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Theaster Gates

Theaster Gates

Keynote Speaker: Director of Arts and Public Life at the University of Chicago; Founder & President of Rebuild Foundation

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  • Speaking Fee:
    Live Event Fee: $10,000 - $20,000
    Virtual Event Fee: $10,000 - $20,000
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Theaster Gates Biography

Theaster Gates is founder and president of the Rebuild Foundation and director of arts program development at the University of Chicago. He is an artist, musician, and “cultural planner.” In his performances, installations, and urban interventions, Gates transforms spaces, institutions, traditions, and perceptions. Gates’s training as an urban planner and sculptor, and his subsequent time spent in Japan studying clay, has given him keen awareness of the poetics of production and systems of organizing. With this experience, Gates has assembled gospel choirs, formed temporary unions, and used systems of mass production as a way of underscoring the need that industry has for the body. When Theaster is not making art for museums, he is committed to the restoration of poor black neighborhoods, converting abandoned buildings into cultural spaces. Gates was a Loeb fellow at Harvard Graduate School of Design and has received awards from the Joyce Foundation and the Graham Foundation.

In 2019, fashion label Prada announced Theaster Gates, alongside Ava DuVernay, will be co-chair of the Prada Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Theaster Gates and other top speakers and celebrities.

Theaster Gates Videos

Highlights from a town hall lecture with Theaster Gates in Dallas for ...
Artist Talk: Theaster Gates on the Transformative Power of Art ...
Lecture by Theaster Gates - YouTube

How do I book Theaster Gates to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Theaster Gates for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Theaster Gates, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Theaster Gates or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Theaster Gates for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Theaster Gates, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Theaster Gates are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Theaster Gates, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Theaster Gates speak about?

Theaster Gates is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Innovation, Government, Business, Creativity, TED and Leadership.

Where does Theaster Gates travel from?

Theaster Gates generally travels from Chicago, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Theaster Gates?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Theaster Gates for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Theaster Gates for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Theaster Gates or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Theaster Gates is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Innovation, Government and Business. The estimated speaking fee range to book Theaster Gates for live events is $10,000 - $20,000, and for virtual events $10,000 - $20,000. Theaster Gates generally travels from Chicago, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Tim O'Reilly, Andrew McAfee and Eric X. Li. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Theaster Gates for an upcoming event.

Theaster Gates Videos

Highlights from a town hall lecture with Theaster Gates in Dallas for ...
Artist Talk: Theaster Gates on the Transformative Power of Art ...
Lecture by Theaster Gates - YouTube
Theaster Gates - Opening Night Lecture, Milwaukee Art Museum ...
Creating Heat - The Artist as Catalyst: Theaster Gates at TEDxUNC ...

Theaster Gates Reviews

  • UCSB Arts & Lectures - May 05 2021

Theaster Gates News

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