Opened in 2000, Arts of Life was the first program in Chicago to provide employment in the arts for adults with developmental disabilities. The studio serves as both an community day program and creative epicenter for its artists. Our program expanded to the North with the opening of our Glenview Studio in 2010 and In-Home and Community Programs in 2021. In 2024, we launched a new satellite studio in Woodlawn’s First Presbyterian Church, further increasing our accessibility to artists living on Chicago’s South Side. Funded partly by the Department of Human Services, Arts of Life is proudly supported by The Coleman Foundation; National Endowment for the Arts; the MacArthur Fund for Culture, Equity, and the Arts; Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events; and the Illinois Arts Council and depends on fundraising efforts to sustain its program. OUR VISION is a rich creative arts community where artists with intellectual & developmental disabilities participate through leadership and collaboration. OUR MISSION The Arts of Life advances the creative arts community by providing artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities a collective space to expand their practice and strengthen their leadership. OUR VALUES • Inspiring Artistic Expression: The Arts of Life’s model uses art facilitation to support creative decision-making and experimentation, increasing the artists’ self-confidence. • Building Community: Our primary purpose is supporting each other as professional artists in creating a thriving art community based on cooperative decision-making and mutual respect. • Promoting Self-Respect: The Arts of Life encourages its members to accept themselves for who they are and develop a better understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. • Developing Independence: Through their artwork, and as members of the community, the artists gain a sense of inner freedom, enabling them to take risks and trust their own judgment.