By Raheeq Yimam and Eddie Valenzuela
@redlineproject
The South Side Community Art Center may not look like much right now.
With construction fencing and signs surrounding this Bronzeville historic landmark, visitors are redirected to the art center’s website through a QR code on the banner strung up on the fences.
But behind the fences, a huge project is about to take place.
The South Side Community Art Center, the oldest Black art center in the country, is about to undergo a $15 million renovation and expansion project — along $3 million in operating expenses — that its leaders say will take the center to a new level of service to the neighborhood and community.
“It’s a big project,” Executive Director Monique Brinkman-Hill said. “The building is over a hundred years old…We’ve been in this space for 85 years.”
A Center Built from Community
The center opened its doors in 1940 as part of the Works Progress Administration, a New Deal program that aimed to combat unemployment during the Great Depression.
In 1940, the Federal Art Project helped Chicago establish the arts center for African American artists, something completely new to the country at the time.
“It was one of about a hundred centers built under the Roosevelt administration,” Brinkman-Hill said. “And 85 years later, we remain open in our original location following our original mission.”
The center became a cultural hub during the Chicago Black Renaissance and supported many artists like Margaret Burroughs, Charles White, and many more.
The center is more than just a gallery. Over the years, it passed along culture, techniques, and became a beloved home for artists who felt isolated from Chicago’s mainstream art institutions.
Building the Future
SSCAC aims to preserve this rich history with its large-scale $18 million renovation and expansion project.
The project includes restoring the original 132-year-old building and upgrading its systems with state-of-the-art technology. In addition to the restoration, over 10,000 square feet of new space will be added.
This addition will allow for even bigger programming and events that previously weren’t possible due to the aging of the building.
“I’m most excited to bring back classrooms,” she said. “Because of space constraints, we weren’t able to use the basement or the third floor.”
Two new gallery spaces are planned for the space, including a reimagined Burroughs Gallery that will feature collection pieces made by the art center’s founders.
Funding the Future
Raising the money needed to make this project a reality hasn’t been easy. The center has received backing from the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Arts Council, and big arts funders like Terra Foundation and Mellon Foundation. Private donors have also contributed to the costs.
Even with all of the support, funding a project this large is a constant uphill climb.
“A project like this continues to grow with the expanding costs,” Brinkman-Hill said. “We’ll be raising funds until we open … and we also need operational funds to carry us for the next few years.”
With construction costs climbing through the roof due to tariffs and material shortages, SSCAC is one of many nonprofits battling the rising costs that come with renovations.
Despite the difficulties, the center is aiming for a 2027 opening, and Brinkman-Hill is optimistic that the work will pay off.
“When people come to Chicago to see the Obama Library, I hope they’ll also come to see this amazing 85-year-old institution,” he said.
Community Perspective
For many who have walked through the doors of the art center, the space has always been more than a gallery and reflective of a home.
“You don’t need to be trained in art history to recognize yourself in a painting,” Public Program and Engagement Manager Jada-Amina said. Visitors often come without formal education in art, yet they still find deep personal meaning in the work.
As someone who sees herself as a public servant, Jada-Amina views the renovation as a chance to better serve the community she’s working with.
Brandon Breaux, a featured artist that worked with the center said, “I also see the growth and development as an anchor for the community”, allowing there to be more awareness for emerging and existing artists.
“More exhibition space is not just because we wanna show art, we get to invite more people into our home,” Jada-Amina said. Expanding gathering areas will allow more than just art opportunities, it lets more people share the space together.
Looking ahead, the renovation is expected to reshape how the South Side Community Art Center serves its longtime members. Since the center has been in the neighborhood for more than eight decades, many of its visitors are elderly.
“Some of the patrons are in their 90s, in their 80s and continue to show support,” Jada-Amina said.
It’s a vulnerable population, Jada-Amina said, that currently isn’t being accommodated with the old building.
One of the most anticipated changes is disability access. Jada-Amina emphasized that accessibility is essential to ensuring everyone feels welcomed.
“Elevators are huge. These are things we just did not have,” said Jada-Amina, noting that this will finally allow everyone to have access to the building fully, from the main space to the previously unused upstairs.
Honoring the Past, Building What Comes Next
“The South Side Community Art Center’s renovation marks a turning point in its history, not simply because there are new walls or spaces added but because the project unlocks the ability for the center to grow alongside the community that has sustained it for 85 years,” Brandon said. “SSCAC was founded by Black artists to support black artists and their creativity, I think it still stands in that role.”
Said Jada-Amina, “By investing in the space, the space will certainly invest in you.”
The center has poured decades of history, mentorship and creativity into its community and when people show up and contribute to its support, they receive it in return.
The expansion is more than physical. It’s a step toward broadening who can participate, who it’s accessible to, and who can see themselves reflected in the work the SSCAC makes possible.
As Jada-Amina puts it, “The building is just the beginning”.
To learn more about SSCAC and support its aspirations to serve Bronzeville and beyond, visit its website.