The City of Chicago has announced on 9/17/18 that 2019 would be The Year of Chicago Theatre. The city with the co-operation of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events as well as the League of Chicago Theatres will promote the city as a theatre center on a local, national and international level. Included in this promotion will be $200,000 in local grants, free performances, exhibitions, pop-up performances and the participation of over 200 theatre companies based in Chicago. While Chicago has no major equivalent to a Broadway or West End theatre district it does have many downtown, Loop, neighborhood and storefront theatres which can benefit from this promotion. (Note: The Loop Theatre district does have 8 houses that are often occupied but this is mostly imported Broadway and other national and international productions.)