Water Tower Arts District

The Water Tower Arts District (WTAD) is a coalition of cultural organizations, within walking distance of the historic Chicago Water Tower, that brings synergy to the group’s creative efforts, strengthens the cultural vigor of the community, and encourages citizens and visitors to enjoy and explore the multitude of diverse cultural opportunities in the District.

Inspired by the resilience of the Chicago Water Tower—built in 1869 and one of the only buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire of 1871—the Water Tower Arts District extends the legacy of the area which thrived in the early twentieth century as Towertown, an epicenter of the arts.