MEETING THE MOMENT
The MASS EPIPHANY STUDIOS business model is uniquely situated for perfect synergy with Chicago's INVEST South/West initiative.
INVEST South/West is an unprecedented community improvement initiative to marshal the resources of multiple City departments, community organizations, and corporate partners toward 10 initial neighborhoods and 12 targeted commercial corridors on Chicago’s South and West Sides. Through this groundbreaking, collaborative effort between government, businesses, philanthropies, and community leaders, the city will align more than $750 million in funding.
ARTS EDUCATION LEADS TO SUCCESS
A student involved in the arts is four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement. Students with high arts participation and low socioeconomic status have a four percent dropout rate—five times lower than their low socioeconomic status peers.
THE EXPOSURE PIECE MATTERS
“Just as students need to learn reading literacy and numeric literacy, we also believe they need to learn artistic literacy,” said Lynn Tuttle, director of Public Policy and Professional Development at the National Association for Music Education. “It’s an incredibly important skill set in 21st century society. Information is presented to us in visuals, graphics, animations, theatrical performances, and music.”
“The exposure piece matters,” said Inhulsen of the National Arts Education Association. "It’s about community and culture and understanding how people live and celebrate life.”
REPRESENTATION IN FILM MATTERS TO MINORITIES
Over half of Black Americans (58%) say that while growing up, it was difficult for them to find role models who looked like them in movies and TV. Hispanics (55%) and other minorities (56%) also identify with the same problem. Wins for directors Jordan Peele and Guillermo Del Toro at the Oscars may move the needle on this; over half of Americans (54%) say that the industry would do a better job portraying people like them if they hired directors who have had similar life experiences.
CHICAGO: HOLLYWOOD OF THE MIDWEST
"According to data from the Illinois Film Office, which awards a 30% tax credit to qualified productions, filming in 2019 resulted in an estimated economic impact of nearly $560 million in job creation and local expenditures, an 18% increase over the previous year. Over 15,000 non-extra job hires generated over $350 million in wages, with women and minorities representing 51% of the reported crew hires."
CITY OF ARTISTS
The Chicago artistic community is a vibrant, diverse, and inclusive collective with a wide range of talents. MASS EPIPHANY STUDIOS provides education and job opportunities to those artists and crew members allowing for economic advancement and living wage potential for thousands of Chicago's residents.