Logan Square Arts Foundation Launches to Expand Year-Round, Community-Driven Arts Programming

Created by the team behind I AM LOGAN SQUARE, the foundation will support local artists and activate public spaces with performances, exhibitions, and workshops throughout the community.

CHICAGO — March 31, 2025 — The Logan Square Arts Foundation (LSAF), formerly I AM LOGAN SQUARE, has rebranded to expand its community-based arts programming in Logan Square. With this new identity, LSAF will integrate music, education, and cultural experiences within neighborhood spaces. Building on the legacy of the Logan Square Arts Festival, LSAF will now create a year-round platform for creative engagement.

Founded in 2009, I AM LOGAN SQUARE is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to supporting the arts, celebrating the neighborhood, and bringing people together. Over the past 15 years, more than 1,500 volunteers have helped build one of Chicago’s most beloved community festivals. In that time, the organization has raised nearly $90,000 for neighborhood nonprofits like Logan Square Preservation, The Trash People of Logan Square, and other neighborhood groups.

FROM FESTIVAL TO FOUNDATION

The Logan Square Arts Foundation envisions a community where cultural opportunities are part of daily life, not limited to a single weekend or central location. While the Logan Square Arts Festival will not take its traditional form this summer, it will return in 2026 as a cornerstone of Logan Square Arts Foundation’s expanded cultural calendar.

This transition reflects the evolution from a volunteer-led festival to a year-round platform for community arts. The Logan Square Arts Foundation is led by a dedicated team of board officers and directors who continue to guide the organization into its next chapter.

Board officers include Geary Yonker (president), Heather Egland (treasurer), and Charlie Ockerlund (secretary). Together, they oversee the foundation’s strategic direction and financial health.

Directors Esam Hani, Sam Lewis, and Billy Helmkamp support this leadership team. They bring their expertise and passion for the community to strengthen the foundation’s mission and expand its programming.

"Logan Square Arts Foundation builds on everything we’ve worked toward since 2009. Moving beyond a single weekend, we’re creating more opportunities for neighbors to engage with the arts throughout the year and in the spaces they already live, work, and gather."
- Geary Yonker, board president of I AM LOGAN SQUARE and the Logan Square Arts Foundation

2025 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

The Logan Square Arts Foundation will introduce a season-long calendar of events to expand access and inclusion and spotlight local artists. Upcoming initiatives include:

SPARK Series: A lineup of free pop-up concerts in neighborhood parks beginning in July at Kosciuszko Park. The series, which was born out of the pandemic, is designed to bring neighbors together through live music in familiar, accessible spaces, offering a chance to reconnect and enjoy the arts in the heart of the community.
Friends of Schools Initiative: A collaborative effort to raise arts and music education funds through family-friendly events, student performances, and community-driven fundraising campaigns. This initiative brings local schools and families together to ensure that all students can access creative opportunities that enrich their education and celebrate the arts within the community.
Artist Residencies and Commissions: New funding and support for neighborhood-based artists to produce public art, cultural programming, and creative experiences that reflect the identity, history, and diversity of Logan Square.

As the Logan Square Arts Foundation expands its year-round programming, it actively seeks new partnership and sponsorship opportunities. By collaborating with local businesses, organizations, and individuals, the Foundation aims to amplify its impact and ensure that arts, music, and cultural experiences remain accessible to all in the community. Whether through event sponsorship, collaborative programming, or other forms of support, the Logan Square Arts Foundation invites potential partners to help shape the future of Logan Square’s vibrant arts scene.

These efforts begin a new chapter for Logan Square’s creative community. Logan Square Arts Foundation invites residents, artists, vendors, schools, and neighborhood organizations to help shape the future of local arts programming. Whether through volunteering, attending events, or supporting fundraising efforts, everyone has a role in building a more connected, creative Logan Square.

For more information, donate, or get involved, visit LoganSquareAF.com or follow @LoganSquareAF on social media.

Festivalgoers gather at the Illinois Centennial Monument during a mainstage performance. (2017 Logan Square Arts Festival. Photo by Christopher Dilts)

The Illinois Centennial Monument towers over the crowd during Logan Square Arts Festival. (2017 Logan Square Arts Festival. Photo by Christopher Dilts)

Tunde Olaniran performs at the Logan Square Arts Festival in 2017 in Chicago. (Photo by Christopher Dilts)

Tim Kinsella performs with Joan of Arc at the Logan Square Arts Festival in 2017 in Chicago. (Photo by Christopher Dilts)

Logan Square Arts Foundation | LoganSquareAF.org

About the Logan Square Arts Foundation

The Logan Square Arts Foundation (LSAF) is a nonprofit initiative operated by I AM LOGAN SQUARE, a volunteer-powered organization founded in 2009. LSAF produces public events, education programs, and artist partnerships to create accessible, inclusive cultural experiences rooted in the Logan Square community. Since its founding, the organization has raised nearly 90,000 dollars for local nonprofits and engaged over 1,500 volunteers.

Logan Square Arts Foundation Launches to Expand Year-Round, Community-Driven Arts Programming

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