Floating Museum Opened New Arts Center in South Shore

The nonprofit converted a former car wash at 1701 E. 75th St. into a new creative facility for Chicago artists.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Dance

Bold vector editorial illustration of a converted industrial brick building with large bay doors, depicting a new community arts center. — Floating Museum has debuted Practice Space, a multi-purpose arts center and production hub located in a converted former car wash in Chicago's South Shore. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Floating Museum has officially debuted Practice Space, a multi-purpose arts center housed within a redeveloped car wash in the South Shore neighborhood. The facility provides local creatives with dedicated production studios, technical equipment, and resources for career development.

Why it matters

The center fills a critical need for local production space and professional training, serving as a hub for both artistic creation and workforce development. It offers a permanent home for the collective after years of planning and fundraising.

Floating Museum spent 3 years fundraising to transform the 1701 E. 75th St. property into a production center. The site now offers specialized tools including silk-screening equipment and CNC machines for artists.

The players

Floating Museum

This arts collective acts as an incubator for creative projects and served as the artistic directors for the 2023 Chicago Architecture Biennial.

Practice Space

This is the name of the new arts nonprofit facility established by the Floating Museum collective in Chicago.

The details

The facility is designed to support a wide range of artistic disciplines through studio space, technology, and storage capabilities. It will serve as the host site for the Burroughs Residency and is equipped to facilitate future professional workforce development programs.

Floating Museum was founded in 2015.
The collective led the Chicago Architecture Biennial in 2023.
Work on the Burroughs Residency began in 2024.
The collective held a celebratory dinner for supporters on Thursday, September 24, 2026.

Industry Dynamics

The transition from temporary exhibition curation at the 2023 Chicago Architecture Biennial to permanent facility management reflects a strategic maturation of the arts collective. This move mirrors a broader trend where artist-run organizations secure long-term physical infrastructure to anchor their community impact.

Artists in the area can now utilize advanced tools like silk-screening equipment and CNC machines housed within the new center. The facility also provides expanded opportunities for creators to participate in residency programs and professional workshops.

The takeaway

The transformation of a former industrial space into an arts hub demonstrates how nonprofits can reclaim urban infrastructure to support neighborhood creatives. Local artists should monitor the collective for updates on the rollout of welding and fabrication services.