All the world's a stage and we think everyone should have the chance to play their part!
Our Vision
Paige Eight Rising provides fine arts access, education and experiences to underresourced Chicago communities with a particular emphasis on marginalized populations, youth and senior citizens by expanding their opportunities to enjoy and engage in the visual and performing arts--strengthening creativity, connection, and community well-being.
Our Programs
We offer a diverse range of programs designed to celebrate and support our community members. From our summer theatre camp for kids to our annual Senior Art Show, Paige Eight Rising seeks to develop and highlight the unique skills and talents present in our neighborhoods and foster intergenerational connection.
Our provision for experience and instruction in the visual arts includes "maker days", art shows and art exchanges. From painting to photography, sewing to jewelry making, we encourage creative expression and the unique enjoyment of "making it with our own two hands".
From attending live performances to DJ workshops, we know that music is more than the "purposeful organization of sound and silence"...Music is the soundtrack to our lives and we encourage openness, discovery and skill development as we create our own.
Theatre and dance is where Paige Eight was born. From acting, patronage, and production, we've been involved in the Chicago theatre (and beyond!) scene for over 15 years. Theatre is where everyone can shine! Our annual kids' theatre camp and our "According to Broadway" concerts are just two of the ways we get everyone involved.
Check out our EVENTS page to see what's new!
Our Story
Paige Eight Rising began with a simple idea: to empower and uplift communities in Chicago. As a non-profit, we are driven by a deep passion for social good and a commitment to personal attention in every initiative. Our approach is rooted in integrity and a dedication to excellence, ensuring that every effort reflects our core values. With education and experience in the field of education we've witnessed the dwindling presence of arts programming and access and the missed opportunities for learning, self development, connection and fun. (We're very big on fun!) We're bringing those opportunities to the community via live performance and art creation and enjoyment. Our founder, Sydney "Paige Eight" Milligan is a graduate of Spring Arbor University and holds a B.A. in Foreign Language and Theatre. She has been participating in, blogging about and presenting panels on the theatre scene in both Chicago and New York for over 15 years. Read her reviews at www.paigeeight.com
Connect with us
Paige Eight Rising is an Illinois America 250 Partner:
https://www.il250.org/partners
The 250th anniversary of our nation's founding presents an opportunity for Illinoisans and Americans to consider this complex legacy and reflect on the diversity of perspectives and experiences that are often left untold.
Illinois served as a frontier boundary for Westward expansion, and as a place of forced removal of Native Americans, as well as a place that furthered historic and contemporary systems of inequality through the enslavement of African American people. Later, Illinois was a key state in the American Civil War and was the first State to ratify the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery. We can acknowledge this accomplishment while understanding that we still have a long way to go.
Millions of people have emigrated from and immigrated to Illinois, or sought refuge in our State, bringing with them their culture, lifeways, knowledge, and labor, which has shaped Illinois into one of the nation's most diverse states. More than 110,000 African Americans came to Illinois as a part of the Great Migration and Illinois has proudly been made home by immigrants and their descendants.
"The Reclamation of Independence" our Summer Theatre Camp theme will tell a small part of our story. Please plan to support this effort, scheduled for late June with a donation of any size to Paige Eight Rising. Go to our "donate" page to contribute.
