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    General Access Now Available—Join Us October 12-17

    The state of our union. The budding cannabis industry. America’s dissipating middle class. The global migrant crisis. And everything in between. Get your tickets to the ideas festival for everyone now. Filter by event type below.
    Explore the Schedule Below Explore stage programs only
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    Saturday, September 21, 2019

    Saturday, September 28, 2019

    2019-09-28
    7 PM

    A raw and rambunctious evening with Queer Eye's breakout star.
    Before stealing the spotlight on the hit show Queer Eye, Jonathan Van Ness endured years... read more
    Before stealing the spotlight on the hit show Queer Eye, Jonathan Van Ness endured years of judgement, ridicule, and trauma in the small Midwestern... read more
    90 Minutes Special Engagement Music Box Theater

    Saturday, October 12, 2019

    2019-10-12
    9 AM

    Channel your inner Bill Nye and get in the lab with the manufacturing experts at USG Chicago... read more
    Channel your inner Bill Nye and get in the lab with the manufacturing experts at USG Chicago. We’ll dive into how this 117-year-old company is... read more
    90 Minutes Lab UIC Student Center East
    2019-10-12
    10 AM

    Should you change careers? Should you move to the suburbs (or cross-country)? Should you start... read more
    Should you change careers? Should you move to the suburbs (or cross-country)? Should you start a family? At some point, we all get to a fork in the... read more
    150 Minutes Lab Kimpton Gray Hotel
    2019-10-12
    1 PM

    Free Mvmt Shop was created to bring people together through unique movement-based experiences... read more
    Free Mvmt Shop was created to bring people together through unique movement-based experiences. Join them for this all-levels dance and movement... read more
    120 Minutes Lab Free Mvmt Shop
    2019-10-12
    7 PM

    A Talk about the creative connections shaping our world.
    From its legendary music scene to its notorious political sagas, Chicago has proven to be... read more
    From its legendary music scene to its notorious political sagas, Chicago has proven to be much more than Carl Sandburg’s “City of Big Shoulders.”... read more
    90 Minutes Talk Harris Theater

    Sunday, October 13, 2019

    2019-10-13
    9 AM

    Lillstreet is an alternative makers’ space on Chicago’s North Side; it is a space where... read more
    Lillstreet is an alternative makers’ space on Chicago’s North Side; it is a space where artists and students work side-by-side to create, connect,... read more
    120 Minutes Lab Lillstreet
    2019-10-13
    11 AM

    Recently featured in Chicago Magazine's 'Best of Chicago' edition, experience the healing power of bunnies... read more
    Recently featured in Chicago Magazine's 'Best of Chicago' edition, experience the healing power of bunnies combined with an all-levels yoga class... read more
    90 Minutes Lab Centered Studios
    2019-10-13
    5 PM

    “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure,” or so the saying goes... read more
    “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure,” or so the saying goes. This Lab puts that ethos into practice, teaching you how to transform reclaimed... read more
    120 Minutes Lab Rebuilding Exchange

    Monday, October 14, 2019

    2019-10-14
    8 AM

    After one of the longest streaks of economic growth in American history, signs are pointing... read more
    After one of the longest streaks of economic growth in American history, signs are pointing towards a change in trajectory, which leaves us with... read more
    75 Minutes Conversation Edlis Neeson Theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art
    2019-10-14
    8 AM

    Kick off Chicago Ideas Week with our annual Community Member Breakfast... read more
    Kick off Chicago Ideas Week with our annual Community Member Breakfast. Mingle with Chicago Ideas staff and your fellow Members of the Chicago... read more
    90 Minutes Special Engagement Knoll Chicago
    2019-10-14
    9 AM

    Ever wondered where the many shows and movies you’ve seen shooting in the streets of... read more
    Ever wondered where the many shows and movies you’ve seen shooting in the streets of Chicago go when they want to film indoors? Oftentimes, it’s... read more
    150 Minutes Lab DePaul Center
    2019-10-14
    11 AM

    Focus on relieving stress, increasing happiness, and improving your overall well-being at this unique, multi-faceted... read more
    Focus on relieving stress, increasing happiness, and improving your overall well-being at this unique, multi-faceted workshop. Box Studios, along... read more
    150 Minutes Lab Knoll Chicago
    2019-10-14
    12 PM

    An in-depth Talk about the future of our planet.
    By 2050, the population will hit 9.8 billion and our energy demands will be twice as high... read more
    By 2050, the population will hit 9.8 billion and our energy demands will be twice as high. As history shows, in the face of uncertain futures, a... read more
    90 Minutes Talk Harris Theater
    2019-10-14
    12 PM

    A Conversation about global security and the refugee crisis.
    The war games of modern geopolitics have initiated a humanitarian crisis that defines our times... read more
    The war games of modern geopolitics have initiated a humanitarian crisis that defines our times. With renewed emphasis on borders and what they... read more
    75 Minutes Conversation Edlis Neeson Theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art
    2019-10-14
    12 PM

    Closed 38 years ago, the Uptown Theatre is poised to make a comeback as the... read more
    Closed 38 years ago, the Uptown Theatre is poised to make a comeback as the biggest theatre in Chicago. Before it's open to the public, get an... read more
    90 Minutes Premier Lab Uptown Theatre
    2019-10-14
    12:30 PM

    We’ll get our hands dirty and tend to our souls in this experiential Lab at... read more
    We’ll get our hands dirty and tend to our souls in this experiential Lab at Chicago’s high-production organic farm, Growing Home. After a tour of... read more
    150 Minutes Lab Growing Home
    2019-10-14
    3:30 PM

    One of the crucial steps in bringing your idea to life is getting other people to buy into it... read more
    One of the crucial steps in bringing your idea to life is getting other people to buy into it. Join Bonfire CEO and Kellogg School of Management... read more
    60 Minutes Conversation Edlis Neeson Theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art
    2019-10-14
    3:30 PM

    A special engagement with Trish Hall
    Every day we confront a reality: we need something from someone—and they may not want... read more
    Every day we confront a reality: we need something from someone—and they may not want to let us have it. In this Life Hack, go behind the scenes... read more
    60 Minutes Salon Pritzker Pavilion
    2019-10-14
    4 PM

    A Talk about turning purpose into action.
    Our emotions undoubtedly play a role in motivating, sustaining, and shaping personal activism... read more
    Our emotions undoubtedly play a role in motivating, sustaining, and shaping personal activism. But what are the ways in which social, cultural, and... read more
    75 Minutes Talk Harris Theater
    2019-10-14
    6 PM

    Make your mark at one of the most popular destinations in Chicago with this hands-on,... read more
    Make your mark at one of the most popular destinations in Chicago with this hands-on, collaborative Lab at the wndr museum. Go behind the scenes... read more
    Members Only 180 Minutes Lab wndr museum
    2019-10-14
    6:30 PM

    A Talk about the state of our union.
    What’s the cost of privilege? Can our policy have a conscience? Is philanthropy enough? Can... read more
    What’s the cost of privilege? Can our policy have a conscience? Is philanthropy enough? Can substantive debates be reduced to 280 characters? We’re... read more
    120 Minutes Talk Harris Theater
    2019-10-14
    7:30 PM

    Before stealing the screen as one of Hollywood’s few to earn two Academy Awards, three... read more
    Before stealing the screen as one of Hollywood’s few to earn two Academy Awards, three Emmys, and a Tony, Jessica Lange was an accomplished... read more
    60 Minutes Special Engagement Edlis Neeson Theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art

    Tuesday, October 15, 2019

    2019-10-15
    8 AM

    A Conversation about covering the White House in 2019.
    To cover the White House is to work in a near constant state of flux... read more
    To cover the White House is to work in a near constant state of flux. In the age of fake news, misinformation, and perpetual spin, bringing the... read more
    75 Minutes Conversation Edlis Neeson Theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art
    2019-10-15
    11:30 AM

    In an experiential immersion in mindfulness practices, the experts at Inseus will give you practical... read more
    In an experiential immersion in mindfulness practices, the experts at Inseus will give you practical tools and insights for making your behavior... read more
    Members Only 120 Minutes Lab Partners by Design
    2019-10-15
    12 PM

    Leadership hacks with Alyssa Rapp.
    Serial entrepreneur and executive Alyssa Rapp spent more than ten years in Silicon Valley learning... read more
    Serial entrepreneur and executive Alyssa Rapp spent more than ten years in Silicon Valley learning the ins and outs of making it by the skin of her... read more
    60 Minutes Salon Pritzker Pavilion
    2019-10-15
    12 PM

    A Conversation with Tegan and Sara.
    Sara and Tegan Quin, identical twins from Calgary, Alberta, are celebrated musicians and global LGBTQ... read more
    Sara and Tegan Quin, identical twins from Calgary, Alberta, are celebrated musicians and global LGBTQ icons. This conversation will focus on their... read more
    60 Minutes Salon Edlis Neeson Theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art
    2019-10-15
    2 PM

    A growing body of research has shown that individuals with autism, ADHD, and dyslexia, often... read more
    A growing body of research has shown that individuals with autism, ADHD, and dyslexia, often have skills and talents that top companies crave, like... read more
    120 Minutes Lab EY Chicago Office
    2019-10-15
    2 PM

    Get the bird’s eye view on food inequity in Chicago at this interactive experience with... read more
    Get the bird’s eye view on food inequity in Chicago at this interactive experience with the Gardeneers. After a tour of the Homan Rail Farm, we’ll... read more
    150 Minutes Lab Gardeneers Homan Rail Farm
    2019-10-15
    3 PM

    What impacts design decisions when you’re creating a new school, hospital or housing complex? At... read more
    What impacts design decisions when you’re creating a new school, hospital or housing complex? At this Lab created by the American Institute of... read more
    120 Minutes Lab Gensler
    2019-10-15
    3:30 PM

    What good is growth that your business isn’t prepared for? In this conversation, you’ll get... read more
    What good is growth that your business isn’t prepared for? In this conversation, you’ll get an introduction to the best strategies for building a... read more
    60 Minutes Conversation Edlis Neeson Theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art
    2019-10-15
    5:30 PM

    A Conversation about our changing workforce.
    By 2035, for the first time in this nation’s history, there will be more senior... read more
    By 2035, for the first time in this nation’s history, there will be more senior citizens than children. What changes do we need to make as our... read more
    75 Minutes Conversation Edlis Neeson Theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art
    2019-10-15
    5:30 PM

    In a rare look behind the scenes with one of rock music’s revolutionary women, Members... read more
    In a rare look behind the scenes with one of rock music’s revolutionary women, Members will have a chance to get up close and personal with Liz... read more
    60 Minutes Special Engagement Pritzker Pavilion
    2019-10-15
    7 PM

    A Talk that explores some of life’s big questions.
    Pondering the unknown is an innate part of the human condition, from wondering what you’ll... read more
    Pondering the unknown is an innate part of the human condition, from wondering what you’ll be when you grow up to analyzing large-scale questions... read more
    90 Minutes Talk Harris Theater
    2019-10-15
    8:30 PM

    Biggest Mistake Night is back! During a week that explores great ideas, join us as... read more
    Biggest Mistake Night is back! During a week that explores great ideas, join us as we celebrate all of the not-so-good ones that helped us along... read more
    120 Minutes Special Engagement The Den Theatre

    Wednesday, October 16, 2019

    2019-10-16
    8 AM

    A crash course in raising capital.
    Before you can make your dream a reality, you need the money to get the project off the ground... read more
    Before you can make your dream a reality, you need the money to get the project off the ground. Join us for a session that will teach you how to... read more
    60 Minutes Conversation Edlis Neeson Theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art
    2019-10-16
    12 PM

    A Talk on ethics, misdeeds, and intellectual freedom.
    Sometimes, it can feel like businesses and individuals are becoming less ethical over time... read more
    Sometimes, it can feel like businesses and individuals are becoming less ethical over time. But has our moral compass really shifted? Or has the... read more
    90 Minutes Talk Harris Theater
    2019-10-16
    12 PM

    A Conversation about social entrepreneurship.
    Young entrepreneurs around the globe are constantly finding ways to solve the world’s problems.... read more
    Young entrepreneurs around the globe are constantly finding ways to solve the world’s problems.. The Bluhm/Helfand Social Innovation Fellows—with... read more
    75 Minutes Conversation Edlis Neeson Theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art
    2019-10-16
    3 PM

    What impacts design decisions when you’re creating a new school, hospital or housing complex? At... read more
    What impacts design decisions when you’re creating a new school, hospital or housing complex? At this Lab created by the American Institute of... read more
    120 Minutes Lab Gensler
    2019-10-16
    4 PM

    Willpower alone is seldom enough to affect the change you need... read more
    Willpower alone is seldom enough to affect the change you need. Join us for a Life Hack session led by USC psychology professor Wendy Wood about... read more
    60 Minutes Salon Pritzker Pavilion
    2019-10-16
    5:30 PM

    A Conversation about navigating modern parenthood.
    For parents in 2019, technology is the monster in the closet... read more
    For parents in 2019, technology is the monster in the closet. Thanks to the internet, age-old problems—bullying, racial discrimination, gender... read more
    75 Minutes Conversation Edlis Neeson Theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art
    2019-10-16
    7 PM

    A Talk to explore lessons in leadership.
    What it means to be a leader, to have power, and to be successful has... read more
    What it means to be a leader, to have power, and to be successful has never looked quite like it does in 2019. In this Talk, we’re painting a new... read more
    90 Minutes Talk Harris Theater

    Thursday, October 17, 2019

    2019-10-17
    8 AM

    A Conversation about the business of cannabis.
    Now that 10 states (including Illinois) have legalized weed for recreational use, repercussions are reverberating... read more
    Now that 10 states (including Illinois) have legalized weed for recreational use, repercussions are reverberating across the nation. Who will this... read more
    75 Minutes Conversation Edlis Neeson Theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art
    2019-10-17
    10 AM

    Go behind the scenes of the architectural process with the Chicago Architecture Center in this... read more
    Go behind the scenes of the architectural process with the Chicago Architecture Center in this immersive Lab that will teach you how to use design... read more
    120 Minutes Lab Chicago Architecture Center
    2019-10-17
    12 PM

    A Talk about being comfortable with failure.
    As tennis great Billie Jean King famously stated, “champions adjust.” In this Talk, we’ll hear... read more
    As tennis great Billie Jean King famously stated, “champions adjust.” In this Talk, we’ll hear remarkable individuals share their inspiring stories... read more
    90 Minutes Talk Harris Theater
    2019-10-17
    12 PM

    The business that you grow will only be as strong as the idea that started it... read more
    The business that you grow will only be as strong as the idea that started it. In this rare course with Brad Keywell—the serial entrepreneur behind... read more
    60 Minutes Conversation Edlis Neeson Theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art
    2019-10-17
    1:30 PM

    Staying on top as a business used to be about reputation—now it’s all about relevance... read more
    Staying on top as a business used to be about reputation—now it’s all about relevance. How are organizations supposed to keep up? Learn more about... read more
    150 Minutes Lab Convene
    2019-10-17
    4 PM

    Pinball machines are some of the most complex mass-produced entertainment devices in the world... read more
    Pinball machines are some of the most complex mass-produced entertainment devices in the world. In this Lab, we’re looking beneath the glass at... read more
    150 Minutes Lab Summit Chicago LLC
    2019-10-17
    5:30 PM

    A Talk about the power of influencers.
    The meaning of fame has changed over the last decade... read more
    The meaning of fame has changed over the last decade. In addition to the revenue and career advancement opportunities digital influence brings,... read more
    90 Minutes Talk Edlis Neeson Theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art
    2019-10-17
    6:30 PM

    Scientific literacy remains low among the U.S. adult population, resulting in an ever-growing divide in... read more
    Scientific literacy remains low among the U.S. adult population, resulting in an ever-growing divide in our society. The Chicago Council on Science... read more
    120 Minutes Lab Metis Data Science
    2019-10-17
    7 PM

    A special engagement with journalist Ronan Farrow
    Ronan Farrow's fight to expose Harvey Weinstein's despicable history of sexual assault changed the consciousness... read more
    Ronan Farrow's fight to expose Harvey Weinstein's despicable history of sexual assault changed the consciousness of the country. The reporter... read more
    90 Minutes Special Engagement Harris Theater