NESTLED IN THE HEART OF CHICAGO’S RAVENSWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD is a bustling arts center known as Lillstreet, where creatives of all ages have come to learn pottery, painting, jewelry, textiles and more since 1975. A year ago, the center opened the doors to its nearby 2,000-square-foot Loft, where it houses the innovative Ignite Program that offers arts-based team-building for groups. Choices range from half-day packages to full-day retreats with special add-ons that make your event custom and, of course, creative. Here are 10 facts you might not know about the property and its programs:
1. The first Lillstreet Art Center was housed in a converted horse barn on Lill Avenue in Lincoln Park. In 2003, it relocated to a former gear factory in Ravenswood with converted space for more than 20 classrooms.
2. Lillstreet is also home to ArtReach, a sister organization that provides arts education to underserved communities in Chicago.
3. Lillstreet hosts a number of private events each year, some of the most popular being birthday and bachelorette parties, fundraising events and even kids’ celebrations.
4. Lillstreet’s Ignite team-building program has welcomed clients including H&M, Razorfish, Kimpton Hotels and Wrigley Co., among others.
5. Ignite is held in the Lillstreet Loft, which offers 11-foot ceilings, top-of-the-line A/V, a kitchenette, artist-designed tables (no linens needed!) and a variety of seating options.
6. Groups can choose from metalworking, painting and drawing, photography, ceramics, collaborative murals, public speaking or create a custom experience.
7. Another team-building activity offered is a collaborative tile mosaic that lets each person in your group create a clay tile with unique patterns, textures and colors that come together in a mosaic you can hang in your office.
8. Add-ons to the Ignite packages include catering packages for breakfast, lunch, dinner or happy hour; on-site wine tastings from local vendors; and classes such as yoga and meditation.
9. First Slice, a nonprofit committed to providing healthy food to the homeless and needy, is a catering option for planners that use the space.
10. Some of the skills gained from the Ignite experience include resourceful problem solving, leadership and presentation abilities, communication and collaboration strategies and work-life balance.
