The National Museum of Mexican Art has received a $1 million grant to help its conversion of an old Chicago fire station into a youth arts center, the museum announced Tuesday.
The money, from the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, will be used to turn a decommissioned Little Village firehouse into a community arts center available for use by up to 300 teens and young adults as part of the museum’s ongoing Yollocalli Art Reach initiative.
The firehouse at 2358 S. Whipple St. is Yollocalli’s second Little Village location. The museum is located in the Pilsen neighborhood.
“Yollocalli provides youth leadership and workforce development centered around the arts and grounded in youth voice,” José Ochoa, president and CEO of the museum, said in a statement. “It is an honor to receive this grant from the McCormick Foundation to expand Yollocalli and help young people discover, grow and expand their perceptions of what is possible.”
Work on the new arts center has already begun, and the total cost is estimated at about $4 million, according to the museum. The new venue is expected to open in August 2025.
“We are pleased to partner with the Museum to support young people in Little Village,” Timothy P. Knight, the McCormick Foundation’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “The new Yollocalli center will create exciting opportunities for youth to explore their interests, nurture creative talents, and become confident leaders. The McCormick Foundation continues to invest in community centers, such as Yollocalli, to provide safe and enriching environments for youth and families.”