AWE Nite Chicago | The Next Evolution of Creativity & The Arts

**Wednesday 08/05/2026** **5:30pm Physical \| 6:00pm Virtual** (Central) **AWE Nite Chicago \| The Next Evolution of Creativity & The Arts** Free to Attend This is a hybrid event where we field questions from our in-person audience, the virtual environment audience in FRAME, as well as those tuning in via YouTube. 5:30pm \| In Person \| [2112: 4245 N Knox Ave](https://www.google.com/maps/place/2112+Chicago/@41.9582658,-87.7441802,17z/data=!3m2!4b1!5s0x880fcc36538af925:0xfc0c99a8ff86cbfb!4m6!3m5!1s0x880fcc36486cd0bb:0x776d02f1da5d7b60!8m2!3d41.9582658!4d-87.7441802!16s%2Fg%2F11csb2tmss?entry=ttu) 6:00pm \| Virtually \| [FRAMEvr](https://framevr.io/the-next-evolution-awe-nite-chicago) 6:15pm \| Live Stream \| [youtube.com/@AWEXR/streams](https://www.youtube.com/@AWEXR/streams) Beer provided by [Revolution Brewing](https://revbrew.com/) Seltzers provided by [\[SYSTEM\] Seltzers](https://systemseltzers.com/) **About the Topic:** Creativity and technology have always been intertwined, each new advance adding tools for forward thinking humans to express themselves. In the early 1950’s at the dawn of the digital age an entire new world began to open for artists and technologists. From manipulating wave forms on early oscilloscopes to pushing pixels on ever shrinking screens, projectors, robotics, speakers, and computers, the digital age has made previously impossible art possible. Now, augmented reality, virtual reality, and extended reality are adding yet another dimension (literally) to what artists can make and audiences can experience. The headset and the mobile device are the newest tools in the artist's kit, and creators are only beginning to explore what they can do. Creative expression has always been a kind of augmentation of reality – an act of looking at the lived world and reaching for something beyond it, trying to give shape to the ineffable, to make meaning from feeling, to let others inside an experience they couldn't otherwise have. Join us for a conversation with artists and developers who are working at this frontier, exploring how immersive technology is changing not just what art looks like, but what it can do – and what it might mean for human expression in the decades to come. **What's The Format:** We will start with informal networking with demonstrations, then host a panel discussion to answer audience questions, and we end with more networking and demonstrations. We keep it simple and informal – this meetup is about you, our members, and not just a soap box for the host, presenters, or our sponsors. Come and get your questions answered, take your next step in Immersive Technology. **5:30-8:30pm Central** 5:30-6:15 PM Networking & Tech Demos 6:15-6:30 PM Welcome Message 6:30-7:10 PM Panelist Presentations 7:10-7:45 PM Panel Discussion with Q&A 7:45-8:30 PM Networking & Tech Demos **Host:** Charlie Athanas - Guest In-Person Host Owner - Burning City, Inc. Andrew Towl - Virtual Host XR Unity Developer & 3D Generalist - [ApparitionXR](https://www.apparitionxr.com/) Matt Wren Founder of [The Next Evolution](https://thenextevolution.org/) Nonprofit Event Series & [VRAR Chicago](https://vrarchicago.com/) **For More Details:** https://thenextevolution.org/upcoming-events/ \*\*\* Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/the-next-evolution-nfp-109384632841 The Next Evolution \| AWE Nite Chicago Event Series \(produced by VRAR Chicago\) is now and always will be 100% free to attend\. \*\*\* Thanks to The Next Evolution Sponsors like VRAR Chicago, 2112 and beverage sponsors [\[system\] seltzers](https://systemseltzers.com/) and [Revolution Brewing](https://revbrew.com/). We would also like to thank our Community Partners that help us continue spreading the joy of immersive technologies: [FrameVR](https://framevr.io/the-next-evolution-awe-nite-chicago), [XR Women](https://www.xrwomen.com/), [NVZN](https://www.nvzn.net/), [Patched Reality](https://patchedreality.com/), [Two Degrees](https://www.two-degrees.io/).io, an