Culture Coast Chicago is a collection of artistically vibrant neighborhoods on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Known for its high concentration of museums, music and theater ensembles, performance venues, cultural nonprofits, and arts education opportunities, the region spans from just south of McCormick Place to the South Shore Cultural Center and is bordered by Lake Michigan to the east and the Dan Ryan Expressway to the west. Hyde Park is the heart of the Culture Coast, with neighboring Bronzeville and Woodlawn adding to the region's diverse cultural offerings. It is home to the Museum of Science and Industry, the Western hemisphere's largest science museum, and the Hyde Park Art Center, the city's oldest alternative exhibition space. Other key institutions include the DuSable Museum of African American History, the country's first museum dedicated to the study of African American history; and the University of Chicago, which houses the Oriental Institute, the David and Alfred Smart Museum of Art, and the Renaissance Society. The university hosts numerous visiting artists, performances, and lectures. The region is also home to several independent bookstores and community arts initiatives. The Culture Coast's artistic heritage includes creative icons such as playwright Lorraine Hansberry, novelist Saul Bellow, and jazz pioneer Herbie Hancock. The lakefront area has evolved into an eclectic architectural landscape since the mid-1800s, featuring Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie-style homes, the Hyde Park-Kenwood Historic District, and the University of Chicago's Collegiate Gothic quadrangles and modern constructions, such as the Joe and Rika Mansueto Library and the . Since the 2008 election of former Kenwood resident Barack Obama as President, the Culture Coast has experienced renewed tourist interest. It is also a key focus of Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel's 2012 Chicago Cultural Plan, which calls for increased capital infrastructure for the "Museum Campus South" area surrounding the Museum of Science and Industry and the DuSable Museum. (en)
Culture Coast Chicago is a collection of artistically vibrant neighborhoods on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Known for its high concentration of museums, music and theater ensembles, performance venues, cultural nonprofits, and arts education opportunities, the region spans from just south of McCormick Place to the South Shore Cultural Center and is bordered by Lake Michigan to the east and the Dan Ryan Expressway to the west. (en)