A Brief History of The Center For International Performance and Exhibition

The Center for International Performance and Exhibition (CIPEX) was founded in 1987 when a diverse group of cultural workers and community activists saw a need for an ongoing, organic link between the often-divided realms of artistic expression and social action. To further its evolving mission, it was formally incorporated and received IRS 501 c3 status in October of 1989.

HotHouse opened that same year at 1569 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park – a space which later became music venue and late night hangout, The Blue Note (or “The Note”) and is now The Flat Iron bar. HotHouse served as a for profit center of multi-arts and community-based activities - including those organized by CIPEX.

In 1995, after six extremely successful years of operation, CIPEX board of directors decided HotHouse and CIPEX should operate as a wholly non-profit organization. The name was changed to The Center For International Performance and Exhibition d.b.a. HotHouse. They also decided to relocate HotHouse and expand programming services. In 1995 HotHouse moved out of its popular site in Wicker Park and spent two years as an itinerant presenter.

In 1996, The John D. and Catherine T. Mac Arthur Foundation awarded CIPEX/HotHouse a special initiative grant to re-establish HotHouse in a new location. After a prolonged search, the board acquired a space in the heart of South Loop which was double the size of the former site. In 1997 and 1998, the board of directors raised an additional $230,000 from grassroots contributions, loans and other foundation grants which allowed for renovation of the new site. HotHouse reopened at 31 E. Balbo on May 7, 1998.

In this new space, HotHouse programs and demand for the new facility grew exponentially. In year 2004, the budget was more than twenty times what it was in 1987 with revenues growing at least 10% annually.

In over two decades of operation, HotHouse has hosted over 6,000 cultural events including: concerts, forums, poetry readings, film screenings, art exhibitions, debates, book signings, theater works, workshops, master classes, and community gatherings.

HotHouse has also been eminently successful in working with artists and organizations from every community in the city including collaborations with many prestigious institutions such as The Jazz Institute of Chicago, The Goethe Institute, The French Cultural Services Agency, The Du Sable Museum of African American History, The Field Museum, The Museum of Contemporary Art, The Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum, The Guild Complex, The Old Town School of Folk Music, The University Of Chicago, Columbia College, The Public Square, The Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), Chicago Cultural Center and Spertus Institute.

In addition to a roster of daily arts presentations, HotHouse initiated several noteworthy festivals; The FMP Festival in 1995 which brought eleven European avant-garde composers to Chicago to collaborate with Chicago based artists, The Women of The New Jazz Festivals (1991,1994, 2000) which highlighted the contributions of women composers and instrumentalists, The World Music Festival (1999-2003) which brought over 90 internationally renown artists to Chicago in a ten day festival located at venues throughout the city, The Chicago/South Africa Initiative (2000) which brought eight jazz musicians to Chicago from South Africa to perform with locally based jazz musicians, and Viva Flamenco 2002 (a fifteen day multi-media festival showcasing Spanish and Gypsy music and dance featuring artists invited from Spain).

In July 2007, HotHouse closed its longtime 31 E. Balbo St. venue. In an effort to keep global music and culture alive, HotHouse collaborated with venues across Chicago to present performances.

Throughout the month of April 2008, HotHouse produced a series of shows at the Viaduct Theater. The “return” of HotHouse was welcomed with enthusiasm and excitement from artists, audiences and critics alike. HotHouse then created a temporary space called “HotLoft” in the upstairs loft at Fizz Bar & Grill. With the help of many dedicated volunteers and former HotHouse curator David Chavez, HotLoft showcased the best in local, globally infused talent. In addition to other positive press, Metromix named HotHouse one of the “Top 10 Reasons Chicago Rocked” in 2008.

While HotHouse continues to support international performance & culture throughout the city of Chicago, the main focus of 2009 will be a new permanent home.

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