Staff
Tony Santiago, Program and Membership Manager
Dimi Venkov, Communications and Marketing Manager
Jackie Banks-Mahlum, Membership and Development Associate
Dimi Venkov, Communications and Marketing Manager
Jackie Banks-Mahlum, Membership and Development Associate
| Claire Rice leads the visioning, development and implementation of all programs and initiatives of Arts Alliance Illinois. Rice previously served as the national director of Sustain Arts at Harvard University, a project providing free access to meaningful data on arts and cultural activity, successfully launched in three US regions to date. She began her arts career at the internationally renowned performing arts presenter UMS in Ann Arbor, where she served as director of education. While there, she produced a monthlong residency with the Royal Shakespeare Company, among the largest projects in the 131-year history of UMS, and was associate producer for the Naxos recording of William Bolcom’s Songs of Innocence and Experience, recognized in 2006 with four Grammy Awards. In 2010, Rice was published as a contributing author of 20UNDER40, a collection of innovative ideas addressing challenges faced by the arts sector. Rice came to the arts after six years working with federal and state-level clients in Washington, DC as a management consultant for Accenture. She holds a BA from the College and William and Mary and an MPA from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. | 
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rice@artsalliance.org 312-855-3105 ext. 14 |
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| Jonathan VanderBrug brings more than 15 years of diverse experiences to Arts Alliance Illinois, where he builds policy initiatives, advocacy campaigns, and coalitions to influence funding and legislative decisions made at local, state and federal levels. Through generating new research, analyzing data, and maintaining relationships with fellow experts in the field, he coordinates the activities of Arts Alliance Illinois with state and national organizations, and develops targeted messaging to engage both new and lifelong advocates for the arts, culture, and arts education. VanderBrug holds a BA in English Literature from Calvin College, and an MNA from North Park University’s School of Business and Nonprofit Management. | 
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vanderbrug@artsalliance.org 312-855-3105 ext. 11 Contact me about
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| Sangini Brahmbhatt develops and executes fundraising strategies for Arts Alliance Illinois including individual giving, annual fund, major gifts, grants, and special events. Bringing a deep understanding of the arts sector and development to the Alliance, she has held development roles with the Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College Chicago, Chicago Cares, Kartemquin Films, and The Night Ministry. Brahmbhatt holds a BA in Art and Design from DePaul University, volunteers at a senior home doing arts and crafts, and she currently serves on LATITUDE | Chicago's board of directors. | 
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brahmbhatt@artsalliance.org 312-855-3105 ext. 12 Contact me about
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| Libia Bianibi contributes to the development and implementation of organizational strategies, policies, and practices to ensure the effectiveness of Arts Alliance Illinois. As a cultural worker in Mexico City, she focused on building new audiences for contemporary art galleries and the production of large-scale events. In Chicago, she has done independent research, curatorial projects, and public programs centered on decolonization, labor, and bureaucratic violence against Mexican indigenous cultures. She holds a BA in Art History from Universidad Iberoamericana and a MA in Arts Administration and Policy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. |  |
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bianibi@artsalliance.org 312-855-3105 ext. 16 Contact me about
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| Tony Santiago is a Chicago-based artist who connects communities to the arts and, in 2017, worked with St. James Cathedral as director of Summer in the City. He is also director of Empower Youth at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and serves as co-curator of the Chicago Park District’s Theater on the Lake Festival. Santiago founded Chicago Arts Access, a nonprofit organization that bridges arts organizations, art-lovers, and communities with tickets to live performances across Chicago, online at freetix.org. |  |
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santiago@artsalliance.org 312-855-3105 ext. 15 Contact me about
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| Dimi Venkov is an arts and nonprofit practitioner with a passion for youth development. Prior to joining the Alliance team, he was program manager at Leadership Greater Chicago, the area’s premier civic leadership development program. A proud alumnus of AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), Venkov is committed to community development and served in a variety of roles at nonprofit organizations while based for three years in Washington, DC, including with Americans for the Arts. Venkov holds an MA in Arts Management from the University of Manchester (UK) and a BA in Theater with minors in Business, Cinema Studies, and English from the University of Tennessee. |  |
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venkov@artsalliance.org 312-855-3105 ext. 13 Contact me about
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| Jackie Banks-Mahlum manages and executes projects supporting the general operations, development, and membership of Arts Alliance Illinois. As an arts manager, producer, and educator, Banks-Mahlum has worked across many performing arts disciplines including dance, opera, and theater. In addition to her roles with Arts Alliance Illinois, she is managing director of Chicago’s Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, and co-producer for Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga, CA. | 
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