In 2026, Public Media Institute is celebrating another year of making, broadcasting, publishing, gathering, organizing, and figuring things out together. Join us on Friday, November 6 for the PMI Let’s Co-Prosper Anniversary Party — a celebration of the people, projects, and communities that have shaped Public Media Institute over the years.
For one night, we’re digging into the archives. Expect photos, videos, posters, publications, ephemera, and other artifacts from across PMI’s history — from Lumpen Radio, Lumpen Magazine, Co-Prosperity, Buddy, MdW, and the many exhibitions, events, broadcasts, mutual aid efforts, and experiments that have happened along the way.
This isn’t a formal dinner or gala. It’s a party: a chance to gather with old friends and new ones, revisit some of what we’ve built together, and help support what comes next.
The evening will include: A Screen Printing T-Shirt Workshop, Spinning Wheel Raffle, Tacos, Live Music & more!
PMI needs your help to continue serving the Chicago community and beyond with its many platforms of support.
Our mission is to create, incubate, and sustain innovative cultural programming through the production of socially engaged projects, festivals, community spaces, exhibitions, and media. Public Media Institute has many moving parts. We need your help to keep them moving!
If you are in the position to make a major gift, and would like to meet with PMI Director Ed Marszewski, please get in touch with edmarlumpen@gmail.com
Check out our 2025 Annual Report below to see the impact of your donations and what we achieved together last year —
Public Media Institute, a 501(c)3 non profit organization, is grateful for the support of The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts; Arts Work Fund; Crossroads Fund; the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events; Field Foundation of Illinois; Illinois Humanities; Reva and David Logan Foundation; Richard H. Driehaus Foundation; Ruth Foundation for the Arts; The Chicago Community Foundation; The Chicago Community Trust; Press Forward Chicago; Illinois Arts Council Agency; The Joyce Foundation; and individual, institutional and corporate donors, as well as the contributions of writers, artists, volunteers and other creators who make our work possible.
*This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.
