Former School in Chicago Reopens as Vibrant Arts Incubator
The shuttered St. Laurence Catholic Elementary School at 1353 E. 72nd St. in Chicago has reopened as the Land School, an arts incubator aimed at fostering creativity and community engagement. This transformation was celebrated on September 14, 2025, with an event that drew local artists, residents, and officials, marking a significant milestone in the revitalization of the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood.
The initiative is spearheaded by artist and community leader Theaster Gates, whose work through the Rebuild Foundation focuses on revitalizing neglected spaces while emphasizing the importance of arts and culture. Gates has been instrumental in transforming abandoned buildings into vibrant community resources, including the Dorchester Art+Housing Collaborative. The Land School represents the continuation of this vision, offering a space for artistic expression and collaboration.
During the opening ceremony, Gates rang a bell that once hung in the now-demolished St. Laurence Church, symbolizing a bridge between the past and the future. “Know that whatever has happened here has happened because of a collective will and the collective desire to see artistic practices flourish,” he stated, highlighting the collaborative effort that has brought the Land School to life.
Kori Coleman, founder and artistic director of D-Composed, a chamber music collective dedicated to living Black composers, also spoke at the event. With tears in her eyes, she recounted how the Rebuild Foundation has supported her nonprofit since its inception in 2017. Coleman announced that D-Composed would be a creative partner at the Land School, further solidifying the space as a hub for artistic development.
The project received significant funding, including a $2.5 million grant from the city’s Neighborhood Opportunity Fund, part of a broader commitment to invest in local neighborhoods. Ciere Boatright, commissioner of the city’s Department of Planning and Development, emphasized the importance of equitable resource distribution. “Just as bullish as we are providing resources downtown, we want to be just as bullish providing resources to our neighborhoods,” she affirmed.
The opening of the Land School featured a full day of performances, showcasing local talent such as DJ Duane Powell and the ensemble D-Composed. Guests toured the 40,000-square-foot building, which had been closed since 2002, and participated in various artistic activities, including pottery demonstrations and music performances.
Former students of St. Laurence, including Melody Waller and Talatha Haskins, expressed their joy at the school’s reopening. “This has been a dream come true,” Waller said, reminiscing about her time at the school. “We were nurtured here, for sure. We were loved,” Haskins added, reflecting on the community’s deep connection to the space.
The Land School aims to serve as a platform for local artists while also fostering community involvement. Gates encourages community members to engage with the space and share their stories. “Come to the community, listen to what we have to say, listen to what we want, what we desire, what we dream about,” he urged, advocating for a development model that prioritizes local voices.
Gates emphasized that the joy of projects like the Land School lies not merely in their completion but in the ongoing collaboration with the community to strengthen cultural ties. “If we all do our job, we will have fewer and fewer complaints about the things that are lacking in our neighborhoods,” he stated.
With the Land School now open, the Greater Grand Crossing community has a renewed opportunity for artistic expression and cultural enrichment, promising to inspire future generations.
