Philosophy: Progressive Culture and Social Action

NNWAC was founded to share the power of creativity to build healthy, viable communities. Just as streets and sewers need infrastructure, so does the cultural life of a neighborhood. We join locally, nationally and internationally to exchange stories strategies and creative work:

Chicago is in the top twenty of world economies yet lacks a public policy about art space. Twenty three years ago artists, social activists and cultural workers founded the Near NorthWest Arts Council (NNWAC). It's original purpose remains viable today: to create a new context for art activities that integrates programs with consensus planning and grass roots investment; not to serve as pawns to advance gentrification.

The Chicago Cultural Plan commissioned by Mayor Harold Washington in 1985 engaged 10,000 people in dialogue and suggested 20 policies for arts space, but none were implemented. Arts activities are vital in the production of human capital, and yet Artists need strategic partnerships to access to resources that encourage grass roots investment.

During the 90's decade, NNWAC managed the Flat Iron Gallery providing a center of activity for exhibits, theater events, workshops for youth and innovative arts directed festivals like Fact the Street. NNWAC hosted international exchanges with Germany, Israel, Ecuador, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and initiated cooperative promotion activities for an emerging arts district

NNWAC is the non-profit developer of the Acme Artists Community, which demonstrates a pragmatic community building model, offering cost effective homeownership for families with modest incomes. NNWAC provides the research, advocacy and management of a professional development team. Acme residents participate in the design, planning and consensus decision process. Furthermore, provisions for limited equity protects future affordability.

NNWAC's newest project is the adaptive reuse of St Paul's as a cultural center. NNWAC is working to promote, present and offer lab space for theater, music, film, literary and visual arts, which integrates a sustainable, international community with creative work and art making activities in an active, vital Wicker Park arts district. The new program and venue space was built in 1890 by Norwegian immigrants, the space reflects old world craftsmanship, stunning stained glass, and large open space with beautiful acoustics. The alternative space hosts collective exhibits, concerts, workshops and live performance for audiences from 10 to 300.