South Side Sanctuary turned a neglected lot into a community-serving green space with arts and culture, recreation, and entrepreneurship, earning the 2025 MacArthur Creative Places Award. The Award, presented annually through the LISC Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards, recognizes projects that harness arts and culture to drive social impact and strengthen local communities.
Located in Chicago’s historic Bronzeville neighborhood, the Sanctuary hosts arts and culture events, business development sessions, farmers markets, and more, all organized to meet the neighborhood’s needs. Its goal is to create a welcoming third space to foster wellbeing and connection, decrease violence, create economic opportunity, and serve a multigenerational community.
