South Side Artists in Sacred Spaces

South Side Artists in Sacred Spaces connects Southside artists with local sacred places that have room and amenities to share. This activates under-utilized space within sacred places and gives artists access to low-cost space to create and exhibit their art.

The initial cohort of the South Side Artists in Sacred Spaces program occurred in 2023 - 2024. It was a partnership between Arts Alliance Illinois, Partners for Sacred Places and Bustling Spaces and was fully funded by a grant from the City of Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events' (DCASE) Chicago Arts Recovery Program.

The program :

• Connected 17 congregations with available space and address the need for additional ongoing revenue to over 40 artists and arts organizations seeking affordable, accessible space for rehearsals, performances, classes, administrative tasks, and other programming.

• Provided participating congregations that complete the training program with mid-size capital grants to improve accessibility and make their spaces better suited for the arts.

• Provided participating artists and arts organizations that complete the training program with rental assistance.

• Provided training for artists, arts organizations, and congregations to develop mission-aligned, mutually beneficial, and sustainable space-sharing partnerships

• Created a model that can be expanded to other neighborhoods across the city.

In 2025, thanks to a generous grant from the Dreihaus Foundation, the SSASS program awarded over $35,000 in artist microgrants to SSASS artists for arts and cultural activations as SSASS congregrations.

Check out our SSASS Congregations 2023 Map: An interactive map of the congregations that are participating in the South Side Artists in Sacred Spaces program.

Check out the SSASS Artist Microgrant recipients

Inquiries about South Side Artists in Sacred Spaces can be sent to us at info@bustlingspaces.com.

Photo credit: Partners for Sacred Places.