Damian Woetzel, Director, Aspen Institute; former principal dancer, New York City Ballet, and Honorary Co-Chair of Be Creative: The Campaign for Creative Schools rehearses with students of Benito Juarez Community Academy

Renée Fleming, Soprano; Creative Consultant, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Honorary Co-Chair of Be Creative: The Campaign for Creative Schools, sings with students of Benito Juarez Community Academy

Honorary Chairs, Renée Fleming and visual arts pioneer Theaster Gates, are joined by Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s Artistic Director, Barbara Gaines and Ingenuity’s Executive Director, Paul Sznewajs, prior to the public launch of Be Creative: The Campaign for Creative Schools

Lil Buck dances to the music of the Benito Juarez drumline

Mayor Rahm Emanuel provides the keynote address at the Be Creative launch event and stresses the importance of arts education in every public school in Chicago

Dancer Lil Buck and drama students perform at the October 21 launch of Be Creative: The Campaign for Creative Schools

Yo-Yo Ma and Lil Buck with music and drama students of Benito Juarez Community Academy before the public launch of Be Creative: The Campaign for Creative Schools

Drama students of Benito Juarez Community Academy are joined onstage by Damian Woetzel and Lil Buck

A Benito Juarez student ambassador greets Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Senator Dick Durbin

Benito Juarez Community Academy Principal Juan Ocon welcomes guests to the launch event celebrating Be Creative: The Campaign for Creative Schools

David Vitale, President, Chicago Board of Education, makes remarks at the Be Creative launch event. The campaign will fuel the first-ever Chicago Public Schools Arts Education Plan

Yo-Yo Ma,  Judson and Joyce Green Creative Consultant, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, engages the crowd at Benito Juarez Community Academy

Damian Woetzel, Renée Fleming and Yo-Yo Ma work with music students of Benito Juarez Community Academy

Honorary Co-Chairs Yo-Yo Ma and Renée Fleming take a break from rehearsing to pose for a photo with music students of Benito Juarez Community Academy

Be Creative Honorary Chairs Renée Fleming, Theaster Gates, and Yo-Yo Ma kick-off the launch event and join the drum line processional into the Benito Juarez auditorium

Senator Dick Durbin, a longtime arts advocate, remarks on the importance of arts education in Chicago’s public schools

Dr. Barbara Byrd-Bennett, CEO of Chicago Public Schools, thanks Mayor Rahm Emanuel, President David Vitale, and many others for their hard work towards ensuring every student in every Chicago public school will receive arts education experiences

Evan Plummer, Director of Arts Education, CPS, thanks guests for attending the launch event publically announcing Be Creative: The Campaign for Creative Schools