peoples housing community arts program

“How Do the Arts Build Communities?”The Community Arts Program at Peoples Housing 1993-1995

tom@tresser.comwww.tresser.com

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 2

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 3

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 4

Primary service area

CHICAGO BORDER

“NORTH OF HOWARD”

COMMUNITY

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 5

Primary service area

Total African-America

n

White Latino

6,309 48.4% 23.5%

27.1%

1990 demographics of Census Tract 101 – North of Howard neighborhood

Median household income was $18,617 (just 60% of Chicago median)

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 6

Community development corporation Non-profit Founded 1979 Mission: “To create in east Rogers Park a hospitable community, where every person’s full potential is realized and basic human needs are met.” Program: “Peoples Housing carries out it mission through a three-pronged program of resident controlled, low-income housing, community organizing and cultural development.”

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 7

1. Development, rehabbing & management of multi-unit apartment buildings

Peoples Housing developed and managed 21 properties, with 600

families.

Primary services

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 8

Peoples Housing’s development projects

totaled over $22,000,000!

Primary services

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 9

Located on Howard Street,

in heart of our neighborhood

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 10

BUILT IN 1918 – CLOSED FOR 20

YEARS!

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 11

We took a grassroots, creative and fun

approach to building awareness, attracting talent

and getting stuff…

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 12

No budget – no history? No problem…• Sat in front of theater w. model• Visited community organizations• Signs asking for collaboration• Built stage in lobby up against glass

doors

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 13

How to get chairs to fill up the newly opened

Howard Theater Lobby Space?

OVER 100 CHAIRS DONATED IN ONE

DAY!

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 14

We followed the “Community Capacity” model of community development articulated by Dr. John Kretzmann & Dr. John McKnight of Northwestern University.

http://www.abcdinstitute.org

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 15

The Community Capacity Model is an asset-based approach:- each community is rich with wide range of

“assets” -- things, people, talents, places and associations

- these things are already in place- they need to be recognized, cataloged and

thought of as being capable of being used for empowerment and enrichment.

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 16

SAMPLE COMMUNITY ASSET MAP

From: “A Community Building Workbook,” 2005, Northwestern ABCD

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 17

We did a grassroots survey to see what neighborhood folks wanted in a community cultural center and what they thought they could do there…

• Drafted and refined 2-page community survey

• Trained and deployed teams of interviewers• Conducted over 1,050 interviews throughout

neighborhood

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 18

RESULTS• Marketing & programming feedback + got the

word out• Unearthed community talent• Surfaced potential volunteers & leaders• Surfaced potential teachers, vendors, producers

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 19

Here’s what blossomed…

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 20

• April 1993 to Dec 1995• Staff of 7• Budget of $225,000• Serving approx. 12,000 community

residents/year• Stories in local papers, radio, magazines

& TV

Source of funds:• Chicago Community Trust• MacArthur Foundation• City of Chicago CityArts

Program• Illinois Arts Council• Local Initiatives Support

Corp.

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 21

Lobby Theater• Open Mic • Festivals• Special events• Meetings

Upstairs Space• Dances• Rentals• Classes

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 22

First floor of our HQ office bldg.

On the street

Nearby vacant lot

Spaces came to life!

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 23

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 24

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 25

START SMALL, FIND WHAT WORKS AND BUILD…

• Started as one-time event

• Monthly, then weekly

Talent Show

Cable TV

Record album

Writing class

NewspaperServed as “point-of-entry” gateway

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 26

FESTIVALS

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 27

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 28

Class leads to tile making/installati

oncrew, becomes a co-op business

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 29

Drum class students form performance

ensemble for paying gigs

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 30

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 31

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 32

FIND ARTIIST

AGREE ON PROJECT OR

CLASS

PH provided space,

marketing, $ for supplies,

coaching

TRIAL RUN OF PROJECT

EXPAND, INCREASE

MARKETING, ADD

SESSIONS

PILOT MICRO-

ENTERPRISEUnsuccessful - discontinue Successful – not appropriate for

enterprise

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 33

CAP Operating Principles…

• Start where the people are.• Seduce, recruit local artists. • Leverage mastery of space. • Make the path by walking it. • Listen, learn and lead. • Iteration, quick start, use seed funds.

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 34

THEN and NOW

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 35

THEN and NOW

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 36

Malik Yusef was part of the Howard Street Community Arts Program, with 2 tracks on “The Best of Howard Street.”

including “Hollywood Jerome” later made into HBO film.

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 37

Did you watch

Def Poetry Jam?

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 38

2013 Nominee for Best

Rap Song “Mercy”

2012 Winner for Best Rap Collaboratio

n,Best Rap

Album, Best Rap Song for “All Of The

Lights”

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 39

ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION

* HOW CAN THE ARTS FOSTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT?

1. ARTS PROGRAMS CONTRIBUTE TO PUBLIC SAFETY, TRUST, CIVIC

COHESION2. DOING ART BUILDS MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES

AND DEVELOPS COLLABORATIVE AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS

3. ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMS OFFER RICH

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING FOR THE

CREATIVE ECONOMY

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 40

ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION

* DOES THE ARTIST HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL TO OFFER?

1. ARTISTS BRING NEW WAYS OF THINKING AND DOING

2. ARTISTS PRACTICE COLLABORATION

AND TEAM BUILDING3. ARTISTS CREATE SOMETHING FROM

NOTHING AND HAVE VISION TO PRODUCE BEAUTY WHERE NONE IS

OBVIOUS“Imagination precedes implementation.”

"How Do the Arts Build Communities?" 41

312-804-3230

tom@tresser.com

www.tresser.com

“THE ARTS SAVES LIVES AND BUILDS COMMUNITIES”