Creative
Placemaking

ARTSiE, in partnership with the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, is engaging students and families in arts-based programming designed to improve learning outcomes while fostering creativity, connection and personal growth. The project also supports the creation of the center’s first public mural, bringing together youth, seniors and community members through collaborative workshops and intergenerational engagement to celebrate cultural diversity, environmental stewardship and community pride.

Join the Evanston community on August 7th from 2:45-5 PM at the Fleetwood Jourdain Center, 1655 Foster St, Evanston, IL, to celebrate the project.

The Berwyn Development Corporation is advancing plans for the Berwyn Arts Park by conducting a series of community polls and engagement activities to gather resident input on featured artists, mural concepts and the future vision for the space.

Guided by priorities identified in the 2024 economic recovery plan, the project will transform a vacant property into a vibrant arts plaza with opportunities for public art, live performances, artistic workshops and community events, strengthening cultural engagement and neighborhood revitalization.

Community members are invited to join the celebration event at the Berwyn Arts Park on on Friday, September 25th at 10 AM.

“Creative placemaking projects like The Brookfield Shops represent a meaningful opportunity to transform an underutilized public space into a vibrant, inclusive, and resilient art-inclusive gathering place for small business development and community connection.”

– Brian Sharenow, President, Brookfield Chamber of Commerce

Cornerstone Community Development Corporation successfully completed a public art and placemaking project at its headquarters in Ford Heights, installing a mural that highlights themes of resilience, growth and shared heritage while celebrating the community’s identity and transformation.

The project also included complementary landscaping, public art elements and enhancements to the organization’s hydroponic farm campus, creating a welcoming community space that promotes neighborhood pride, environmental stewardship, food access and resident engagement.

The Homewood Science Center, in partnership with Playful Learning Landscapes and local artists, is advancing the transformation of its indoor and outdoor spaces into interactive STEAM learning environments that encourage scientific inquiry, creativity, movement and problem-solving.

The project includes the development of a community-inspired mural led by artist Janelle Dunlap and the creation of a pollinator garden, enhancing opportunities for hands-on learning, family engagement, and community connection while supporting the center’s role as a hub for arts and science education. Read a project update here.

Just Roots is enhancing It Takes A Village Farm, a three-acre community greenspace that grows and distributes fresh produce to residents using organic and regenerative farming practices.

The project includes the creation of murals and a paved community gathering space through collaborations with local artists, designers and community groups, strengthening the farm’s capacity to host arts, cultural programming and community events while fostering connection and neighborhood engagement.

The Open Studio Project is creating a community-inspired mural at 727 Main St., in Evanston, replacing a deteriorated mural with a new one that reflects local values, experiences and collective identity.

Through workshops, forums and engagement activities with artists, students and community members, the mural is currently in development, with community input helping to shape its design and strengthen neighborhood connection and pride.

Restoration Ministries, through the Harvey Community Arts Initiative, is engaging residents, Golden Street artists and City of Harvey Mayor Shirley Drewenski’s team in the creation of a community-centered mural at City Hall that celebrates Harvey’s resilience, power of believing and history.

The project also includes the development of a community arts walkway with landscaping enhancements designed to support public art, community gathering and outdoor performances, creating vibrant and welcoming spaces for residents and visitors.

The Riverdale Park District is creating the ArtSPARK Community Garden and ARTSPark Art Center, a community hub designed to provide immersive experiences in art, gardening, podcasting and multimedia for residents of all ages.

Development is underway on key project features, including community garden spaces, pollinator gardens, an artist gallery, community mural areas, an art pavilion for creative programming and workshops, and restroom upgrades that will improve accessibility and support increased community use of the site.

The Village of Maywood is making progress on the transformation of the historic “1100 Building” into a community hub for food, fellowship and economic opportunity.

Project development is underway on key features including a commercial kitchen, an outdoor dining space and a community garden, creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs, families and community organizations to gather, learn and thrive while advancing neighborhood revitalization and economic growth.

The Summit Together Creative Placemaking initiative is underway, engaging residents of all ages in activities that foster belonging, creativity and community pride through gardening and public art.

Garden revitalization efforts are taking place at local community spaces at Summit and Argo parks, while youth, seniors and artists are collaborating on decorative garden features and the development of a public mural exploring themes of civic engagement and identity, creating lasting opportunities for community connection and neighborhood beautification.

The Southland Development Authority will support the development of the Hazel Crest Creative Arts Center, located in a former strip mall and now part of Hazel Crest’s new arts district. The first phase of development included facade updates and interior demolition. The Cook County Arts Creative Placemaking grant will support the second phase of construction.

This phase will focus on renovating the arts center’s interior creative “maker spaces” to include indoor units for dance, ceramics, painting, and other activities. This will be paired with an outdoor plaza featuring walkways and a lawn space to host community events such as concerts and farmers’ markets.