Our values
Why Soup, why now
Inspired by the success of Detroit Soup, a nonprofit startup established in 2010 by two young women to benefit artist initiatives through microfunding dinners, Chinatown Soup built upon this interactive, democratic model to design an art space for a neighborhood that has shifted from an immigrant-populated enclave to a frontier for real estate development and the new art scene.
Our Mission & Philosophy
Objectives
Instill neighborhood pride
Enable people to establish new relationships and networks
Foster critical dialogue
Integrate art and design with social praxis
Empower artists through capacity building and mentorship
Provide a deeper understanding of creativity
Democratize access to art on digital platforms
Respond to gentrification
Our approach
Keep going
Our connective strategy is an example of creative placemaking, which proposes arts-based responses to community challenges as economic forces and government policies drive corporate-luxury expansion and displace residents.
As a cultural arts organization, we are committed to advancing art, justice, historic preservation, and civic engagement so that downtown stays inspired. By opening up the notion of what it means to be an artist, we find ways people can experiment and innovate to preserve neighborhoods.
