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THE HARBOR: A NEW CREATIVE SANCTUARY ON CHICAGO’S SOUTH SIDE

**Coming to the Michigan Avenue Corridor near the Red Line Extension**

The Harbor represents a bold reimagining of what an artist community can be. Planned for Chicago’s South Side, this innovative development will transform vacant land into a thriving creative ecosystem where artists live, work, and connect with their community in ways that have never been possible in Chicago before.

At the heart of The Harbor stands a concept both practical and poetic: actual boats converted into artist residencies. These carefully renovated vessels—sailboats, cabin cruisers, and houseboats ranging from twenty-five to thirty-five feet—will serve as private living quarters perched atop purpose-built studio spaces. Each two-story unit provides artists with dedicated workspace below and intimate living quarters above, creating a live-work environment that eliminates the compromises most artists face when choosing between affordable housing and adequate studio space. The boats themselves, stripped of their engines but retaining their maritime character, will rest on engineered foundations that blend industrial functionality with the aesthetic of a landlocked harbor.

The residency program will welcome artists working across all disciplines for stays ranging from several weeks to multiple months. Applications will prioritize Chicago-based and South Side artists, with particular attention to emerging practitioners and those from historically underrepresented communities. The sliding scale fee structure acknowledges the financial realities of artistic practice, while a work-trade option allows residents to reduce costs by contributing to Harbor programming, maintenance, or community workshops. This model ensures that financial constraints need not prevent serious artists from accessing professional-grade facilities and a supportive creative community.

Beyond the boat residencies, The Harbor will feature extensive community programming designed to serve both resident artists and South Side neighbors. Summer will bring weekly outdoor concerts, regular markets showcasing local vendors and makers, and film screenings under the stars. A performance stage and flexible event spaces will host everything from paint-and-sip gatherings to youth workshops to art fairs. Educational programming will include partnerships with Chicago Public Schools for field trips, after-school classes for neighborhood youth, and workshops open to artists and community members at accessible price points. The development embraces a phased approach, with initial components launching ahead of the full vision, allowing the project to grow organically in response to community needs and artist interest.

The landscape itself tells a story. Native prairie grasses will replace traditional landscaping, creating golden waves that shift with the seasons and provide habitat for urban wildlife. Wooden walkways will wind between residency units and gathering spaces, evoking the maritime aesthetic while making the grounds accessible to all visitors. Rain gardens will manage stormwater while adding ecological value, and shade structures will provide respite during Chicago summers. This is not merely decorative—the prairie integration reflects a commitment to environmental stewardship and educational programming around native ecosystems.

The Harbor will also include a renovated main building serving as October Coast Art Studios headquarters, with retail operations offering art supplies at competitive prices, gallery space for rotating exhibitions, commercial darkroom services for the photography community, and Brandon Marquette Williams’ personal studios for his multidisciplinary practice. This anchors the development with year-round operations and provides resident artists with immediate access to professional resources without leaving the campus.

For artists considering whether to join The Harbor or continue pursuing independent studio arrangements, the value proposition is straightforward. The combined cost of adequate studio space, separate living quarters, and access to specialized equipment typically exceeds what most emerging and mid-career artists can sustain long-term. The Harbor eliminates this calculus by bundling live-work space, community, equipment access, exhibition opportunities, and programming support into a single affordable structure. More importantly, it removes the isolation that plagues many studio practices. Resident artists will be surrounded by peers, embedded in active community programming, and supported by infrastructure designed specifically for creative work rather than adapted from residential or light industrial spaces that were never intended for art-making.

Development is currently in the planning and community engagement phase. The specific site location within the Michigan Avenue corridor and near the proposed Red Line extension is being finalized in consultation with community stakeholders and city officials. Construction timelines and occupancy dates will be announced as permitting progresses and phasing plans are confirmed. Those interested in artist residencies, vendor opportunities, community partnerships, or general updates are encouraged to join the mailing list through the contact page. Following October Coast Art on Instagram will provide behind-the-scenes glimpses of the planning process, design development, and community conversations as The Harbor takes shape.

The project operates from a fundamental belief that art thrives when artists have both sanctuary and community—when they can retreat into focused work while remaining connected to the energy and accountability of peers and neighbors. The Harbor aims to prove this model can work sustainably in Chicago, creating a template that might eventually expand to additional South Side locations. This is not a gallery with occasional programming or a studio building with shared hallways. This is a complete creative ecosystem designed from the ground up to support serious artistic practice while serving the broader community.

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**FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS**

**Where exactly will The Harbor be located?**

The Harbor is planned for Chicago’s South Side along the Michigan Avenue corridor, specifically in the Roseland neighborhood near the proposed Red Line extension. The exact address will be announced as site acquisition finalizes and community engagement continues. Proximity to public transit and adequate parking for visitors and residents are key selection criteria.

**When will The Harbor open?**

The project is currently in planning and community engagement phases, with phasing allowing different components to launch as they are completed. Timeline announcements will be shared through the mailing list and social media as permitting and construction schedules are confirmed. Those interested in early occupancy should submit residency interest forms to receive priority notification when applications officially open.

**How much will artist residencies cost?**

Residency fees will use a sliding scale model based on artist income and career stage, ensuring accessibility across a range of financial situations. A work-trade option will be available for those who wish to reduce costs by contributing to Harbor operations, programming, or maintenance. Specific pricing will be announced when applications open, but affordability remains a core commitment—The Harbor exists to support working artists, not to extract maximum rents from a constrained market.

**Who can apply for residencies?**

The Harbor welcomes artists working in all disciplines and media. Applications will prioritize Chicago-based artists, South Side residents, BIPOC artists, and emerging practitioners, though the program is open to artists nationally and internationally. Residency terms will range from several months to multiple years depending on artist needs and program availability. Application details and selection criteria will be published when the formal application process launches.

**What is October Coast Art?**

October Coast Art is the studio practice and business entity of Brandon Marquette Williams, the artist and founder behind The Harbor project. Williams works across photography, screenprinting, painting, stained glass, woodworking, and sculpture, with particular focus on Black fatherhood, identity, and community. The October Coast Art Studios main building at The Harbor will serve as his primary workspace while also functioning as retail operations, gallery space, and community programming headquarters. More information about Williams and his work can be found on the About page.

**How can the community get involved?**

Community involvement opportunities will include attending events and programming, participating in workshops and classes, volunteering for specific projects, serving on advisory committees, and partnering with The Harbor for educational or cultural initiatives. Local youth employment and training positions will be available as operations scale. Those interested in staying informed about involvement opportunities should join the mailing list or follow on Instagram for announcements.

**Is The Harbor a nonprofit?**

The governance structure is being finalized with legal and community input, likely involving a hybrid model that balances mission-driven programming with operational flexibility. Regardless of final structure, The Harbor is committed to community benefit, accessible pricing, and reinvestment of revenues into expanded programming and artist support. Formal details will be shared as organizational development progresses.

**Can I visit The Harbor before it opens?**

As site preparation and construction advance, The Harbor will host community open houses, design review sessions, and construction progress tours. These events will be announced through the mailing list and social media channels. Following the project on Instagram provides the most frequent updates on development milestones and opportunities to engage with the planning process.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​