Graceland West Community Association, GWCA, is pleased to welcome Access Contemporary Music, ACM, to the neighborhood at 4116 N Clark. This will be their newest class and performance space.
Seth Boustead, ACM Executive Director, let us know that ACM received their building permits the week before last and began construction on Monday, December 2nd at the Clark and Southport site previously rented to 7eleven. They hope to do a soft open in July with a grand opening in September.
From their website:
ACM turns 20 this year! Over the last twenty years we’ve commissioned hundreds of composers, taught musical creativity to thousands of students in our storefront music schools, produced hundreds of concerts throughout Chicago and beyond, created a nationally syndicated PBS series featuring newly commissioned music inspired by architecture and produced innovative programs like the Thirsty Ears Festival, Sound of Silent Film, Composer Alive and Meditative Mondays.
Their interior space will be all new and include four teaching rooms and seating for performances. ACM is now offering sign-up for summer lessons in piano and voice at this location through their website.
Boustead was one of over 400 applicants who applied for Chicago’s Community Development Fund grant, and one of just 40 total grant recipients city-wide. ACM is now fundraising for staffing, programming, construction costs not covered by the grant, and hopefully a small cash reserve to ensure that they are sustainable. Here is a link to their fundraising page, fundraiser.
