Civic Engagement and Chicago

Board Chicago

Jack Guthman talks about being a private institution with a public role.

I have been a voice on the board probably over all these, close now to 30 years of reminding the board that we have to mirror our city. We have to be part of our city. And I think we've done a very, very good job in terms of the artists that we show, the makeup of our board, therefore, given the shows we have, the makeup of our audiences, our desire to be all encompassing, our outreach to other arts organizations across the city. We need to be good. We're a private institution but we have a public role. And I have always on occasion, when the need for that comes up—and it's only on occasion—to remind the board that we do have a public role and we have a responsibility to the city and we're part of the city.

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