Location: Illinois

This nonprofit provides hundreds of free GED books, crafting books, and more to prisons in Illinois and beyond.

The city’s population isn’t wildly huge, but the things inside are. Meet the man creating dozens of colossal sculptures for neighbors and beyond.

In Chicago and Minneapolis, these sign painters continue the precise, customized, and fun (their words!) tradition.

Archeophone Records is an archive of an almost-lost era of American music history—carefully restored and shared with the world from one couple's home in Illinois.

These 'secret river shows' are a floating, grassroots musician network atop the once-heavily polluted waterway.

The numbers are in: six Midwestern cities just made the list of the country’s most culturally dynamic communities.

Dr. Tierney Brosius, a professor of biology, believes art can impact science communication. From handmade wares to murals, she’s exploring creative ways to build curiosity around insects.

Photographer Asa Featherstone, IV reflects on his instant film photo series—started as a way to meet people during an artist residency—and how it became a celebration of everyday stories.

Pinball’s never looked this good. Meet the Midwestern artists reshaping an arcade classic with bold, hand-drawn illustrations.

“Art thrift stores” across the Midwest put their he(art)s into saving, selling, and repurposing would-be trash into creative treasure.