Who is Big Car?

• We’re invested in this neighborhood as members of

the Lafayette Square Area Coalition with our Spirit &
Place project last year at Saraga Market and as
diners in the restaurants and shoppers in the stores.
 our big idea
• Service Center — an 11,500-square-foot
center for contemporary culture and
community located on Lafayette Road
just northwest of 38th Street — presents
an amazing opportunity to bring art and
beauty to the Lafayette Square area. This
is all possible because the Lafayette
Square Mall is donating the space!
• It’s called Service Center because it was
one. And now it serves the community.
• Celebrate the wonderful diversity
of the neighborhood through art shows,
a community garden and events.
 on the outside

• Present visible and attractive sculptures and murals

integrated with the community garden and
landscaping, beautifying the front of the building.
• Create a community garden that serves the
neighborhood in many important ways.
• We’ll offer workshops on organic gardening,
native plants and wildflowers, food
preservation, composting and other
sustainable living activities.
• Our vegetable gardens will grow varieties
preferred by the many ethnic communities
in the area.
• Wildflowers and prairie grasses will be
planted and seeded in large geometric beds
to create an attractive buffer from the car
exhaust and asphalt on Lafayette Road to
our garden area and building.
• Offer a covered outdoor gathering area
accessible to those waiting for buses.
And we’ll welcome everyone inside.
community creativity lab
• Engage adults and children with collaborative
exhibitions created by and about them.
• Offer educational programs — including art,
performance, and creative writing classes.
• Provide space and equipment for programs
serving adults and families such as language
literacy (reading and writing), financial literacy
and computer literacy.
• Make the space available for school field trip
visits and after-school programs.
• Provide a small library, reading area, and
computer lab with free Internet access.
garage exhibition space
• Host exhibits by local, national and international
artists — drawing visitors to the area.
• Facilitate a farmers market, car shows and other
community events, celebrations and meetings.
Know anybody who needs some shelves?
 performance space

• Host live events for small audiences

including music, theater and dance
— as well as film screenings.
 Goals for Service Center

• Provide an inviting and accessible venue for cultural

events in a neighborhood currently lacking these
opportunities.

• Highlight the cultural diversity and international

flavor of the neighborhood.

• Become a destination for visitors from across the

city, region, and country — helping support the
economic development of the neighborhood.
• Beautify and utilize the whole building and nearby
outside space, creating an attractive and welcoming
gateway to the mall and neighborhood.

• Connect with other efforts to bring art and beauty

to the Lafayette Square area.

• Partner with neighborhood businesses, residents,

schools, and citywide organizations to help the
Lafayette Square neighborhood improve and
become a cultural destination.
• Help raise a positive profile for the area.
Bringing cultural programming to the
neighborhood makes for a “good news” success
story about a place that’s improving.

• Officially connect the neighborhood with the art

scene by leading an effort to have the area
officially designated as a Cultural District.

• Support the mall’s programming by organizing

free events and programs in the mall.
• Advocate for improved pedestrian, bicycle
and bus access to the area — making
Service Center a hub for bicyclists and an
amenity for those using public
transportation.
• Connect the space with nearby
restaurants, the movie theater, other
businesses, and the Mall to create
neighborhood-wide connections through
international culture, art, food, and
entertainment.
 what can you do?
• Tell us your thoughts and ideas.
• Support Service Center as a sponsor.
We have sponsor packets available.
• Direct us to sponsorship opportunities.
• Volunteer as we prep the space and
work the garden — and when we open to
the community. Our target is May.
thanks!