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Venues

There are two kinds of assets in this category:
formal arts venues like theaters, galleries, museums, etc., and other kinds of businesses which regularly host arts and culture events.

Crafts by Claudia

4300 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60632
Brighton Park

ONLY local arts and crafts store that closed down in 2019 due to lack of business and rise of Amazon.

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Art on 51st

1238 W 51st St, Chicago, IL 60609

Art on 51st is a public space in our community where anyone can come to create and show their art, part of Precious Blood Ministries.

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Packingtown Museum

1400 W 46th St, Chicago, IL 60609

The Packingtown Museum provides a unique opportunity to connect Chicago’s industrial past to its future and inform contemporary conversations about labor, immigration, food production, community development and the economy.

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Free Street Theater Storyfront

4346 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60609
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Back of the Yards Coffeehouse

2059 W 47th St, Chicago, IL 60609
Back of the Yards

Local coffeeshop run by two Back of the Yards residents, Jesse Iniguez & Mayra Hernandez. Focused on local, ethical and evironmentally conscious practices and hiring local community members.

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The Plant // Bubbly Dynamics

1400 W 46th St, Chicago, IL 60609

Bubbly Dynamics is the developer entity and overseer of The Plant. This sustainable urban development is on a 3 acre site formerly a meatpacking warhouse in BOTY, and is home to several Chicago based food vendors. They have three spaces inside that are commonly used for hosting events; "The Taproom (owned and operated by Whiner Brewery)," "The Common Area" and the "Museum Space." The outdoor spaced is used for workforce trainings in partnership with Amplify Chicago. Front facing their work is to provide community space and business opportunities to BOTY, however only ten percent of their employees are based in Back of the Yards, and a total of 15 percent from the surrounding neighborhoods.

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Homer's Bar

4518 S McDowell Ave, Chicago, IL 60609

Local bar that hosts community fundraisers and events.

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Sputnik Coffee Company

2057 W 51st St, Chicago, IL 60609

Coffee roaster identified in feedback survey as venue for arts programming.

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Just Ice, Inc.

1400 W 46th St, Chicago, IL 60609

Local craft ice business. Hosts local music events and fundraisers at it's location in The Plant.

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Jimmy Williams Gallery and Studio

1514 W 73rd Pl, Chicago, IL 60636
Englewood

Jimmy Williams is a visual artist who grew up in Cabrini Green but whose visual arts gallery is based in Englewood.

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Boombox Englewood

833 W 63rd St, Chicago, IL 60621
Englewood

Boombox is a prefabricated, climate controlled, pop-up storefront constructed from an upcycled shipping container available to rent for short term, retail, cultural, community, and marketing experiences. Offered for rent to businesses/organizations looking for physical space (weekly-monthly basis). #shopboombox

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Kusanya Cafe

825 W 69th St, Chicago, IL 60621

Kusanya Cafe opened in November 2013 and serves coffee, breakfast-all-day, and lunch. We also host community and arts events and provide job training and apprenticeship. Kusanya is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and is sustained by cafe sales and individual donations and small grants. || "We exist to provide the place where great people can come together over great food, and community-born events can take place. Sit and stay a while. During the day, Kusanya is a ""for-here-mug"" kind of place. We exist for the casual interactions among neighbors, the chance meetings, and the collaboration that happens organically when people are together."

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Sonika Studios

1918 W 47th St, Chicago, IL 60609

Photography studio and venue for local bands and live painting events + fundraisers. This space closed down in 2019 due to lack of funding.

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Ollin Papalotl

3859 W 47th St, Chicago, IL 60632

Cultural shop and aztec danza venue, closed down due to lack of ownership of building (owner was selling building). Closed due to lack of property ownership.

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Cafe El Meson

4631 S Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60632

De Colores Ice cream

3838 W 49th St, Chicago, IL 60632

Teatro Tariakuri
dance and theatre performing arts

3117 W 63rd St, Chicago, IL 60629

Performance, dance, classical ballet, jazz, tap dancing (its dying and its one of the most beautiful dances to see), ballet folklorico, Danza-trina - mixture of catrinas (ballet folklorico) with ballet; Prehispanic danza on a larger scale to learn who our ancestors were. Our youth need to learn where we come from, its beautiful to watch dancers but sometimes the youngsters see those dancers and don't know anything about the history behind those dances or behind indigenous communities. Acting classes, on camera, and many other performance/ theater based classes for adults and young people. Adult acting class support in general with life and talking not just stage or in front of camera performing.

Our goal is to give our young people the opportunity to audition for ANY theater they want not just to be limited to opportunities on the south or west side but anywhere they want.

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Fire Museum of Greater Chicago

5218 S Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60609

"The museum is only open on the fourth Saturday of each month from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm, except in December. Housed in a firehouse that was built in 1916 the Fire Museum of Greater Chicago is dedicated to preserving the History and Tradition of the fire service in and around Chicago."

Landor's Quinceañeras

5209 S Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60632

Dance studio for Quiceaneras, a Mexican coming of age tradition where young women are celebrated for turning 15 - there usually is a choreographer hired to coordinate a ball type of dance between the young woman and her father and then the young woman and a young man.

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Artsomnia Studios

4929 S Campbell Ave, Chicago, IL 60632

Outdoor gallery space

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Inner City Muslim Action Network
Beloved Community Ceramics Studio

2747 W 63rd St, Chicago, IL 60629

This studio is the first of its kind on Chicago’s South Side; an artisan workshop that convenes local artists and community members to craft unique ceramic works that inspire creativity, community, and entrepreneurship. The distinct curriculum taught within the Studio intersects aspects of ceramics, community organizing principles, and behavioral health techniques.

The Beloved Community Ceramics Studio offers a combination of free and affordable classes and workshops. Customized workshops can be facilitated for school field trips, group outings, or organization/corporate gatherings. Access to the Studio or our kiln is available to community members, art students, and local creatives.

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Topsoil Home

Na Suen, the owner of Topsoil Home, makes ceramics and with a kiln in Suen's garage. It might be possible to offer art workshops or ceramic painting parties in the future.

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Marimacha Monarca Press

1961 W Pershing Rd, Chicago, IL 60609

QTPOC creative space for queer familia based on southside Chicago 🦋🌈🔪pop ups, events, prints, zines & sexy calendars

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Otro Ritmo: Southside Punk Night

Community run, bringing local (and some not local) punk bands and artists to Chicago's southwest side.

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One City Tap

3115 S. ARCHER CHICAGO IL, 60608

Bar located at the intersection of Archer Ave and Ashland Ave. This bar is home to Otro Ritmo: Southside Punk Nights and also hosts community fundraisers and events

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Huffprint Press

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The Video Strip

3307 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60608

A store that proves big things do come in small packages. There over 20,000 Movies/Games titles for rental that will satisfy all your entertainment needs.

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Kristoffer's Cakes

1735 W 35th St, Chicago, IL 60609
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Marz Community Brewing Company

3630 S Iron St, Chicago, IL 60609

Founded on the premise that the art, culture, food, and liquid we were drinking and enjoying would also be enjoyed by others, we created Marz as a platform for ongoing experimental collaboration—in the beers we were brewing and with the culture of the city as well.

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Pochos

2025 W 35th St, Chicago, IL 60609

Pochos is a restaurant and caterer located in Chicago’s McKinley park neighborhood. Partners Irene Acosta and Miguel Hernandez started Pochos to share their love for food and hospitality. Alongside, chef-partner, Xavier Hernandez they bring local and seasonal ingredients to an eclectic menu that showcases their Mexican and American roots.

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