America@250 – Now is the Time: Artists Go to Work November 8, 2026

More info

On July 4, 2026, America turned 250 years old. To reckon with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence is to reckon with freedom declared in words long before it was lived in practice, and grapple with a history that has constantly faced erasure.

Toni Morrison taught that the measure of a nation is not in its monuments, but in the stories it has the courage to face. In the face of all the forces daunting the spirit, she famously wrote: “This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair.”

Court Theatre and a collective of institutions and organizations from across the University of Chicago—along with Illinois Humanities, in partnership with The Toni Morrison Foundation—have partnered to curate a suite of events that respond to Morrison’s charge and amplify the deeply inspirational and vital creative work produced by Chicago-based artists working at the intersection of art and civic life. Through exhibitions, performances, artist-led discussions, and opportunities for public participation, this series examines the nation’s history, the complexities of its founding ideals, and the role of artists in challenging established narratives, fostering dialogue, and imagining what America’s next 250 years might look like.

In convening artists, thinkers, and communities, we invite you to collectively reflect on and illuminate the unfinished work this anniversary makes so strikingly apparent. All events are open to the public, and a full listing of events can be found here.

Header image: “Tropicalamerican” by Edra Soto.