In the Spotlight
First Monday Jazz
Two Decades of Preserving History: South Side Home Movie Project at 20
Join us this summer, all the way through summer 2026, as we commemorate two decades of community-driven archiving and storytelling with the South Side Home Movie Project.
Logan Center Exhibitions and Arts + Public Life are proud to present the exhibition:
The Act of Recording is an Act of Love: The South Side Home Movie Project
This exhibition will give visitors a glimpse into its research and preservation processes while highlighting stories of joy, love, and the intimacies of everyday life through the lens of the home movies.
This year, First Monday Jazz 2025: Big Band Summer takes us on a journey back to the golden age of big band jazz in Chicago.
First Monday Jazz 2025 is co-curated by renowned Chicago musician and band leader Theophilus Reed. Together, APL invites audiences to celebrate this incredible history and the lasting impact of big band jazz in Chicago. Theo’s dynamic curation brings the spirit of the big band era to life, filling the Arts Lawn with bold, brassy sounds under the summer sky in Washington Park.
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Arts + Public Life (APL) at the University of Chicago is a neighborhood platform for arts and culture in Washington Park. Grounded in cultural stewardship and community partnership, APL provides residencies for local artists and creative entrepreneurs, arts education for youth, and artist-led programming and exhibitions. Launched in 2011, APL is part of UChicago Arts in the Division of the Arts & Humanities.
Events and Programs
Make Your Reservation Today!
Check out the new APL event calendar to learn more about upcoming exhibitions, events, and programs at APL’s venues on the Arts Block, including the Arts Incubator, Green Line Performing Arts Center, L1 Retail Store, and the Arts Lawn.
All of our venues, Arts Incubator, Green Line Performing Arts Center, L1 Retail Store, and Arts Lawn, are wheelchair accessible. If you need additional accommodation in order to participate in our programs, you can include a note when you RSVP or contact us for assistance at artsandpubliclife@uchicago.edu.
Arts + Public Life events are free and open to the public.
A Dynamic Hub of Exploration, Expression, and Exchange
Arts + Public Life fosters neighborhood vibrancy through the arts on the South Side of Chicago.
Artist Residencies
Arts Education
Exhibitions
Creative Entrepreneurship
Programs + Events
Cultural Stewardship
We can’t wait to see you on the Arts Block
A creative corridor in the heart of Washington Park, the Arts Block is a vibrant collection of cultural and commercial spaces on historic Garfield Boulevard. The Arts Incubator, Green Line Performing Arts Center, L1 Retail Store, and Arts Lawn are operated and managed by Arts + Public Life.
The Arts Lawn
335-347 E. Garfield Boulevard
Green Line Performing Arts Center
329 E Garfield Boulevard
L1 Creative Business Accelerator + Retail Store
319 E Garfield Boulevard
Arts Incubator
301 E Garfield Boulevard
SUPPORT SOUTH SIDE ARTISTS
Arts + Public Life (APL) thrives thanks to supporters who help foster the vibrant creativity happening every day on the Arts Block. Learn more about how you can be a part of sustaining a rich ecosystem of South Side artists, youth, and entrepreneurs.