The Arts and Culture program at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation funds “space-plus” initiatives that offer subsidized rental space but also serve as career-building partners for arts organizations and individual artists. Largely, these initiatives address systematic challenges of accessing arts rehearsal and performance spaces, while building a stronger and viable arts ecosystem across the city of Chicago.
Last month, the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Board and staff members were invited to visit two such space-plus facilities, Asian Improv aRts Midwest in Albany Park and The Miracle Center in Belmont Cragin. Both groups welcomed us for a guided tour of their facilities along with performances that gave us a chance to fully immerse ourselves in the art. These site visits give our Board and staff a meaningful way to experience the work we support and connect more deeply with the organizations we fund.
The group started the site visit at Asian Improv aRts Midwest (AIRMW), a self-empowered Asian American community in Chicago that builds multi-generational, multi-ethnic, and cross-cultural collaborations through presentation of contemporary Asian American arts. In 2023, its founding Director Tatsu Aoki achieved his decades-long dream of opening a facility. Today, the 5,000 square foot fully equipped dance studio, called the Artists’ Hub, provides rehearsal and performance space to partner dance organizations and individual creatives across Chicago. We were welcomed with a lovely performance and afterwards had an opportunity to be in conversation with Aoki to learn more about the challenges and successes of operating a facility. Aoki and the AIRMW staff shared the importance of having artist-centered spaces in Chicago as a critical resource for artists.
The last stop on the site visit was to The Miracle Center, a community hub operating from a 77,000 square foot church building it purchased in 2020. The Miracle Center uses the arts as a catalyst for personal growth, leadership development, and community engagement. It’s Arts and Media Incubator, housed within the building, offers free studio and residency space for artists and creatives working in all artforms. A total of 24 multipurpose rooms function as fully equipped dance studios, performance stages, film screenings space, rehearsal rooms, wood workshop, and a culinary kitchen. We met with artists who started their creative journeys at The Miracle Center and listened to a live Salsa band. The Miracle Center team walked us through the building as we saw first-hand how it operates as a breathing community hub. The experience of being in the community-centric atmosphere asserted the idea that the arts truly thrive with community buy-in, serving as a central focus to cultivating culture and creating vibrant communities.
The Foundation is grateful to Asian Improv aRts Midwest and The Miracle Center for sharing their work with us and welcoming us into their spaces. Board and staff walked away feeling inspired.
