When a fire destroyed Maywood Fine Arts Association’s dance studio in 2010, the arts and fitness education organization was forced to move to the basement of a local church to continue providing neighborhood children and families with affordable, educational, and fun after-school and weekend activities.
But with the support of a foundation and a community-led capital campaign, the Maywood Fine Arts Association finally celebrated the grand opening last month of its new home in Maywood, IL. The 9,147-square-foot building has specialized dance floors, has studios for classes and programming, and is fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. As the owner’s representative on the project, IFF consulted on and managed construction of the $1.65 million facility.
Founded in 1979, Maywood Fine Arts serves over 3,500 children annually through outreach and classes such as tumbling, karate, and adult aerobics. It also helps to keep kids and teens out of drug activity and gang involvement through Get Off the Street & On Your Feet, a unique youth leadership training and employment program that since 2002 has sent 100 percent of its youth leaders to college. The nonprofit also hosts over 60 percent of program and class participants with scholarships and family discounts.