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Arts and Public Life

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Arts and Public Life

Arts + Public Life (APL) is a dynamic hub of exploration, expression, and exchange that centers peopl Learn more at artsandpubliclife.org

As a neighborhood platform for arts and culture in Washington Park, APL provides residencies for for local artists and creative entrepreneurs, arts education for youth, and artist-led programming and exhibitions. Arts + Public Life (APL) is an initiative of UChicago Arts, and thrives thanks to the support of a community of generous donors whose gifts have sustained the Arts + Public Life initiative, Arts Incubator (+ Gallery and Woodshop), Green Line Performing Arts Center, L1 Creative Business Accelerator and Retail Shop, and the vibrant creativity happening every day on the Arts Block on historic Garfield Boulevard in Washington Park.

09/28/2026

Fall has officially arrived to the Arts Block. We're wrapping up the last week of September with a special guest for the final Sunset Yoga of the season.

Swipe through to check out everything happening on the Arts Block this week!

September 30 | Sunset Yoga with special guest Mecca Elevated
October 1-October 3 | Intentionality, 1960: Whose Dreams? Gallery Hours

09/24/2026

We are excited to announce that singer, Rita Warford will be performing at the Intentionality, 1960: Whose Dreams? exhibition opening tonight!

AACM vocalist and Chicago native Rita Warford has brought her powerful sound to stages across the US, Europe, Japan, and Cuba. From leading songs at civil rights rallies to studying under legends like Muhal Richard Abrams, Rita’s journey encompasses jazz mastery, historic collaborations, and her acclaimed one-woman show, Womansong. Featured in 5 jazz history books, she remains a true force in creative music.

Join us tonight to hear her live!
Intentionality, 1960: Whose Dreams? Exhibition Opening Reception
September 24 | 6PM-8PM
Arts Incubator Gallery | 301 E. Garfield Blvd

09/23/2026

Opening tomorrow
Intentionality, 1960: Whose Dreams?
A new exhibition by Chicago artist Candace Hunter centered on the construction of the Dan Ryan Expressway and the Black communities displaced in its path. Through photographic collage, architectural fragments, archival materials, sound, sculptural interventions, and oral histories, Hunter moves between what is documented and what is remembered. The work resists the idea that displacement can be understood solely through statistics.

Join us for the exhibition opening reception and celebrate Candace and her powerful work.
Intentionality, 1960: Whose Dreams? Exhibition Opening Reception
Thursday, September 24
6PM-8PM
Arts Incubator Gallery
301 E. Garfield Blvd

09/22/2026

This Thursday marks our final Poetry at the Pavilion of the season. This monthly gathering of voices and creatives has been a transformative, lovely experience, and we are deeply grateful for everyone who shared the space with us.

To close out the series, September features two incredible voices. Amari Amai will read original work alongside selections from Patricia Smith. Semaj Zion will perform original pieces as well as selections from Venus Ayalani.

Join us this Thursday at the Pavilion for one last evening of community and spoken word. We cannot wait to see you there.

Poetry at the Pavilion
Thursday, September 24 | 5:30 PM-7:00 PM
The Arts Lawn | 337 East Garfield Boulevard

09/21/2026

Thursday on the Arts Block delivers another massive lineup of culture and talent. If you have not experienced Poetry at the Pavilion yet, this Thursday is your absolute last chance to catch it live. Swipe to check out the complete schedule for this week and plan your visit.

September 23 | Sunset Yoga
September 24 | Tour the Arts Block
September 24 | Poetry at the Pavilion
September 24 | Intentionality, 1960: Whose Dreams? Exhibition Opening Reception

09/14/2026

CHICAGO EXHIBITION WEEK—FIRST LOOK: Intentionality, 1960: Whose Dreams?
Saturday, September 19 | 6:00 PM 8:00 PM
Arts Incubator | 301 E Garfield Blvd.

As part of Chicago Exhibition Week, join us for an exclusive first look at Candace Hunter’s Intentionality, 1960: Whose Dreams? before it officially opens on September 24.

Hunter returns to the construction of the Dan Ryan Expressway and the communities displaced in its path—asking what disappears, and what persists, when a place is remade. Through collage, installation, archival materials, sound, sculpture, and oral history, she brings personal memory straight to the historical record.

A continuation of her project 50,831 +/– Dreams, this exhibition explores the histories, relationships, and ordinary intimacies bound to places transformed forever.

09/13/2026

We’re wrapping up an incredible Season 13 of First Monday Jazz on the Arts Lawn while kicking off Chicago Exhibition Week! Don't miss out—swipe to see what’s happening this week on the Arts Block, and register via the link in our bio.

Sept 14 | First Monday Jazz- Clif Wallace Big Band
Sept 16 | Sunset Yoga
Sept 19 | CHICAGO EXHIBITION WEEK—FIRST LOOK: Intentionality, 1960: Whose Dreams?

09/10/2026

This Monday marks our final FMJ of the season, and we’re closing things out with this season's curator, Clif Wallace, taking the stage with the Clif Wallace Big Band.

We are so deeply thankful to our amazing audience—we couldn't have asked for a better community to share this season with. Let’s bring this incredible season to a close together.

First Monday Jazz- Clif Wallace Big Band | Monday, September 14
*Attendees may start setting up their spots starting at 6:00pm. The program begins at 7:00pm.
*We encourage bringing your blanket or a low-profile lawn chair to relax in the front seating on the grass.
*For APL events on the Arts Lawn, restrooms are available inside the Green Line Performing Arts Center.

09/09/2026

Today is the day to lock in your weekend. This Saturday’s panel, Vulnerability as Legacy, is loaded with industry powerhouses. Get to know the lineup below, then grab a spot for you and a friend.

is a writer, editor, and Chicago Tribune music critic dedicated to the underground and the avant-garde. From The Cut and Pitchfork to the New York Times, Britt’s award-winning journalism captures the heartbeat of modern culture.

is a Chicago-born selector, sonic historian, and keeper of the dancefloor. From her residency at Smartbar to building bridges between Chicago and Detroit's musical legacies via the I-94 Legacy Project, her raw, pulse-driven sets cut straight to the soul.

A master of her craft and a powerhouse for representation, sn't just a house music icon—she's a history maker. From breaking barriers as Lollapalooza’s first Black female DJ to steering the industry via the Recording Academy’s Board of Governors, she continues to set the bar for electronic music worldwide.

South Side Chicago's creates mesmerizing sonic dreamscapes that channel ancestral wisdom into the future. Powered by her dynamic, multi-ranged alto voice, her sound is an immersive experience you have to feel live.

Chicago-born DJ and performance artist building bridges across electronic subcultures. Having moved rooms across Smartbar, Smoke & Mirrors, Podlasie Club, and Miyagi Records, their sets are a dynamic fusion of bass, raw sampling, and total genre fluidity.

Vulnerability as Legacy
Saturday, September 12 | 6:00PM-9:00PM
Green Line Performing Arts Center | 329 East Garfield Boulevard

09/08/2026

It's the first full week of September and we have some exciting things happening on the Arts Block! Join us on the Arts Lawn and come hang out on Saturday evening for some inspiring discussion and music. Learn more below and register via the link in our bio.

September 9 | Sunset Yoga
September 12 | Vulnerability as Legacy

Address

301 E Garfield Boulevard
Chicago, IL
60637

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	12pm - 5pm

Website

https://artsandpubliclife.org/

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