Harold Washington Cultural Center

Harold Washington Cultural Center is a performance facility in Chicago's historic Bronzeville neighborhood. Named after the city's first African-American mayor, it opened in August 2004 after a decade of delays and cost overruns. The center features a 1,000-seat theater, the Commonwealth Edison Theatre, and a Digital Media Resource Center. It occupies the site of the former Regal Theatre, a historic black theater. The project was championed by former Alderman Dorothy Tillman and singer Lou Rawls, though naming disputes arose. Visitors can attend theatrical performances and events in the main theater, explore the digital media resources, and appreciate the limestone building's architectural and cultural significance. Despite early financial struggles and underuse, the center now operates under City Colleges of Chicago as part of a consolidated performing arts program, offering a venue for live shows and community gatherings.