The University of Chicago in collaboration with community partners is building up a span of historic East Garfield Boulevard into an extensive arts and culture corridor dubbed the Arts Block.
The Arts Block extends the University of Chicago's attempt to transform vacant spaces by the block in to something that serves as a hub and encompasses artist studios, performance and exhibition facilities, education spaces, public programs and retail establishments.
The Arts Block heavily relies on the successfulness of the university's Place Lab and community-focused Arts Incubator, as well as additional enterprises by the block such as BING Art Books and the Currency Exchange, UChicagoNews reported.
A new arts center is looked upon as a probable next step in the Arts Block undertaking. The projected Green Line Arts Center will be a multidisciplinary center for film production, theater, music and dance, and will act as a stage for artists hailing from the South Side and those beyond the bounds. L.A. based architecture firm Johnston Marklee have worked on the design concepts for the said art center, which is now open to the people. In addition, the public is also invited to experience the Arts Block at a celebration event on Saturday, June 4 starting at 9 a.m. until noon at the Arts Incubator, 301 E. Garfield Boulevard.
The Arts Block project adds to the university's commitment to culture, arts and building up robust communities on the South Side of Chicago. Besides, it also enhances the splendid cultural heritage of the historic Garfield Boulevard and the Washington Park region.
The university's efforts to work in collaboration with the community has eased some discretion regarding its previous push into nearby Woodlawn, according to Ald. Pat Dowell. She noted that in Woodland there were speculations doing rounds hinting that "they were coming in and taking over," Chicago Tribune reported.
Several South Side residents who back the Arts Block project still protest against a few aspects - while some claim the disappearance of the liquor and grocery store stings in a locality where food stores are already few and far between, others claim not enough is done to bring those residing at Washington Park into the programming.
However, on the whole, it looks like the project is well-received by quite a few South Side residents who recall the block being in a bad shape. According to Ronald Wardlow, a retired CTA employee and a former area resident who was paying a visit to the region, earlier there were a lot of gangs that would nab wallets, but all the bad environment has vanished since alcohol is gone.
The Arts Block opens up new avenues of possibilities for the young people, he added.
