Founded in 1997, Lampo supports artists working in new music, experimental sound, and other interdisciplinary practices. We help these artists realize ambitious, risk-taking performances, and offer the public opportunities to actively engage with their work.

Lampo connects people to new ideas and to each other—guided by our belief that curiosity, open questioning of established forms, and thoughtful listening can be transformative.

Our core activity has been and remains our performance series. Rather than making programming decisions around tour schedules, we invite selected artists to create and perform new work for Lampo, and then we provide the space, resources and curatorial support to help them fulfill their vision.

Lampo also organizes artist talks, lectures, screenings and workshops, and publishes written and recorded documents related to its series.

We believe boundary-pushing art should be available to everyone. All Lampo programs are free and open to the public. By design, we produce our events in collaboration with various institutions across Chicago, which ensures our reach to a broad and diverse community.

To these ends, Lampo commits to fulfilling its stated mission free of discrimination, without bias based on sexual orientation, age, race, ethnicity, religion, physical abilities, socio-economic status, or gender identity. Lampo proactively seeks to achieve diversity and cultural equity in its staff, volunteers, board, partnerships, and programs.