The Estrojam Experience
A Social Change Music Revolution
The Estrojam Music and Culture Festival is an annual 501C3 not-for-profit, community-based event that features internationally acclaimed and emerging female musicians and artists, educators, activists, and community leaders in dozens of events, including concerts, workshops, panels, and a film festival presented at Chicago's best venues. Estrojam is organized by women and open to all. Our mission is to help build and foster a supportive arts community that inspires, educates, breaks down stereotypes, and encourages bold creative expression. Each year, ESTROJAM partners with, presents and benefits powerful women and women's non-profit organizations for the arts, education, health, social change, human rights and non-violence.
Estrojam uses art as a tool for social change by showcasing the most groundbreaking, fearless artists of our time whose work inspires new ways of thinking, breaks downs stereotypes and strives to eradicate injustice in our communities and around the world. Estrojam features women artists, creates positive images for girls and gives a voice to underrepresented genres, themes and human beings. Estrojam advocates for positive media representation and visibility for women. Estrojam values bold self expression, and involved, engaged communities.
Estrojam features women artists, creates positive images for girls and gives a voice to underrepresented genres, themes and human beings.
Estrojam presents a diverse mix of workshops including healthcare, performance, finance, politics, entertainment business, do-it-yourself car maintenance, independent publishing and more. With the core mission of community building, Estrojam collaborates with organizations that share a passion for social change, human rights, non- violence and cultural arts. Estrojam donates proceeds to beneficiaries that represent the spirit of Estrojam such as Burma's Shan Women's Action Network, National Organization for Women and Girls Rock! Chicago. In 2006, Jagged Tulips, a rock band comprised of 12-year olds from Girls Rock! Chicago, opened at the Metro for 70s punk icon Nina Hagen, providing a thrill to the audience and musicians alike. In 2005, Estrojam beneficiary Shan Women's Action Network and the US Campaign for Burma spoke to concert audiences about the campaign to end brutality against women in the war- torn border of Burma and Thailand.
Why Estrojam? Women are vastly under-represented in the creative fields and technical aspects of music, art and filmmaking. A very low percentage of women make the music, direct the films, master the sound and lights, produce the recordings, build the sets, and wire the electricity. Estrojam seeks to create spaces where women can cultivate their talents in all creative areas, try out new ideas, develop new skills, share knowledge, and simply put, thrive in a supportive community of women and men who share the vision. Estrojam hopes to inspire women to pick up a guitar, a paintbrush, a power tool, a mic, some drum sticks, a video camera, and an attitude that anything is possible.
