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CTA committee advances ordinance to let community art and performances appear at stations
Summary
The CTA presented an ordinance to amend rules on public performances and temporary art activations across CTA property, proposing annual solicitations, a simplified two-page application, $550,000 value cap and inaugural locations including 95th Street Red Line station; board members pressed staff on outreach, ADA inclusion and making activations more sustained than one-offs.
CTA staff brought a proposal on May 13 to amend Ordinance 006‑75 to expand the agency’s ability to solicit and contract with community organizations and local individuals for temporary art installations and performance activations across CTA stations and terminals.
Bill Mooney, presenting the item, said the amendment would let CTA identify locations annually, post opportunities on the CTA website and solicit proposals that include dates, budgets and organizational qualifications. He said each activation would be limited to less than one year and to a value under $550,000. “We have seen interest from employers in a program like this,” staff said, and senior staff noted inaugural locations for the first year include 95th Street Red Line station and three other named stations.
Why this matters: staff argued the program will make stations more welcoming, help improve the customer experience and support non‑farebox revenue through arts and culture programming. Board members emphasized equitable outreach and ease of application for small community artists. The presentation cited a two‑page web application intended to reduce barriers and said staff will share solicitations with the ADA advisory committee and partner agencies.
Board discussion focused on inclusion and continuity. Director Diego Johnson asked whether staff will proactively reach out to disability‑arts organizations; Molly Popp, chief planning and innovation officer, said staff will work with the ADA advisory committee and take recommendations for organizations to contact. Several directors urged commissioning work rather than one‑off events so activations are sustained; staff said the ordinance allows license agreements up to a year so multi‑date or multi‑site presentations are feasible.
Funding and partners: staff said they are coordinating with Elevated Chicago and the MacArthur Foundation on programming (the Mandala group was cited as a performer in the lobby that morning). The board asked about foundations and other funding partners; staff said foundation outreach would follow board approval and that the ordinance’s structure will let staff seek philanthropic support and reduce barriers for smaller artists.
Next steps: the committee placed the ordinance on the omnibus for board approval. Staff said they will return materials describing the stakeholder review committee, the simplified application and outreach plans, and will coordinate with the ADA advisory committee on accessible outreach and performance design.
