The nonprofit SkyART, which provides free arts programming to young people on Chicago’s South and West sides, aims to reduce its waitlist through a recently announced expansion of its South Side studio space. A $2.5 million grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity covers infrastructure costs for SkyART to add an additional 2,000 square feet of studio and art therapy space at its flagship location in South Chicago, according to a news release. The planned expansion comes as SkyART gears up to host a free community block party on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. for the organization’s 25th anniversary. The celebration will be held at SkyART West, 3450 W. Lake St., which opened last year in Garfield Park. Free tickets are available here. Ahead of the upcoming celebration and planned expansion, Executive Director Devon VanHouten-Maldonado reflected on the organization's programming and its role in supporting young people on the South and West sides amid ongoing funding and fundraising difficulties for arts organizations in the city.
Some backstory: The organization’s programming, beyond teaching technical art skills, aims to teach young people how to think like an artist, according to VanHouten-Maldonado. These skills — being able to experiment, adapt and try new things — can help build self-esteem and help young people become creative leaders in the future, he said. “Where we choose to invest in young people is ultimately what’s gonna become our reality,” VanHouten-Maldonado said. “If we’re not preserving, maintaining and building young people’s creativity, their social emotional learning, their emotional intelligence, they’re gonna lose those things, and we already see those things being dramatically threatened by social media, and now, AI.” SkyART provides free art programs and creative therapies for young people ages 7 to 24.
Programs offered include an after-school social emotional learning program for ages 7 to 13; an open studio program for teens; and an art therapy program. The organization also partners with schools and community organizations. Last year, the organization served more than 1,000 young people.
Through the expansion of its South Side studio space located at 3026 E. 91st St. — which currently sees high demand for its programs — the organization aims to serve even more young people. In the spring, the organization had a waitlist of 80 people for its programs, VanHouten-Maldonado said. It's expected to open in 2028.
