Support ESS
Support the idea that experimental art—art at the front line of defining what comes next—is a valuable part of our culture. The power to impact the arts—and so culture in America—lies with the community. ESS has always been powered by people giving what they can, an aggregate force that makes things happen.
Thank you.
In 2026, your support makes it possible to:
- Pilot free studio sessions, radically expanding access to professional recording for community artists
- Launch the Midwest’s first synthesizer library so more people can learn and create with instruments that are usually financially out of reach
- Connect international audiences and artists in a new series of online performances pushing the boundaries of electronic music production
Among many other things! Across all ESS programs, you pay over 200 artists annually to put new ideas into the world. That’s no small thing to be a part of.
What it means to “Plug-In”
When you donate, you can opt to be a Plugged-In Supporter to deepen your connection to ESS and our incredible creative community. Annual perks, designed to help you stay connected, include:
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- Special performances
- Networking/skill-sharing events
- Regular virtual field trips exploring sonically interesting spaces around the world
- A monthly newsletter with exclusive listening selections
- Opportunities to share your work through ESS’s website and e-newsletter
Studio Group members get all of this plus invitations to special field trips to studios throughout Chicago.
All donations are 100% tax deductible, no matter how you choose to engage.
More Ways to Support
Donor Advised Funds (DAFs)
Experimental Sound Studio is set up as a charitable organization on most DAF platforms (EIN: 36-3482714). You can also donate from your DAF directly via our online form.
Employee Matching Gifts
Double your support by securing a matching contribution from your employer. Corporations that provide matching support will be recognized on ESS’s website. Find out if your employer provides matching gifts here.
Corporate Support
As a Corporate Donor, your support is more than a donation—it is an investment in the legacy and future of improvised music. ESS is happy to work with its Corporate Sponsors to tailor a benefits package that best suits their community goals and directives.
In-Kind Donations
ESS gladly accepts support in the form of donated services, products, and promotions that help supplement our programming.
Please contact us at olivia@ess.org or 773-998-1069 with questions or for more information.