has worked in Chicago as an artist and an advocate for live art since 1978. In CDFs inaugural year Farley received the Lab Artist award after which she served as project director and consortium member. In 2015, she became CDFs first executive director.
Under her leadership Chicago Dancemakers Forum has delivered more than $1million in grants; attracted the Regional Dance Development Initiative, a national stimulus for dance, to Chicago; and engaged board, community stakeholders and artists in the creation of a five-year strategic plan which addresses diversity, equity and inclusion, and succession and sustainability for the future of the organization. The plan identifies an expanded vision of city-wide collaboration in support of dancemakers.
Farley danced with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago from 1978-88 and later led The 58 Group, a dance and music ensemble, with colleague Cameron Pfiffner. In 2002 Farley served as a consultant to the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation and participated in the “Excellence in Dance Initiative” at The Chicago Community Trust, leading a study of small, mid-sized and independent dance artists in Chicago which led to the development of Chicago Dancemakers Forum.