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Artists contributing their talents to Aurora's 'Back the Vax' event

As restrictions are lifted, the arts and culture sector in Illinois recognizes that continuing to get their audiences and communities vaccinated is important for safely getting back to in-person arts activities.

Artists in 24 regions across Illinois are creating over 72 pro-vaccination projects this summer as vaccines are now widely available.

Aurora has come together to host a festival for the project entitled "Back the Vax" from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 31.

"We're drawing our community together with local music, art, and culture. A mobile vaccine clinic will be on-site and, because art makes life more colorful, we'll have a confetti cannon to shoot off whenever someone gets a shot," says Jenn Evans, director of Aurora Public Art.

Local entertainment promoter Jalen "Too Tall" Woodson of WeVibe2VIbe is excited to bring local hip-hop, soul, gospel, and rap musicians to a wider audience within Aurora.

George "Chicano" Gutierrez of Chicano's Times is similarly looking forward to promoting Aurora's Latino culture with DJs, Spanish rap, traditional Mexican music, and a low-rider show.

Javi Terrazas, longtime ArtBar curator, will be producing a collection of local art in a free publication available at the festival entitled, "Vax-Zine."

In addition to the stage entertainment in Water Street Square, the festival will include artist booths, live painting, food trucks, health information, and a mobile vaccine clinic. Water Street Square is located across from city hall, on Water Street between Downer Place and Benton Street. Parking is available in the lot across Benton Street.

Getting vaccinated this summer is especially important to our local creative sector. Even as the state entered into Phase 5 on June 11, lifting restrictions on restaurants and businesses, many cultural centers and venues remain closed and are still dealing with capacity-limits and project decreased revenue due to continued social-distancing requirements.

These projects are made possible by a collaboration between Arts Alliance Illinois and City of Aurora Public Art.

Participating regions include: Aurora, Bloomington, Carbondale, Centralia, Champaign-Urbana, Decatur, DuPage County, East St. Louis, Elgin, Evanston, Galena, Galesburg, Joliet, Lake County, Mattoon, McHenry County, Oak Park, Peoria, Quad Cities, Quincy, Rockford, South East Suburban Chicago (Dolton, Calumet City, Lansing), South Suburban Chicago and Springfield.

The Arts Alliance Illinois fights for arts resources and policies that benefit our members and all Illinois residents. With 25,000 active subscribers and hundreds of members, they connect the people and ideas that are shaping the future of the creative sector. As the only multidisciplinary organization concentrated on the strength of arts and culture across the state, the Alliance takes on challenges that no single organization or artist can fight alone. Its work in civic engagement, arts education, and cultural equity positively impacts every community across the state. Visit artsalliance.org to learn more.

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