The Society for Arts is an American 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit arts organization focused on furthering cultural communication between Europe

Europe

Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

 and the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. It was established in 1981, and is located in the East Village, what is considered to be one of Chicago's more artistic communities along Milwaukee Avenue

Milwaukee Avenue (Chicago)

Milwaukee Avenue is a major diagonal street in the city of Chicago and the northern suburbs. True to its name, it once led to the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Starting with a short section at N. Canal and W. Lake Streets, it begins in earnest at the corner of N Desplaines and W. Kinzie Streets...

 in the heart of the old Polish Downtown. The organization is best known for organizing the Chicago International Documentary Festival.

Building

The structure housing the Society was originally designed as a neighborhood bank by the architectural firm of Whitney & Williams. It was built in 1920, and purchased along with adjacent lots for the Society in December of 1993. It was officially opened on November 3, 1994. The Society currently operates two galleries within the building, with exhibits ranging from painting, sculpture, graphics and photography to three dimensional installations, as well as gallery talks, workshops and lectures by visiting artists and scholars.