OPEN Center for the Arts

05/08/2026

Join the OPEN Film crew and work under the illustrious Margaret Byrne.

Our Film Crew is lucky to learn from a filmmaker who truly cares about her students and their stories. This summer, she’s guiding a new group of young creatives as they build skills, find their voice, and tell stories from their community.

Apply to join us and work with Margaret: https://bit.ly/OPENChicagoWorks2026

05/06/2026

What can you expect from a summer with the OPEN Film Crew?

Last year’s participants built their creativity and found new ways to express themselves through film. This summer, you can do the same.

Join OPEN Center for the Arts through Chicago Youth Works and get paid to explore urban storytelling while capturing stories from Lawndale.

Work with teaching artists, learn documentary filmmaking, and be part of a team creating something meaningful.

Schedule: Tuesday to Saturday, 20 hours per week
Pay: $15 per hour
Apply by May 10, 2026

Apply here: https://bit.ly/OPENChicagoWorks2026

Join the OPEN Film Crew. Learn, create, and make an impact through film.


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04/29/2026

At our last Artecito, the game was on!

Participants explored the animal kingdom and discovered the classifications that help us understand what makes animals different—and what they share in common. Then, OPEN artists led two game-inspired art activities that helped participants reinforce what they learned while letting their creativity shine.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and made it another spectacular Artecito!

04/23/2026

What story will you tell when you're behind the camera?

Join OPEN Center for the Arts’ Chicago Youth Works team and get paid to explore Urban Storytelling and capture the stories of LAWNDALE!

Schedule: Tuesday – Saturday | 20 hrs/week
Pay: $15/hour
Apply by: May 10, 2026

Apply at: https://bit.ly/OPENChicagoWorks2026

Join the OPEN Film Crew. Learn, create, and make an impact through film.

04/01/2026

It was a beautiful day for an Artecito!

We learned about seals, got to roam the space with flippers to navigate the world as they do, and made two different sculptural art pieces inspired by them and their habitat.

Thank you to our friends at CIBC US for hosting us in their Little Village Branch community room.

03/18/2026

We had an incredible time screening “Negra” by Medhin Tewolde Serrano at OPEN Center for the Arts in collaboration with the Consulado General de México en Chicago.

"Negra” is a powerful documentary exploring the experiences of Afro-descendant women in Mexico.

We were honored to welcome the Consulate’s team, who shared Afro-Mexican dishes with our community, as well as the presence of Ambassador Reyna Torres Mendívil.

The evening concluded with an open conversation as part of the Consulate’s “Black & Brown” series, featuring artists Carina Yepez and Leslé Honoré, with panel support from OPEN team member Clara Byczkowski. We were also grateful to display a selection of Carina’s work in our space.

01/27/2026

Thank you to everyone who confronted the frigid weather this Saturday in Chicago to come make art with us and our friends at Lincoln Park Zoo.

We learned about Ocelots, and turned that knowledge into awesome sculptures. The cherry on top was the outpouring of love that went into writing letters to Quico, where our Artecito families reflected on their feelings about nature and how we can support the animals around us.

01/16/2026

The 2026 Rosca was truly one for the books! Our mega rosca was once again larger than life, and we’re so grateful for the incredible outpouring of love and joy from everyone who attended.

10/08/2025

We welcomed fall by having so much fun on a warm October Saturday! 🍂🎨 At Windy City Harvest , participants got their pumpkin painting on with the OPEN team and enjoyed cartoon drawing with Alejandro Rosado! Big thanks to all the participants and the wonderful team at Farm on Ogden for such a beautiful day

10/04/2025

Check out this awesome spotlight on our videographer Christian Aguilar on the Robert R. McCormick Foundation website!

Aspiring filmmaker Christian Aguilar, 25, is fascinated with the creative ways artists can tell stories. OPEN Center for the Arts in Little Village is helping to make his goal of becoming a professional filmmaker possible. He shared his plans to attend film school with executive director J. Omar Mag...

10/01/2025

The Artecito crew had the best time at CC’s Little Village Boys & Girls Club, learning about Rhinos and creating art inspired by the newfound knowledge!