Kane County Reporter

Issued the following announcement on July 7

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. “On Saturday, July 31st, from 4-10pm, 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 St. between Downer Pl. and Benton St.  Parking is available in the lot across Benton St.

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.