New Facility at Lillstreet Art Center Focuses on Business

Area businesses have a new place to gain inspiration at the Lillstreet Loft, a professional development space from Lillstreet Art Center.

The Loft had a grand opening reception Thursday at the new location, 4437 N. Ravenswood Ave.

Lillstreet has been working with companies off-site for several years, Community Director Claire Hurwitz said. It was more of these requests that prompted owner Bruce Robbins to start thinking about his own space.

With no room at the current Lillstreet location, Robbins acted immediately when the former actors’ studio next to the center became available.

The Loft features several cork and dry erase boards for brainstorming and rather than teaching art techniques, workshops focus on collaborative and presentation skills.

“The idea is to have it feel like an artist’s studio,” Hurwitz said. “The furniture can all be moved around and changed.”

Even the furniture is unique, crafted by longtime student Corky Neuhaus of Moe Faux furniture.

“We’re really passionate about our mission to bring art and business together,” Hurwitz said. “We want to inspire people who work in cubicles.”

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