Constellation

In March of 2013 Chicago musician and arts presenter Mike Reed opened Constellation in the building that formerly housed the Viaduct Theater. Launched in a unique partnership with Links Hall, which shares space in the building and frequently organizes and produces cross-disciplinary programs and events together, Constellation quickly filled a void in the city’s cultural landscape by providing a reliable, high-end performance platform for jazz, improvised, experimental, and contemporary classical music. Constellation was initially founded as an African-American owned business, and in 2018 Constellation officially developed its NFP arm to further address the needs of the artistic community through its diverse programming. From the beginning the venue’s professional facilities have allowed musicians from Chicago and abroad to perform and develop work without stifling commercial pressures. It has become a vital resource and meeting place for artists involved with all disciplines, including visual art, film, literature, and dance. Constellation has become an important hub for the city’s contemporary music community through the weekly Frequency Series and the annual Frequency Festival, presenting Chicago musicians and composers on equal footing as visiting artists from across the US and the rest of the globe.

Annually, more than 600 musicians —the bulk of which hail from the Chicago area—perform at Constellation on more than 220 concerts. While the majority of the performances at Constellation feature local working groups, the programming has consistently facilitated collaborations with visiting artists from around the US and the rest of the world, either through direct musician-to-musician partnerships or endeavors organized with other programming partners including Doek (Netherlands), Jazztopad (Poland), and the Bridge (France), often in programs that send and facilitate performance opportunities in foreign countries for Chicago area musicians. Series and events of note include, Frequency Series and the annual Frequency Festival, annual Dog Days Festival (programming surrounding Jazz Fest), the 29th Annual Winter Solstice Sunrise Concerts.