About the Arts Club
Artists are change makers, and need spaces to gather and exchange ideas.
Narrow Bridge Arts Club is a dynamic hub within the Woodlawn neighborhood. By joining Narrow Bridge, people join an experiment in a carbon neutral future, transforming a historical space of worship into a community of artists and makers. Bringing together people, materials and local knowledge that translates into an abundant future, we recognize that we all already have what we need.
Looking to build upon the rich history of arts activity on the South Side, the co-making art space forgoes private studios in favor of sharing resources. Narrow Bridge Art Club is designed for a well-equipped fiber art studio, a woodshop, co-making space, dance rehearsal space, a Food-For-All garden and outdoor exhibitions on the front facade for all passersby. This all volunteer organization offers low monthly fees together with required participation in operations and governance to ensure that a circular economy activates maximum access artistic exchange and shared envisioning of this alternative model for supporting responsible art production.
This 1923 building has been a site of worship for a century, first as a synagogue, Congregation B’nai Betzalel, and since the late 1940’s a number of churches. Most recently the building was home to The Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer, whose famous choir had five top-20 singles on the gospel charts. It has thus been a space for community gathering, celebration and song for the last century. The new renovation honors this history and provides a new use that will continue to celebrate community. The Narrow Bridge Arts Club will advance and foster the production, promotion and prioritization of all forms of arts on the South Side of Chicago.
History of the Building
The opening of Narrow Bridge Arts Center marks the centennial of the building (1923-2023). The 2020 purchase of the building by Amber and Tom Ginsburg marks the start of the next phase for the building at 6028 S. Champlain. They were the bidders who were not going to tear down the building and convert the three lots into the zoning approved 23 condominiums.
The story of the building begins century earlier, when Congregation B’nai Bezalel was founded in 1904. Bezalel was the biblical artisan who built the tabernacle in the desert. In the 1920s, the Congregation merged with two other congregations; Beth Jacob and Ansche Mizrach, according to the Chicago Jewish Historical Society, and in 1923 erected the synagogue at 6028 S. Champlain.
The synagogue ultimately moved to a different building in South Shore and the space on S. Champlain became home to a many churches. Most recently the building was home to The Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer, whose famous Mighty Warriors choir had five top-20 singles on the gospel charts.
From the 1990s onward, the building fell into a state of disrepair, reflecting the divestment from the South Side of Chicago. By the 2020s, when the Ginsburgs bought the property, the City had issued a number of code violation, making it easier to demolish than to preserve. The Narrow Bridge Arts Club reflects its rich sacred history and looks ahead toward a vibrant future for the community.