Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced the designation of new cultural districts across the city. The selection is part of the state-designated Cultural Districts Program established in 2023. Having announced ten as a whole across the state, six of these are within Chicago representing multiple cultures who have long called the city home.
Image of announcement ceremony via The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture
The Cultural Districts Program aims to uplift the unique contributions of historic cultural districts with the overarching goal of increasing economic development opportunities, via grants and exposure. The program also hopes to help fund long-needed repairs to buildings and business as well as promote additional investments, while preserving the historical and cultural significance of the areas, many of which have faced gentrification.
Paseo Boricua Gateway Flags – Courtesy Commission on Chicago Landmarks
The newly designated districts, and their leading organizations include:
- Bronzeville District – City of Chicago
- Clark Street/Camino Clark – DevCorp North dba Rogers Park Alliance
- Mahalia Jackson 79th Street Cultural District – Greater Chatham Initiative
- Little Village – Little Village Community Foundation Corp
- Puerto Rico Town – Puerto Rican Cultural Center
- South Chicago Cultural District – SkyART NFP
Image of announcement ceremony via The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture
The announcement was made at the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture in Humboldt Park, which recently received an order to demolish their unpermitted rear building after a multi-year legal battle. Some districts like Puerto Rico Town, which contains part of Paseo Boricua, were recently designated by their alderman with the city though causing tension with locals.
Monument to The Great Migration (left) and Victory Monument (right) in Bronzeville via Illinois Tech Magazine
Three districts were also selected downstate, with two in Springfield and one in Champaign. Five additional downstate districts are to be selected for next year’s program as well, once that occurs all of the districts will be able to apply for $3 million in funding each. The funding will be tailored to fit the needs of each individual district and support the programs set forth by their governing body.
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These people are amazing, they’ll find anything to do but to address issues every resident of Chicago faces.. streets conditions, non existing road lines markings all over the city.. potholes, public transportation.. but who cares, let’s talk about renaming another road instead and fixing statues 🤦🏻♂️
Hey Max, so the funding they apply for isn’t directly for statues or road names. It should go to various projects including restoring historical buildings and infrastructure.
Show me you didn’t read the article by not telling me you didn’t read the article.
Not even one mention of street rebranding.
TF with all you people waking up and choosing violence every day?
Personally I love the idea of targeted funding being given to cultural districts to increase commerce, beautification, branding, and community. These areas have the goods already in the cool people who live there, it would be great to give a boost and get more people out of the Loop and into our unique neighborhoods more often. Would love to see us create more neighborhoods that rival the vibe of NYC and SF’s Chinatowns.
Why wouldn’t Chinatown be included? That’s arguably the top district in the entire state.
Probably cause it’s growing rapidly and is doing just fine. I still think it should be included