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One thing that Chicago isn’t short on is creative talent. Its history is rich with volumes documenting the contributions of artists, filmmakers, scriptwriters, architects, designers, ceramists, writers, playwrights, actors, musicians, choreographers, directors, sculptors, dancers, composers, vocalists, lyricists, comedians, and poets. They all express their visions of beauty, capturing impressions and views on life through their eyes. In doing so, they contribute to Chicago's creative power.
The city is home to countless arts organizations, schools, museums, theaters, and programs that showcase and support the work of these creatives. One particularly compelling program is Arts + Public Life.
APL is a neighborhood platform for arts and culture in Washington Park. An initiative of UChicago Arts at the University of Chicago, it was launched in 2011 to provide residencies for Black and Brown artists and creative entrepreneurs, arts education for youth, and artist-led programming and exhibitions.
APL operates on the Arts Block, a vibrant collection of cultural and commercial spaces along Garfield Boulevard between Prairie Avenue and Martin Luther King Drive in Washington Park.
Founded by artist Theaster Gates, APL is modeled after and fueled by his artistic practice. Between 2014 and 2017, Gates and the APL team, including an internal group called Place Lab, developed the principles of Ethical Redevelopment. This culture-based, artist-led, neighborhood-driven approach informs Gates' work at his nonprofit Rebuild Foundation, at Place Lab, and at APL.
APL builds access—both literally and figuratively—by redeveloping unused or underutilized spaces and constructing new venues for public gathering. Through bricks and mortar, programs, and relationships, APL transforms spaces into multi-generational gathering spots, platforms for connection, and hubs for creativity and exchange.
APL serves as a dynamic hub of exploration, expression, and exchange, centering people of color and fostering neighborhood vibrancy through the arts on Chicago’s South Side.
APL’s programs and projects are designed primarily by, with, and for participants, audiences, and artists of color. As an anti-racist arts organization, APL is committed to equity and expanded opportunities for all communities of color.
Its approach emphasizes thoughtful, in-depth partnerships and programming rather than succumbing to the pressures of mass production. The organization values the essence of art and its impact on the community, prioritizing collaboration, skill-sharing, and mutual support.
APL sees itself as a hub where people gather to connect, share ideas, and build community. It is part of the vibrant network of exchange that characterizes the South Side and Chicago as a whole.
Equity underpins APL’s work, which is rooted in authentic relationships and ongoing conversations with the communities it serves. APL honors the South Side’s cultural legacy and aspires to make its programs relevant to its home neighborhood, celebrating the richness of the cultural production already happening there.
At the heart of APL is the belief that artists are catalysts for change and that the arts can shape and nourish communities, neighborhoods, and the city. Providing workspaces for artists is a critical part of this mission.
Recently, APL invited the public to meet its new artists-in-residence, including Candace Hunter, one of CNW’s featured artists, who showcased her latest works, which continue to evolve and inspire.