The Chicago Park District provides Arts & Culture Programs for all ages. Our experienced instructors and committed community partners offer guidance and open studios for a variety of mediums and skill levels. In addition, the Park District partners with renowned local arts organizations for programs, special events, and performances. At Chicago Park District Cultural Centers, you can find cultural programming including classes in art, music, dance and more; exciting events and unique cultural spaces. These facilities are located in neighborhoods throughout the city, making it easy to expand your cultural horizons. As part of the Culture in My Neighborhood initiative, a $40 million capital investment will be made to the City’s network of 15 cultural centers, upgrading their theater, music, dance, and visual art presentation capabilities. 
 

Programs

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Dance
Class offerings include: African; Ballet; Competitive Dance Team; Hip Hop; Line Dance; Modern; Music and Movement; Steppers; Tap; Dance Camp; and additional specialty dance classes offered through Arts Partners in Residence and local artists.

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Music
Class offerings include: Band; Choir; Drumming; Guitar; Jazz Band; Moms, Pops & Tots Music; Musical Arts; Music and Movement; Piano; Show Choir; Violin; and additional specialty music classes offered through Arts Partners in Residence and local artists.

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Theater & Performing Arts
Class offerings include: Acting; Children’s Theater; Circus Arts; Creative Writing; Improvisation; Literary Arts; Musical Theater; Play Production; and additional specialty theater, performance, and literary classes offered through Arts Partners in Residence and local artists.

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Visual & Media Arts
Class offerings include: Arts and Crafts; Ceramics; Drawing; Family Arts and Crafts;  Film;  Lapidary; Open Studio; Painting; Photography; Printmaking;  Sculpture; Sewing; Textiles; Wood Craft; Upholstery; and additional specialty visual and media art classes offered through Arts Partners in Residence and local artists.

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Specialized Arts Camps, Classes & Workshops

The Chicago Park District provides specialized summer and winter arts camps, classes, and workshops in parks throughout Chicago.

Specialized Offerings
Class offerings include: Art Camp; Dance Camp; Music Camp; Musical Theater Camp; Theater Camp, and additional specialty classes, camps, and workshops offered through Arts Partners in Residence and local artists.

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Young Cultural Stewards
Young Cultural Stewards works with youth ages 0-22 through multimedia production and cultural organizing across Chicago’s 77 community areas. Cultivating our next generation of cultural stewards, YCS fosters lifelong civic engagement through creative play, democratic participation, 21st century skill building, and leadership development. Core programs include TRACE (Teens Re-Imagining Art, Community, and Environment), Inferno Mobile Recording & Media, YCS Fellowship, and ArtSeed Mobile Creative Play. 
Learn more.
 

 



Cultural & Arts Facilities




Connecting Artist and Cultural Workers to Parks

  

The Chicago Park District’s Arts & Culture Unit (ACU) envisions parks and cultural centers as vital spaces that encourage all Chicagoans to explore the arts and their power to enhance quality of life, neighborhood development, and community dialogue. In a cultural resources portfolio including arts partnerships, community arts programming, and youth arts programs for all ages, ACU strives to increase and maintain quality cultural offerings and experiences for all Chicago's communities.