Elevating culture near transit

Coming to a station near you: Culture-driven visual, interactive, and performance art.

We’re partnering with Elevated Chicago and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to expand the Elevating Culture Near Transit initiative with three new creative placekeeping projects beginning this spring. 

Event times and locations will be posted below and updated throughout the year.

What is a placekeeping project?

These placekeeping projects will help transform transit spaces into vibrant community hubs and destinations, which helps set the stage for deeper investment in neighborhoods throughout Chicago. These projects represent the power of arts and culture to strengthen community identity, amplify local voices, and create vibrant, safe, and welcoming spaces near transit.

Why is this important?

CTA is part of the fabric of our neighborhoods and this historic partnership reflects how CTA is leading the way in creating  welcoming transit spaces by leveraging arts and the culture of the surrounding communities, paving the way for opportunities at the regional level. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to supporting arts and culture projects across Chicago’s transit corridors.

Program details

Mandala South Asian Performing Arts — Red Line Jazz Project

Six CTA rail stations—between the Howard Terminal on the North Side and 95th/Dan Ryan on the South Side— will be activated through free, live jazz performances; illustrated storytelling posters; and a digital archive capturing local histories and oral traditions. This project builds on a successful 2024 pilot through the Regional Transit Authority’s (RTA’s) Transit Station Activations project.

Endeleo Institute — 95th Street ETOD Placekeeping Project: A Catalyst for Renaissance

Created in collaboration with a broad network of community partners, artists, residents and local youth, this project will co-create and document the history and narratives of neighborhoods along the 95^th Street including Lilydale and West Chesterfield. Stories shared will be transformed into a series of public-facing cultural assets, including murals, signage, visual illustrations, and digital content, culminating in a large cultural event along the 95th Street corridor. This effort is aligned with the CTA & DPD 95th Street Equitable Transit-Oriented Development Plan adopted by the Chicago Plan Commission in February 2025.

McKinley Park Development Council — 35th/Archer Street Corridor Visual Identity

This initiative will develop a cohesive visual identity and activation strategy along the 35th Street corridor, using arts and culture to strengthen the neighborhood’s sense of place. Located within an Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (ETOD) zone around the 35th/Archer Orange Line station, the project will enhance visibility, connectivity, and community pride along this key commercial district.