Morgan Park Academy is proud to announce the upcoming Warren and Mary Jane Crist Community Arts Center, a visionary new hub for arts education, community engagement, and creative exploration — made possible through a $1 million leadership gift by Mary Jane Crist in memory of her late husband, Warren Crist ’63.

This transformative investment ensures that the Price House, a historic 1880s home at 2124 W. 112th Street, will be preserved, revitalized, and reimagined as a multidisciplinary creative center serving MPA students, alumni, local artists, and the broader Chicago community. The school also will be exploring potential national historic site recognition for the building.

The initial phase of renovation began this fall, with the Center scheduled to open in late spring 2026.

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A New Home for Artistic Expression

The Crist Community Arts Center will provide dedicated, flexible spaces that elevate and expand MPA’s arts programming beyond traditional classroom limits. Students will have the opportunity to create, collaborate, perform, and learn in an inspiring environment designed to support interdisciplinary thinking and cultural expression.

Arts — and especially jazz music — were passions of Warren Crist, a member of Morgan Park Academy’s Class of 1963 who grew up just around the corner from the house that will soon bear his name.

“Our goal,” Mary Jane Crist said, “is for all young people to develop an advocation that compliments their vocation, carrying with them an appreciation for music and art to provide balance in their life’s journey.”

The Center will feature:

  • Outdoor Theater and Learning Space: A flexible performance area for concerts, gatherings, and hands-on workshops, including MPA’s new “Make and Take” Artist-in-Residence Program and the future Artesian Arts Festival, a community celebration of local artists, musicians, and food.
  • Artistic Garden: A curated outdoor creative space featuring student-designed sculptures, installations, and nature-based art, open for families and community members to explore during events.
  • Professional Art Galleries: Rotating exhibitions showcasing student work as well as curated shows featuring local and visiting artists, highlighting cultural heritage and encouraging artistic dialogue.
  • Warren’s Jazz Lounge: A live-music venue celebrating Warren Crist’s lifelong love of jazz and the arts, offering open mic nights, student performances, and community cultural events.
  • Upstairs Artist Studios: Affordable, rentable space for emerging and underrepresented artists, strengthening equity and supporting creative sustainability.
  • Hospitality Suites: Furnished residences to welcome visiting artists and host cultural exchange partnerships.

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Honoring a Legacy, Inspiring Future Generations

The Center’s namesakes, Warren and Mary Jane Crist, embodied a deep love for creativity, culture, and community. Their legacy will live on through this vibrant arts destination that will enrich the lives of students and residents for generations to come.

“This gift is a profound investment in our students and in the power of the arts to build community,” said Dr. Phyllis Cavallone-Jurek, Head of School. “The Crist Community Arts Center will be a home for imagination, innovation, and connection. We are deeply grateful for this extraordinary generosity.”

“It has been a privilege to work alongside Mary Jane Crist to bring her vision to life in honor of the love of the arts that she and Warren shared,” added Kristy Kotek, Vice President of Advancement & Community Relations.

“The Crists’ enduring passion will inspire creativity, connection, and joy throughout our community for generations to come. I’m especially excited about Warren’s Jazz Room, a heartfelt tribute from Mary Jane celebrating her late husband’s lifelong love of jazz.”

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A Lasting Impact

This leadership gift fully enables the preservation and renovation of the historic property, the establishment of dynamic arts programming, and the long-term sustainability of the Center.

Permanent signage at the property’s entrance and main entryway will recognize the donors’ enduring impact on arts education and the Morgan Park Academy community and beyond.

For more information about the Crist Community Arts Center, please email Kristy Kotek, our Vice President of Advancement and Community Relations.

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