🍂🎨 Fall into Second Fridays @ Fine Arts Building! 🍁🏛️✨

🍂🎨 Fall into Second Fridays @ Fine Arts Building! 🍁🏛️✨

Second Fridays at the Fine Arts Building + Thanksgiving Celebration!

We haven’t done this in a while — so let’s go back! Join us for Second Fridays / Artist Open House at the legendary Fine Arts Building, one of Chicago’s most beloved creative landmarks.

Doors open at 5:00 PM, but we’ll meet at 6:00 PM to catch a little bit of everything across all 10 floors.

🍁 A Night of Art, History & Chicago Creativity! 🎨✨

📅 Event Details

🗓 Friday, November 13, 2026
⏰ 6:00–9:00 PM
📍 Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago
🎟️ FREE event, but registration is requested.
👉 Register and select Friday, 11/13/26:
https://ticketing.fineartsbuilding.com/event/76575/?date=2026-11
OR
https://www.fineartsbuilding.com/events/second-fridays/

🎨 Second Fridays: Open Studios (5:00–9:00 PM)

Enjoy a free open studios night with participating tenants throughout the building, which may include:

2nd Floor Art Gallery (featuring artist Don Yang)
Performers Music
Ann Pickett Studio & Gallery
Portrait artist Lou Ann Burkhardt
Chicago Human Rhythm Project
Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival
Exile in Bookville
Jazz Institute of Chicago
Illustrator & editorial cartoonist Richard Laurent
Liederstube
Monsieur Pamplemousse custom jewelry by Alex Agudo
Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Opera Theater
Patrice Olsen Fine Art
Ossia Musical Forum
Oak Street Design
Press Here Studio

Explore all 10 floors of working studios, galleries, and performance spaces in this 127-year-old landmark.

Since 1898, the Fine Arts Building has been a haven for artists of all kinds — home to pioneers like Harriet Monroe (Poetry magazine), Frank Lloyd Wright, Lorado Taft, William W. Denslow (Wizard of Oz), and the Chicago Little Theatre.

Today, it continues to buzz with painters, musicians, dancers, puppeteers, photographers, writers, and more.

🕰️ History + Architecture Highlights

Self-guided walking tour of 40+ historic studios
Windows Into History exhibits (5th floor)
Photo exhibit highlighting the Studebaker Theater's legacy
Original architectural details throughout the building

🏛️ Chicago's Artist Haven Since 1898! The Fine Arts Building is home to painters, musicians, sculptors, yoga studios, puppeteers, therapists, coaches, designers, and craftspeople — all under one historic roof.
It also houses two performance venues: Studebaker Theater and Carriage Hall.

🎭 Studebaker Theater

The Studebaker Theater is a stunning showcase for the performing arts. From its origins as a vaudeville house to its years as a cinema complex — and through multiple reconstructions and restorations — it has long been home to some of Chicago's premier productions.
🔗 Fine Arts Building Website:
https://www.fineartsbuilding.com/
🔗 Studebaker Theater:
https://www.fineartsbuilding.com/studebaker/

🏛️ What You'll See

Open artist studios on all 10 floors
Original manually operated elevators
Late-19th-century Art Nouveau murals
Windows Into History exhibits (5th floor)
Self-guided walking tour of 40+ historic studios
Photo exhibit highlighting the Studebaker Theater

Participating tenants may include galleries, musicians, illustrators, bookshops, puppet theater, youth orchestras, jewelry designers, opera and jazz organizations, and more.

🚇 Getting There

Public Transit: CTA-friendly location. Use Google Maps or the CTA Trip Planner to plan your trip.
https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/
Driving: Downtown parking can be tricky. Consider SpotHero or ParkWhiz for nearby garages.
🚗 SpotHero: https://spothero.com/
🚗 ParkWhiz: https://parkwhiz.com/

⚠️ NO-SHOW POLICY (PLEASE READ)

3 no-shows without updating RSVP = 3-month event freeze
RSVP cut-off = event start time
If running late, message the host directly
Failure to check in counts as a no-show

🍁✨ Celebrate the holiday season surrounded by art, history, music, and Chicago creativity! This is one of those magical, roam-at-your-own-pace nights you won't want to miss! 🎨🏛️