Black Arts-Making and Placemaking
An ethnographic study of the Rebuild Foundation on the South Side of Chicago
This brief looks at how an organization’s creative efforts and revitalization of physical spaces support cultural resilience and economic development
May 2026
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Ideas In Practice
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- Publisher(s)
- The Wallace Foundation
Page Count
2 pages
Summary
How we did this
Over a year, the researcher utilized observations of work at the Rebuild Foundation, document analysis and archival research, and stakeholder interviews to explore the evolution of the organization.
Founded in 2010, the Rebuild Foundation supports artists and the well-being of communities by providing free arts programing, residencies, and other cultural opportunities on Chicago’s South Side. The organization incorporates art, urban planning, architecture, and entrepreneurship to create “place” as a powerful and communal vehicle for cultural affirmation, historical preservation, social activism, economic development, community regeneration, and Black excellence. Through their research, Nazanin Ghaffari, Ph.D., explores how arts-making and placemaking strategies have been vital to Rebuild’s evolution from a grassroots startup to a globally recognized institution.
The study outlines how Rebuild uses the arts to drive meaningful and lasting change in urban communities, and points to opportunities for funders and policymakers to support work that elevates local artists and community members.
This brief is based on a study by Nazanin Ghaffari, Ph.D., of State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
Rebuild’s case shows the potential of the arts to drive meaningful and lasting change in urban communities.
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