin Coval

"The second annual Chicago Cultural Mile's Halloween Gathering is scheduled for Saturday, October 22, 2016," according to JR Davis, Chairman and President of the Chicago Cultural Mile Association. "For the second year in a row, we will gather Chicago's vast and diverse creative communities for a daytime festival, culminating with a magical nighttime parade to which the City of Chicago and neighboring communities are invited. Additionally, we are excited to welcome back Mark Kelly, Vice President of Student Success at Columbia College, as the Halloween Gathering Artistic Director," he added.

"The Chicago Cultural Mile Association is pleased to welcome The Chicago Free for All Fund, a private fund within the Chicago Community Trust, as our Crescent Sponsor. Their financial contribution will greatly assist the Chicago Cultural Mile in building upon the success of last year's inaugural Halloween Gathering celebration that drew two hundred thousand revelers to the Chicago Cultural Mile," Davis said.

The Chicago Free For All Fund was established for the purpose of supporting and promoting free cultural activities and events (including, without limitation, concerts, art shows, fashion shows, etc.) in the City of Chicago, with a primary focus on the performing arts and interactive visual arts.

"We are also excited to announce seven of the 13 Chicago Cultural Mile Halloween Gathering Creative Spirit Fellows," said Sharene Shariatzadeh, Executive Director of the Chicago Cultural Mile Association. "These seven individuals, as well as six others who will be announced later this fall, are being honored for their contributions to Chicago's artistic landscape and will lead the Chicago Cultural Mile Halloween Gathering Parade," she said.

The partial list of Chicago Cultural Mile Halloween Gathering Creative Spirit Fellows includes Cinespace Chicago Film Studios CEO Alex Pissios; celebrity Chef Graham Elliot; Chosen Few DJ Alan King; Artist Tony Tasset; Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago Artistic Director Amaniyea Payne; Puerto Rican Arts Alliance Executive Director Carlos Hernandez; and Lookingglass Theatre Artistic Director Heidi Stillman.

The Chicago Cultural Mile's Halloween Gathering sponsored by The Chicago Free For All Fund will draw together world-renowned institutions such as the Field Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Science and Industry and Columbia College Chicago, as well as unique local organizations such as Louder Than a Bomb, the Silent Theatre Company and guilds of artists in assorted fields. This dramatic display will once again activate Halloween as the "artist's holiday" on the Chicago Cultural Mile.

Chicago Cultural Mile Association partner organizations include: Adler Planetarium, Adrian Smith+Gordon Gill Architecture, American Rhythm Center, American Writers Museum, Art Institute of Chicago, Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, Becker Ventures, Big Bus Tours, Blue Plate Catering, Bridgeview Bank, Chicago Architecture Foundation, Chicago Athletic Hotel, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, Chicago Park District, Chicago Public Library, Chicago Symphony Orchestra , Chicago Trolley and Double Decker, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras, Choose Chicago, Chuck's Manufacturing, City of Chicago, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, The Cliff Dwellers, Coalition Energy, Columbia College Chicago, Comfort Suites, David's Tea, Davis Bancorp, Field Museum of Natural History, the Fine Arts Building Studios, Gene Siskel Film Center at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Harbour Contractors, Hard Rock Hotel Chicago, Harris Theater at Millennium Park, Hilton Chicago, Hilton Garden Inn Chicago, Hostelling International, Italian Village Restaurants, JPMorgan Private Bank, Make it Better, McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum, McCormick Foundation, Mercat a la Planxa, Metropolitan Capital Bank and Trust, Metropolitan Towers, Millennium Garages, Millennium Park, Modern Classics, Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College, National Louis University, Ossia Musical Forum, Paul Bodine Architects, Pritzker Military Library, Park Grill Millennium Park, Remington's, Renaissance Blackstone Hotel, The Residence at 330, Roosevelt University, Schaffner Communications, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Seven Lions, Skydeck Chicago, Tesori, Trump International Hotel and Tower Chicago, Wight and Company, William Harris Lee & Co., Wintrust Financial Corp., Women's Business Development Center, World Chicago.