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Bronzeville
South Side Sanctuary
4702 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
Cultural/community
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Saturday
10 AM - 5 PM
Sunday
10 AM - 5 PM
DETAILS:
South Side Sanctuary was designed for community joy. This 13,000 square foot outdoor cultural campus at 47th Street and King Drive transforms a lot that sat vacant for over 30 years into a vibrant space for healing, creativity, and connection. For decades, neighbors carved walking paths through the empty lot. Today, those same paths are reimagined and lined with art walls, open-air classrooms, native gardens, performance space, and sensory landscaping that honors the quiet history of movement through space. The site features a public stage, pollinator-filled living fences, free community Wi-Fi, and flexible outdoor seating. Built through a partnership between the City of Chicago, nonprofit IAYV, and local funders, the Sanctuary is a people-first, transit-oriented landmark. Weekly programs include farmers markets, youth showcases, wellness classes, and live art activations. South Side Sanctuary is a living example of community resilience, Black cultural legacy, and the belief that public space should feel like home.
VISITOR EXPERIENCE:
Visitors will have a self-guided, station-by-station outdoor experience across the full site. There will be optional guided tours, and staff and volunteers will be available for Q&A and storytelling. Other special OHC activities include: - Art vs. Architecture outdoor exhibition curated by AmberRaa Smith. - Live talks and pop-up critiques with emerging artists and architecture students. - Hands-on sketching, model building, and sensory mapping workshops for all ages. - A community art wall inviting visitors to share their “what if” designs for Chicago’s future. - Bronzeville information sessions highlighting the neighborhood’s cultural heritage, legacy, and current revitalization efforts.
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