The persnickety part of my brain would like to remind you that it’s not technically summer this year in the northern hemisphere until Friday, June 20. I’m being stubborn about it because the rest of my body is mourning colder weather. I know I’m in the minority for loving Chicago’s winters, but I expect some of you will start changing your minds as we continue on our hurtling trajectory toward being a world on fire. Given the state of things, who wouldn’t want to stay home and bury their troubles in a cup of hot cocoa while throwing snowballs at the neighbors? 

Thankfully Chicago offers us year-round opportunities for diversion, distraction, and inspiration via our strong arts and culture workers. Though I fear the oppressive heat that we may be faced with in August, even I can admit that there’s absolutely no reason to isolate ourselves this summer. And staying in our caves is what the enemy wants us to do. Out of the closets and into the streets, indeed.

This issue we bring you our reflections on, and previews of, what’s to come at our theaters and other culture institutions this summer. Arts and culture coverage has always been important to the Reader; you can see extensive evidence of this in the meticulous film and music listings that are included in nearly every 1971 and 1972 issue. Culture is more than just an escape: it’s integral to our city’s identity and reflects our diversity and history. Good art creates conversation and imagines tools to solve our problems. And a thriving arts scene like Chicago’s attracts and retains residents. 

Chicago artists used to say that people came here to get good (perhaps attending one of our many postsecondary art programs) and then left for the coasts, or Europe, to get famous. Increasingly, that’s not the case. Makers, dreamers, writers, and musicians will continue to be attracted to Chicago for the arts programming, for the ability to find their fellow creators, and for the audiences—as long as we can continue to keep the cost of living here reasonable and the neighborhoods safe and thriving, and as long as media outlets continue to cover the arts.