South Side Home Movie Project

South Side Home Movie Project Dive into the rich tradition of home movies that illuminate Chicago’s South Side histories. 📽️🎞️

The South Side Home Movie project collects 16-mm, 8-mm, and Super-8 films, converts them to digital files, and compiles oral histories from donors. Supported by the University of Chicago's Center for the Study of Race, Politics, & Culture and the Film Studies Center, the South Side Home Movie Project is both a film preservation project and a visual history of Chicago's South Side neighborhoods. Th

e South Side Home Movie Project was launched in 2005 by Jacqueline Stewart, professor, Cinema and Media Studies, University of Chicago.

08/13/2026

What a incredible parade day!

Thank you to everyone who showed up and supported the South Side Home Movie Project at this year's Bud Billiken Parade.

To our marchers and APL youth, thank you for representing us with pride and bringing your best to the parade route. To our donor families, your ongoing support makes our work possible, and we are deeply grateful for your commitment to us. To the APL staff, thank you for the quiet work behind the scenes that kept everything running smoothly.

Finally, a salute to the parade goers who lined the streets, cheered for us, and made the day special for our team. We are SO proud to be a part of this community and look forward to building on this momentum together.

Get ready to catch some amazing giveaways at the Bud Billiken Parade this Saturday! 🎉☀️We're bringing custom folding fan...
08/07/2026

Get ready to catch some amazing giveaways at the Bud Billiken Parade this Saturday! 🎉☀️

We're bringing custom folding fans featuring historic parade footage from the Ramon Williams Collection to keep you cool, plus exclusive pins and stickers designed by our Teen Arts Council students! 🪭🎨

Look for the purple SSHMP t-shirts (also designed by our students!) and our rolling LED truck on MLK Drive tomorrow to grab your swag. See you there! 💜

What an incredible evening exploring the roots of South Side dance! 📸✨ Swipe through to see the energy, joy, and movemen...
08/06/2026

What an incredible evening exploring the roots of South Side dance! 📸✨ Swipe through to see the energy, joy, and movement from Generations of Groove.

This summer, young dancers in our Choreographic Arts Program (CAP) collaborated with the South Side Home Movie Project (SSHMP) to bring history to life. Drawing inspiration from Ramon Williams’ rare 1940s–1960s films of the Bud Billiken Parade, our students worked with a powerhouse lineup of choreographers to create contemporary performances rooted in decades of Chicago dance culture.

A massive congratulations to all the students and their instructor Kierah King ! Thanks you to the guest performers and mentors
🎧 DJ Tre Daniels
💃 Taraja Mumbeja, Aaliyah Christina, Praise Mother Squad
👟 Stylez & Prophecy Footwork Crew

The celebration isn't over! 🎉
Don't miss the chance to see this intergenerational story hit the streets THIS SATURDAY, August 8. SSHMP and APL are marching in the 97th annual Bud Billiken Parade! Look out for our rolling LED truck, broadcasting rare historical scenes from the Ramon Williams Collection along the route—paired with footage of the newly created choreography by those talented young dancers!

See you on MLK Drive! 💜

07/31/2026

WE’RE MARCHING! 🎺🎉
Catch SSHMP at the Bud Billiken Parade!

Catch our mobile LED truck rolling along the parade route on August 8th between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM!

We’re hitting the streets with incredible, rare throwback footage from the Ramon Williams Collection alongside stunning clips of our CAP students debuting brand-new choreography. You have to see this in action—come catch the vibe live! 🎉👏

We are thrilled that an episode of Spinning Home Movies, curated by Ayana Contreras, will be featured tomorrow at The Si...
07/16/2026

We are thrilled that an episode of Spinning Home Movies, curated by Ayana Contreras, will be featured tomorrow at The Silver Room Symposium at the Obama Presidential Center! 🎞️

We're also looking forward to an incredible panel discussion on "Preserving Democracy and the Role of Artists," moderated by Professor Jacqueline Stewart, founder and director of South Side Home Movie Project!
📅 Tomorrow, Jul 17 • 2:00pm - 5:15pm 📍 Forum Building, OPC

Mark your calendars for an inspiring day of conversation and culture! Join us on July 17 at the Obama Presidential Cente...
07/08/2026

Mark your calendars for an inspiring day of conversation and culture!

Join us on July 17 at the Obama Presidential Center for the Silver Room Symposium. South Side Home Movie Project Founder Jacqueline Stewart will be moderating the panel: "Preserving Democracy and the Role of Artists."

Explore how history fuels modern changemaking alongside an incredible lineup:
Edra Soto (Artist)
Nancy Villafranca-Guzman (Cultural & Civic Leader)
Raquel Flores-Clemons (Head of the Harsh Research Collection, CPL)
Norman Teague (Artist)

Plus, enjoy a live performance by musician Sam Thousand and a screening of Spinning Home Movies by Ayana Contreras.

Don’t miss this powerful dialogue—grab your tickets now at the OPC website! 🎟️✨

We’re partnering with Mezcla Media Collective for the Shades of Chicago cohort screening! 🎥 Join us on at the Green Line...
06/06/2026

We’re partnering with Mezcla Media Collective for the Shades of Chicago cohort screening! 🎥

Join us on at the Green Line Performing Arts Center for a powerful collection of short films by 9 independent women & nonbinary filmmakers of color.

Stick around post-screening for a filmmaker conversation led by Joyy Norris and an audience talkback!

Shades of Chicago: Mezcla Film Screening + Conversation
Thursday, June 11 | 6:45PM-9:30PM
Green Line Performing Arts Center | 329 East Garfield Boulevard

Last months Wildcard Game Night was incredible!! The APL team absolutely loved watching our space fill up with so much l...
06/04/2026

Last months Wildcard Game Night was incredible!!

The APL team absolutely loved watching our space fill up with so much laughter and excitement. Seeing so many of you connect, share a game, and walk away with new friends is exactly why we love hosting moments like these. You all brought the perfect vibe, and you made the entire evening unforgettable.

Thank you for gathering with us and making it such a special event. We already can't wait for the next one!

Photos by Lyric Newbern

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that the one and only Kida Darling will be taking over the decks for the second F...
06/03/2026

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that the one and only Kida Darling will be taking over the decks for the second Forever Fly Vintage Market!

If you’ve been looking for the ultimate soundtrack to your summer shopping spree, this is it. Kida Darling will be spinning the perfect beats all day long, keeping the energy high, the vibes unmatched, and the dance floor (aka the shopping aisles) moving.

"The records I play have been passed down through generations, gifted or personally picked from my soundtrack of this life . My intent is to let music be the balm, to invite you into all the music that has formed me into the human I am." Kida Darling

Forever Fly Vintage Market
Saturday, June 6
12:00PM-6:00PM
L1 Retail Store
319 E. Garfield Blvd

See you Saturday!

Huge congratulations to everyone involved in the upcoming Love Is… program! ✨This Thursday, June 4, D-Composed is teamin...
06/02/2026

Huge congratulations to everyone involved in the upcoming Love Is… program! ✨

This Thursday, June 4, D-Composed is teaming up with the Poetry Foundation and Rebuild Foundation at The Land School for what promises to be an unforgettable evening. The event beautifully pairs the music of Black composers with the power of the written word, brought to life by a stellar lineup of talent.

A major highlight of the night will be incredible archival footage from the South Side Home Movie Project. Family collections included are:

Lynette Frazier
Jean Patton
Ellis McClelland
Philip Maxwell Sr.

Don't miss this incredible night of love, community, and Chicago history!

Address

Arts Incubator, 301 E Garfield Boulevard
Chicago, IL
60637

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

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