The Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture (IPRAC) grew from a shared vision among members of Chicago's Puerto Rican community and local supporters of arts and culture - a vision to build a one-of-a-kind institution that reflects Puerto Rican identity and heritage.

Since this committed group of people founded IPRAC as a 501(c)(3) in August 2001, IPRAC has been delivering quality community arts and cultural programming , including visual art exhibitions, hands-on arts workshops, films in the park and the annual outdoor fine arts and crafts festival El Barrio Art Fest .

Through a long-term lease with the city of Chicago, IPRAC secured the historic Humboldt Park Stables and Receptory, a building culturally significant to Chicago and embraced by the many people of Puerto Rican descent who have settled in the Humboldt Park community.

Designed by architects Fromman & Jebsen and constructed in 1895 and 1896, the stable is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Chicago Park District restored the exterior of the building following a fire that destroyed 40 percent of the roof and second floor in 1992. The City of Chicago and the Chicago Park District have spent more than $23 million restoring the exterior of the building and turning Humboldt Park into a fun and inviting place for families and visitors to Chicago.

To accomplish the reuse of the building as the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture, a complete renovation of the interior is underway. Partial funding for this renovation has been provided by the generous investment of the State of Illinois and a growing list of generous corporate and individual donors. IPRAC's Board of Directors is now in the midst of a capital campaign, "Where Preservation Meets Inspiration" and has secured more than 50 percent of the $6 million needed to fund the completion of the interior renovation and transform the stable building into the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture.