On March 8, 2013, the University of Chicago Arts + Public Life Initiative celebrated the grand opening of its Arts Incubator in the Washington Park neighborhood. Located on the corner of Prairie Avenue and Garfield Boulevard, the Arts Incubator is a space for artist residencies, arts education, community-based arts projects, as well as exhibitions, lectures and performances. In just a short while, it has become an award-winning arts and cultural hub for the Washington Park community. We believe more can happen on Garfield! Building from the Art Incubator’s success, the University of Chicago engaged local planning and architecture firm Solomon Cordwell Buenz in May to begin a formal site planning process for the south side of Garfield Boulevard, from Prairie Avenue to Martin Luther King Drive. This plan is looking at the expansion of arts and culture along the entire block and will be exploring design, streetscape, transportation, program elements, and the temporary activation of open space along the street.  

Community Meetings

June 24th, 2014 from 6 – 8 pm at the Washington Park Refectory

July 19, 2014 from 10 am – 12 pm at the Arts Incubator

July 26, 2014 Arts + Culture Block Party from 11 am – 8 pm, starting at the Arts Incubator