A Proposal for Fenn House

Our Vision:

Our vision for the Fenn House is of a space that is filled with activity, creativity, and learning.  We are a small core group of kindred spirits, artists, educators, writers, architects, philosophers, gardeners, and builders on a project we are calling S.H.o.P.—South Side Hub of Production. Working together with After School Matters, Dilettante Studios, The Chicago Wisdom Project, Midwest Media Group, and The Op Shop, we envision a kind of Public House of local, meaningful, entrepreneurial endeavors, including classes, projects, facilities, and workshops for all ages. By exploring and implementing ideas relating to sustainability, community, and interdependence, we request your collaboration in creating something greater than our parts for the community at large.

Our focus is on skill building and sharing; development and implementation of manual competence; meaningful and effective education; and creating a dynamic and vital intergenerational social and cultural center based on and around the arts and creativity.

We will use the entire house in a way that is collaborative and interdependent.  Each group or artist will not simply rent a room, but share in a vision that incorporates arts and culture, education, and hands-on skills.  Similarly, we hope not merely to rent space from First Unitarian, but to enter into a partnership of a shared vision for this community and the world.  Through this work, we believe that we can break down barriers: between public and private spaces; among various Hyde Park groups and among various south side communities; among generations; and by linking together various creative media.  Our work is at once intensively local and expansively global.  Our partners all work in the community, but have connections around and a vision for the planet.

Our Core Members:

The Op-Shop will provide the organizational structure and manage the various groups and events in the space.  It will serve as a link between the various organizations and artists.  In addition, it will be the curator of the space, turning the house, in essence, into a single work of art. Op Shop will provide art classes and workshops, host soup salons and potlucks, and curate larger shows in vacant spaces on the south side that showcase our work inspired and produced in S.H.o.P. Op Shop will also help to create the Children's garden.

The Chicago Wisdom Project, a 501(c)(3), will bring in youth from various south side neighborhoods to engage in a holistic curriculum that integrates martial arts and meditation; intellectual and philosophical discussion that asks the student to challenge some of the basic assumptions of society; an opportunity for reflection and a rite of passage process; and creativity.  C.W.P. will have classes and workshops for adults and children available to F.U. members.

Dilettante Studios will operate a small-scale production wood-shop that will provide mentoring and apprenticeship opportunities for youth to gain in manual capacities, to learn the value of real work, and creative problem solving, combining services like furniture repair and creative re-design with hands-on training and teaching opportunities. Owner John Preus also offers his experience as a socially-engaged visual artist as programming, project management and consulting resources for the community.

The Midwest Media Group will start an internet radio program that involves the youth and brings programming such as Democracy Now! through its connections to Pacifica Radio.  There will be opportunities for collaboration with the church.

The Time Bank is a community exchange system that focuses on reciprocity, equity, valuing others as assets. Skills are shared on an equal, hour-for-hour basis.

Additional programming that would fill the entire house and be available to church members would include:

Woodshop studio hours, classes, and contract work

Meditation, martial arts, yoga classes

Game room/ curated exhibition space

Music/recording studio

Art studio space

“Creative reuse” and workshop

Acupuncture and body work

Bookstore/library – local authors, groups, readings

Sunday potluck dinners and soup salons

Various speakers, readings, art shows, and exhibitions

A place to celebrate life

Business Plan:

We are offering the possibility of a vibrant and creative community space at no cost to F.U.’s congregation.  The worst-case scenario is that the Fenn House is well-used for the next year at no cost to the church, at which time it is sold for probably more than it would bring in now.  The best-case scenario is that Fenn House becomes profitable for the long-term and helps to augment the community and mission of First Unitarian.

First year:

Rental space will provide money for utilities and basic maintenance. This will include:
An artist-in-residence
Art and music studio rentals
Space rented for events
Income generated through projects

The Church will not incur any regular expenses
We will make improvements (to be discussed in detail) on the property
Veatch Fund?

Second year:

After a year’s evaluation, we will project how much profit we can expect to make for the next year

We will seek grants in collaboration with the church and our partner 501(c)(3) organizations
By the end of the second year, there will be a clear vision for a sustainable, long-term plan

Connecting to FU’s mission:

We believe that our mission and First Unitarian’s are complementary.  The following is a short list of the ways we could help to augment the church’s mission and enhance its community:

We will work to make the house more environmentally sustainable and promote ideas and art that advocates ecological sensitivity.

We will provide interfaith and intercultural dialogue and classes for youth and adults.

Ours will be an intergenerational space where connections among young and old are fostered and encouraged.

We will provide a holistic approach to education, integrating the deep philosophical questions with hands-on, creative, and social justice work.

Our students create art that contributes to a more just, sustainable, compassionate and meaningful culture.

We will start an urban agriculture/ gardening program.

Martial Arts, healing arts, and meditation will be available for FU members.

Rites of Passage for youth

Intersection of spirituality and ecology, art, justice.

A context to guide youth through their creative process, asking them the big questions: Who am I?  What is my place in the universe?  What is my passion?

The radio station can be a forum for U.U. and F.U. programming

The Time Bank will be a resource for the community and the church, promoting an egalitarian approach to exchanging services.