Q: What is Mess Hall?
A: Mess Hall is an experimental cultural center. It is a place where visual art, radical politics, creative urban planning, applied ecological design and other things intersect and inform each other. We host exhibitions, discussions, film screenings, brunchlucks (brunch + potluck), workshops, concerts, campaigns, meetings (both closed and open) and more.
Q: What are your hours?
A: We currently do not keep regular hours, with some exceptions. We are mainly open during events only, but please check our calendar to see other times we will be open.
Q: Where is Mess Hall?
A: We are located at 6932 N. Glenwood Avenue, in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago. We’re a few dozen yards southeast of the Morse Street station on the Red Line, on the east side of the street.
Q: Is Mess Hall a not-for-profit?
A: Mess Hall is NOT a not-for-profit. We do not have tax-exempt status. We are not a 501C3. We don’t want to have to follow a structure required by the government in order to work together (i.e. having a Board of Directors, etc.). We don’t need to register ourselves or add any additional layers of bureaucracy outside of our group and can function very effectively on our own terms.
Q: How should I propose an idea to Mess Hall?
A: Proposals…On Hold and Holding On! Save those proposals for a bit. We are not accepting any new proposals until 2011 and are busy working out details for an upcoming year of exciting programming TBA. Stay tuned!
Q: How can I donate to Mess Hall?
A: You can mail us a check or money order made out to Marianne Fairbanks, or send us cash. We prefer not to take money at events, as we never charge admission or ask for a donation during open hours. Of course you can also use our mail slot to deliver donations. Your donation will not be tax-deductible, but it sure will be appreciated! Additionally, we can always use things like: office supplies, paint, rollers, gift cards, donations of food and beverages, toilet paper, paper towels, dish soap, blue bags, plane tickets for visiting guests, housing for out of town guests is sometimes needed, reliable appliances or electronics, free printing for posters, flyers and booklets, or anything else that might help us with our work.
Q: What’s with this blog, why have a blog in the first place?
We needed a place to post info about the events and be able to make updates as needed. It also gives us somewhere to post pictures and to use as an archive of events that happen at Mess Hall circa Feb, 2009.
