PRESERVING LEGACIES THROUGH CULTURAL CREATIVITY
The Wax Trax! Foundation safeguards diverse histories in music, media, art, and LGBTQ+ culture, fostering connection and empowerment through archives, education and community engagement.
Celebrating Diverse Cultural Stories
The Wax Trax! Foundation champions the preservation and celebration of music, media, art, and LGBTQ history, fostering education and community to build an inclusive cultural future.
archival & preservation
Video Preservation:
Digitizing magnetic video before it’s lost.
Archival Audio:
Digitizing and preserving original sound recordings.
Written & Visual History:
Preserving documents, and printed memorabilia.
We are an official 501(c)(3) not for profit, registered in the state of Illinois. If you are interested in collaborating, volunteering or donating items to the WAX TRAX! FOUNDATION, click the button below to contact us.
Located at 1120 N. Ashland Ave. Floor 3 Chicago, IL 60622
Changing The Community Narrative
Preserving sub-cultures through archives, education, mentorship, and community events, the Wax Trax! Foundation works to shed light on fringe communities that have historically been ignored.
CULTURAL ACTIVISM
In 2025, with the help of Chicago’s Department of planning and Development, were able to designate landmark status for the original Wax Trax! Records storefront. This status guarantees protection and preservation for the building that served as the origin of the U.S. Industrial genre, as well as a seminal touch stone of underground culture throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
UNDER-REPRESENTED STORIES
Counter-culture is in our DNA. The Wax Trax! Foundation works with strategic partners and other creatives to produce cultural events and live performances that continue to build and strengthen our global community.
GIVING BACK
The Wax Trax! Foundation is committed to working with fringe groups and under-served communities through donations, outreach and targeted events.
