MSRN Organization Of The Month: OPEN Center for the Arts

1. What is the name of your organization, and where is it located?

OPEN Center for the Arts. 2214 S Sacramento Ave, Chicago, IL.

2. Could you provide a brief overview of your organization and its mission?

OPEN Center for the Arts is a non-profit Arts & Culture Organization serving North Lawndale and South Lawndale. Founded in 2014, OPEN is committed to making art accessible through community events, exhibitions, workshops, and public art featuring local, national, and international artists. The mission of OPEN Center for the Arts is to provide a space where all can come together to share, showcase, and refine their artistic talents while connecting their growth to the community.

3. What services does your organization offer? 

In addition to accessible arts programming, OPEN offers a range of services for individuals and organizations. We provide space rentals for community meetings, film screenings, board presentations, and co-working. We also design customized workshops, team-building retreats, and affinity group gatherings centered around art and tailored to organizational needs. Additionally, we offer mural, sculpture, and creative curation consultation, helping beautify spaces while connecting clients with renowned local artists.

4. How did you learn about the Marshall Square Resource Network, and what motivated you to get involved?

As a community-minded organization, our work is guided by the needs of our neighbors. As an arts organization founded in 2014, our connection to the Marshall Square Resource Network began early on. Shortly after OPEN was established, Omar approached Luis to ask who we should be building relationships with in the area, and he pointed us to MSRN. At the time, the network was small, but it opened the door to connections with organizations we hadn’t engaged with before. Through those early meetings, we were inspired by the strong sense of collaboration, resource-sharing, and collective commitment to improving the community. That spirit helped shape the direction OPEN would grow in. As we continued to show up and collaborate, many partners were surprised to learn that an arts organization, and a physical arts space, existed in Marshall Square, which created new opportunities for connection and visibility. We’ve had the opportunity to grow alongside the network, and as MSRN has expanded and developed committees, Omar has remained actively involved, currently serving as Co-Chair of the Peace Committee. We love being a part of such a vibrant community and working alongside the incredible people who continue to show up to this work in Marshall Square.

5. What are your organization’s social media handles?

Learn more at our website: opencenterforthearts.org. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook: @opencenterforthearts

6.  What is the best way to contact your organization?

Email us at info@opencenterforthearts.org or visit our gallery at 2214 S Sacramento Ave, Tuesday through Friday from 10am–4pm, and Saturday from 9am–12pm.