The Site of Big Shoulders is a not-for-profit online publication that features original Chicago content. On the Web since the summer of 1996, The Site of Big Shoulders showcases innovative art, writing, photography and music, all with a connection to the greater Chicago, Illinois, area.

An all-volunteer staff publishes The Site of Big Shoulders and manages its activities, which include publishing on the Web at http://sobs.org and hosting art exhibition and performance events. Regular Thursday meetings at our headquarters, The Space of Big Shoulders, allow for production and planning sessions, and a virtual office environment lets staffers work remotely.

The Site of Big Shoulders' publishing schedule is currently irregular, but it typically includes monthly updates. Content submissions of all types – from visual art to writing to music – receive staff deliberation, with all publishing decisions based on the content's originality and artistic, literary and social merits. The core publishing rule of The Site of Big Shoulders is that all content must be related to the greater Chicagoland region, either by authorship or subject matter.

Since its founding, a non-commercial nature has been a hallmark of The Site of Big Shoulders: All content is freely available to the Internet-using public, the staff is all-volunteer, and no money changes hands between The Site of Big Shoulders and its contributors. In 2002, The Site of Big Shoulders received its formal designation as a federally recognized 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

The Site of Big Shoulders' name hearkens to "City of the Big Shoulders" from Carl Sandberg's poem "Chicago" – lines of grit, determination and good humor which apply as equally to Chicago's current creative community as they did to the Chicago of a century ago. As home to a tremendous base of often under-recognized creativity and talent, Chicago is a wellspring of independent arts activities, and The Site of Big Shoulders strives to bring the best of them to you.

To learn more about The Site of Big Shoulders, click through the areas of this Web site, including our History, Latest News and Press areas. Our Staff page details the individuals behind The Site of Big Shoulders, our Contributors page lists the people who have provided their content for our publishing purposes, and our Supporters page showcases the individuals and organizations who have supported us over the years.

If you like what you see, consider making a donation to The Site of Big Shoulders to support our not-for-profit publishing efforts. If you have any questions or wish to get in touch, see our Contact page, or send e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .