Rebuild Foundation
Artists and WritersIllinois, United States11-50 Employees
Rebuild Foundation is a Chicago-based nonprofit focused on art, cultural development, and neighborhood transformation. Founded in 2010 by artist Theaster Gates, the organization supports creative communities through grants, classes, residencies, access to its collections, and free public programming, while hosting initiatives that explore Black creativity at local, national, and international scales. The foundation operates a network of sites on the South Side of Chicago, including the Stony Island Arts Bank, Dorchester Art + Housing Collaborative, Kenwood Gardens, and an upcoming arts incubator in a former school building, reflecting its commitment to preserving and reactivating Black spaces and objects. Its work targets artists, writers, and cultural stakeholders, providing opportunities and infrastructure to develop and present work, integrate design and housing with artistic practice, and engage the public in accessible cultural programming. The organization situates itself within the arts and cultural development sector, emphasizing community impact, historic preservation, and space-based initiatives as a means to strengthen creative ecosystems. A recent development includes leadership appointments within The Land School, highlighting ongoing capacity-building within the foundation’s programs.