Art teaches my kids to trust themselves, to problem-solve, and to discover who they are before the world tells them who they need to be.
—Marwen Parent
Letter from the Executive Director
Letter uploading
Akilah Halley
Executive Director
Marwen Stories
Since 1987, Marwen has been a place where young people discover what they can make—and who they can become. Art is at the center, but it’s only the beginning; there’s also practice, skill-building, encouragement, curiosity, and room to grow! You can see nearly 40 years of Marwen’s joy and community reflected in the numbers below.
Testimonials & Video
At Marwen, my children feel seen, supported, and encouraged to explore who they are. I can see the difference: they’re more confident, more curious, and they talk about their work in ways that connects creativity to real life.”
—Marwen Parent
“My Marwen experience inspired my future goals of using art as a way to express myself and find calm during stressful moments.”
—Marwen Student
At Marwen, I discovered my voice as an artist. I’m now majoring in Art Direction in Advertising and will graduate in 2026.
—Marwen Alum
I absolutely loved my Artward Bound trip and will remember it for the rest of forever.
—Marwen Student
I have a better understanding of how the future might look...About schools, brand building, money management, and finding jobs that make me happy.
—Marwen Student
Marwen students are great! I can tell they love being here.
—Teaching Artist
MISSION
Marwen educates and inspires young people to nurture their growth and build their futures through art and community.
I MADE ART...AND I MADE FRIENDS!
Marwen Student
Holiday 2019 video highlighting our mission at work—young people sculpting, painting, drawing, and more.
Paintbrush Ball 2022 video featuring students speaking to how Marwen has influenced their life.
Marwen student, Eric, takes over our feed in 2020 to share a day in his life of art making.
2025 Highlights
Over the arc of the pandemic, Marwen faced unprecedented challenges. Like many others, we had to daily redesign and reimagine our work in order to best serve our young people and families—all while staying on mission under financial stress. Yet, we are here. Resilient and committed to the future. The information below presents highlights from 2019-2022 and how Marwen has persevered.
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ACCESS & OPPORTUNITY
• Summer enrollment increased by50%.
• Number of courses grew by 19%.
• Exhibitions welcomed more than 1000 attendees.
• Artward Bound returned as an immersive residency with STEAM integration (art, nature, climate justice, & environmental focus) and exposure beyond Chicago.
• Student support deepened, with more one-on-one engagement, stronger skill-building, and exhibitions that reflected young people’s lived experiences.
• A completely new website was launched—friendlier, easier to navigate, and filled with the quietly extraordinary stories found in our studios.
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CONTINUITY & LEADERSHIP
• Marwen’s Emerging Teaching Artist (META) program is now a leadership pipeline. This year, 30% of META’s advanced to Teaching Artist roles and nearly one-third are alumni—proof that Marwen is cultivating its own creative workforce from within.
• Families relaunched the Family Advisory Board, bringing new insights of young people’s experiences.
• The Alumni ReConnect event brought former students together to reminisce, network, and volunteer at Resource Fair, workshops, the Associate Board, & more.
• Our Executive Board hosted a series of “friendraising” events aimed at expanding our audience, growing support, and sharing Marwen with a new generation.
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SAFETY & WELCOME
We’ve always worked to ensure that students feel welcome, but especially in this time of uncertainty, as families carried real worry, safety became paramount. This year, Marwen:
• Implemented clear ICE protocols.
• Held staff trainings to protect young people and themselves.
• Offered remote learning classes when needed.
• Improved tracking of student concerns.
We are prepared and attentive, so that young people can exhale, commit to their art, to friendships, and to being present. Our strong foundation matters.
Nurturing the Future
From the way we steward donations to the solar panels on our roof, Marwen is dedicated to a sustainable future. We have a civic soul and are committed to Chicago—but most of all, we’re committed to the young people and families we serve. The numbers below add precision to how we make our work happen, who's involved in our story, and what Marwen offers.
Celebrating our 40th Anniversary in 2027
Welcoming more students into our studios.
Reaching out to additional schools and communities across the city.
Increasing studio capacity to meet demand.
Expanding Artward Bound to include two residencies: one at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin studios in Wisconsin and one at his Fallingwater studios in Pennsylvania.
Growing commission and other paid opportunities for high school students.
Broadening use of our CYD toolkits to deepen design, evaluation, and equity.
Formalizing alumni leadership pathways.
Marwen Studios & Spaces
Once a printing facility, Marwen’s building was renovated in 2015 to provide young people with inspiring, professionally equipped studios unmatched in Chicago. Ten light-filled studios plus additional flex spaces, family areas, and exhibition galleries are spread over three floors for individuals to use as they explore their creative powers.
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Technology
STUDIO ONE
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Technology 3D Printing
STUDIO TWO
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Technology
STUDIO THREE
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Painting and Drawing
STUDIO FOUR
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Multimedia
STUDIO FIVE
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Ceramics
STUDIO SIX
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Print Media
STUDIO SEVEN
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Fashion & Fiber
STUDIO EIGHT
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Portfolio Resources
LAB ONE
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Photo and Lighting
LAB TWO
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Exhibition Gallery
FIRST FLOOR
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Lounge & Gallery Area
FIRST FLOOR
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Marwen Exterior
NEAR CTA TRAIN AND BUS LINES
From 2019–2022, Marwen provided nearly 2700 young people with high-quality visual arts courses as well as college planning and career counseling sessions. Because of you, all of this is offered at no cost to the individuals and families we serve. Thank you. We’re so grateful for your support and belief in our work.
List of donors 2019–2022
Supporting Marwen
