The 21st annual “Tour of Arts & Industry” celebrates the creative hub and community of Ravenswood.
- Saturday, September 16, 11am to 6pm
- Sunday, September 17, 11am to 6pm
The Ravenswood ArtWalk (RAW) Tour of Arts and Industry is a weekend-long celebration of our local creative community. Stretching from Lawrence south to Irving Park along Ravenswood Ave, RAW features: open studios and galleries, pop-up performances and activations, and an outdoor arts market featuring 60+ local makers, two stages of live music, a pop-up beer garden, kids activities, food trucks, and more.
Since 2001, RAW has showcased our neighborhood’s vibrant arts community. This signature neighborhood festival provides a unique opportunity to visit working artist studios and manufacturing businesses while exploring the architectural history of the Ravenswood Industrial Corridor.
The Ravenswood ArtWalk is proudly presented by the Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce, Ravenswood Community Council, SSA #31, Thresholds, Lillstreet Art Center, Garrett Realty, and Luckyprints.
RAW Directory and Map
There’s a lot to see and do at the Ravenswood ArtWalk. Enjoy a weekend of exploration and wonder as we showcase this bustling hub of creative industry.
What to See
Preview the artists, manufacturers, and makers in our new RAW artist + venue listing directory.
Where to Go
Check out our RAW arts tour map and plan your Ravenswood ArtWalk trip.
Getting Here
The “Tour of Arts & Industry” runs along Ravenswood Ave, parallel to the CTA Brown line and accessible by the UP-N Metra Line at Ravenswood. Ample bike parking is available throughout the corridor and free car parking is plentiful on Ravenswood Ave.
The Ravenswood ArtWalk is proudly presented by the Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce, Ravenswood Community Council, SSA #31, Thresholds, Lillstreet Art Center, Garrett Realty, and Luckyprints.
2023 RAW Outdoor Arts Market & Beer Garden
Enter the RAW Outdoor Arts Market at Ravenswood and Berteau to shop 60+ artists while enjoying two stages of incredible musicians, live painting, kids activities from BitSpace Chicago, food truck fare, and cold craft beer from Begyle Brewing! Proceeds from all non-alcoholic beverage sales support the Friendship Center Food Pantry (501c3).
Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce Stage
Saturday 9/16
- 5:00 PM – Of Wondrous Legends (O.W.L.)
- 3:45 PM – Rami Gabriel Jazz Trio w/ Joe Policastro & Quinn Kirchner
- 2:30 PM – Angela James
- 1:15 PM – A Flor de Piel
- 12:00 PM – The ABC Trio
- 11:00 AM – The Parsnip Factory
Sunday 9/17
- 5:00 PM – Olive Avenue
- 3:45 PM – Lawrence Tome
- 2:30 PM – Lydia Cash
- 1:15 PM – The Circus Dogs
- 12:00 PM – Honey Cellar
- 11:00 AM – The Millers
WATCH: Check out this short film on YouTube about the long, strange journey of Chicago psych-rock pioneers Of Wondrous Legends! They return for their 4th performance at RAW at 5 PM on Saturday 9/16/23.
Rendezvous Arts Stage
Saturday 9/16
- 4:00 PM – Fareed Haque and Goran Ivanovich
- 1:30 PM – Lake Effect Clarinet Quartet
- 11:00 AM – Christian Dillingham Trio
Sunday 9/17
- 4:00 PM – The World Beat Trio w/ percussionists Brandon Podjasek, Tina Laughlin and Jeff Handley
- 1:30 PM – Emi Tanabe & Gabriel Dactu Apasionado Duo
- 11:00 AM – Katherine Hughes Trio w/ Ken Haebich and Kent Wehman
Proceeds from RAW fund small business support and community programming from the Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce (501c6), and public art and placemaking projects from the Ravenswood Community Council (501c3).
RAW Arts Tour Highlights
Thresholds Thresholds clients proudly participate in a pop-up gallery at RAW as a vital opportunity to engage with their community, show off their talents, and explore their professional identities. Read more
Ballroom College Ballroom College specializes in getting you dancing in no time, without breaking the bank! They will be hosting free, drop-in dance lessons throughout RAW weekend. Read more
SpiderMeka Portraits Live portrait photography demos with volunteer subjects, beginning at 11am each day. Read more
KOVAL Distillery KOVAL's retail store, tasting room, and patio will be open for service. Read more
Wayward Arts Wayward Arts presents ABUNDANCE - a group exhibition curated by Keith Mendak, featuring contemporary artists whose work celebrates the "eternal source of overbrimming variety." Read more
Big Teeth Productions Big Teeth is proud to bring back the "Big Teeth 60-Second Film Festival" for it's seventh screening at the Ravenswood ArtWalk. Experience the full gamut of emotions in a fun mix of live action and animated films - all in less than 15 minutes! Read more
Redline VR Redline VR is Chicago's first and best-rated virtual reality arcade and bar. During RAW weekend, Redline VR will be in festival mode hosting vendors, projection artists, guest artists including John Ross Wilson, and a new art installation devoted to Chicago's storefront theatre over the last decade! Also join them for The Yallpry on Sunday from… Read more
Lillstreet Art Center Visit Lillstreet's annual Fall Open House, complete with open artist studios, free drop-in workshops outside, and a handmade shopping experience with work from over 100 artists in their gallery on the first floor. Read more
Forteza Fitness & Martial Arts Chicago's only home to study the martial arts of the medieval knight will present demos, including handling of antique and replica swords, and short classes to show what they do. Read more
History of the Ravenswood ArtWalk
“It is our mission to generate community investment in, and public awareness of, the unique hub of creative industry that exists in Ravenswood.” – Excerpt from original mission statement, c. 2006
For 21 years (and counting), the Ravenswood ArtWalk has highlighted the vibrant arts community here in Ravenswood. Tucked within Ravenswood’s Industrial Corridor are a plethora of studios and maker spaces. The former manufacturing buildings are a home to an often unseen community of talented artists and creators. This century old district continues to be a hub of innovation, providing vital workspaces for the next generation of local artists, artisans, manufacturers, and brewers.
In 2001, Judith Roth, a local artist and active arts advocate, worked with the Jane Addams Resource Corporation to add an arts component to their existing, “Tour of Industry”. The arts tour originally included a handful of artists in three building located in Ravenswood. By 2005, a core group of volunteers had expanded “The Tour of Arts and Industry” to include over 53 Ravenswood venues and hundreds of local artists. Click here to learn more about Judith Roth and see her work.
In 2006, the volunteer group officially become a non-profit organization. The Peter Jones Gallery (closed in 2009), was host to many early RAW events including the first “Ravenswood Arts Advocate Awards,” which honored local businesses with an original, commemorative work of art. Other early activities included a poster contest to select the artwork for the annual event poster and marketing, and an editorial photography project that documented local manufacturing businesses, creative industry, and artist studios to explore the value of work and the connections between art and industry.
In 2013, the Ravenswood Community Council (RCC) absorbed Ravenswood ArtWalk as a natural extension of its community-driven work. In 2015, the RCC established the Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce (GRCC). Over the next several years, ArtWalk grew to include a street festival, food truck roundup, and kids activities. Since taking on the administrative and creative responsibilities, GRCC has continued to grow Ravenswood ArtWalk and champion our local artists, musicians, and makers.
