The Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center Foundation (UCIMC) is a grassroots organization that supports the creation and distribution of media and art that emphasizes underrepresented voices and perspectives, and promotes empowerment and expression through media and arts education.
Media + Art + Tech for Social Change!
The UCIMC was founded in 2000 by a collective of artists and activists who wanted to democratize access to arts and media production in the wake of media consolidation and the defunding of the arts. Racial and economic divides were widening, and our creative community was stifled by the limited ability of media outlets to present local artists.
The UCIMC founders aimed to invent the space, resources, and atmosphere to draw artists and community members together to investigate local problems and design solutions. We envisioned a center where collaboration, cross pollination, and serendipitous interaction were encouraged; where youth could participate in a creative "third space" as an alternative to home or school; where consumers could be producers; and where the power of media, art, and narrative to transform our community could be realized.
Introducing the UCIMC's new virtual event series!, Sounds Like Community.
- Join us, local artists and sharers each WEDNESDAY from 7pm (CST) to whenever the fun ends. These virtual events will run until the UCIMC re-opens for physical gatherings
- Is there an artist, creation, organization, talk, or other content you'd like to see featured in our Sounds Like Community series? Email us with your recommendations at programdirector@ucimc.org
- The UCIMC Programming Committee created Sounds Like Community to help artists and activists re-establish the time-based and community-based experiences that are so deeply diminished in our lives.
Another positive side affect of this COVID-19 period is that we plan to translate as much of our website and the Public I articles into a few other languages. We look forward to being closer together in this time of being apart.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic,...
*NOTE: The UCIMC will not be booking any face-to-face events until further notice. We are helping our community be as healthy as possible by participating in the social distancing and Illinois shelter-in-place.
Much of the UCIMC's livelihood relies on event rental, so we are financially hurting. Please consider helping us survive by donating through our Revenue Recovery Donation Page
Please be safe. IMC building access updates during COVID-19
More about our space and activities (during normal times):
We rent out our event spaces, but we are so much more than a really great venue. We are the home of UC Books to Prisoners, Makerspace Urbana, the Bike Project of UC, the Public i newspaper, WRFU 104.5FM, The Radical Librarians and Anarchist Archivists collective, a world-renowned zine collection, and so much more. We are THE Place to plant your ideas.
And, in 2020, we are celebrating our 20th anniversary!
Stay informed! Sign up for our periodic newsletter - you do not want to miss out on events, shows, meetings, workshops, and much more!