Black Creativity Gala Held Tonight in Chicago
The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago is hosting its annual Black Creativity Gala this evening, February 21. The major philanthropic event honors Black innovators and artists. The evening includes a seated dinner, live music, and access to the 2026 Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition.
- The Black Creativity program was initiated in 1970 by local artists and staff from the *Chicago Defender* newspaper and was originally titled "Black Esthetics." In 1984, the program was renamed and broadened to celebrate achievements in science and technology alongside the arts. - The gala is a key fundraising event, with the 2025 edition raising over $700,000 to support STE(A)M (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics) education programs for children in underserved Chicago neighborhoods. - This year's gala is co-chaired by two prominent Chicago business leaders: Cheryl Harris, Chief Procurement Officer at The Allstate Insurance Company, and Rashod Johnson, President and CEO of Ardmore Roderick. - The centerpiece of the event is access to the nation's longest-running juried exhibition of African American art, which features nearly 200 works by more than 100 artists, including a category for youth artists aged 14-17. - The event annually draws a notable crowd of over 700 attendees, including business executives, civic leaders, and philanthropists. Past galas have been attended by Mayor Brandon Johnson and former U.S. Senator Carol Moseley Braun. - The museum is a significant player in Chicago's philanthropic landscape, having been renamed in 2019 in honor of a $125 million gift from Kenneth C. Griffin, founder of the hedge fund Citadel. - The recommended attire for the black-tie evening is creatively inspired by the work of award-winning costume designer Paul Tazewell, encouraging guests to embrace vibrant colors and textures. - The gala is part of a larger series of Black Creativity events running through April, which also includes an adults-only "Night Out" party and a Career Showcase to inspire youth to pursue STE(A)M fields.
