About Us Kidcreate Studio - Chicago Lakeview

Meet the Owners

Lindsey Danhauser & Allison Durkee

Allison spent 12 years in a fulfilling corporate career, but she always dreamed of owning a business. After much research, she came across the Kidcreate franchise. She couldn't pass up the opportunity to get in touch with her creative side while making a difference in kids' lives.

Lindsey worked in community art for over a decade. After graduating from the College of Visual Arts with a BFA and St. Mary's University with a MA in arts and cultural management, she worked in a few different galleries and art centers before deciding her passion was in community art and bringing high quality art education to kids and families. After working with the Eden Prairie Kidcreate Studio for almost 10 years she and her partner Allison decided it was time to open their own studio in Chicago.

Allison and Lindsey welcome you and your children to visit the studio, put on an apron and create. After all, making a mess is the best at Kidcreate!

How our story
began

Once upon a time,

There was a kindergartner who was frustrated by spelling, but loved art!

So it began...

Founder, Lara Olson, started Kidcreate Studio after being discouraged by the limited art exposure her son was receiving at school. In art class, he found tremendous joy in the creative process and none of the frustrations he was experiencing in some of his other classes.

Lara understood this. She too gravitated toward art as a child. Lara believed in the power of art to teach, inspire and build self-esteem. She also understood that art makes learning fun and a fun learning environment was exactly what her son needed. Lara started a quest for art classes for her son. She searched in vain for an art studio designed just for kids that combined quality art education with a fun kid-friendly environment. Finding nothing that met her requirements, she decided to create it!

Kidcreate Studio was born!

Kidcreate Studio - Chicago Lakeview - About Us - Kids Art Studio

Portrait of Lara, drawn by her 9 year old daughter

Read Our Rave Reviews

Kids loved the Harry Potter themed camp week. Staff is great and facility well equipped.

— Ravi Srivastava, Posted July 19th 2019 on google

I needed this today! For $55 Eli got to spend 9AM-12PM doing various projects to celebrate New Year's Day 2024. There were two helpers Katy and Ms. Ciera (sp?) who helped Eli get acclimated as he was crying and asking me to stay. They let me sit with him for a bit to help him calm down. Projects included paper crown,...

— Jackie Acker Garland (Chicago Photo Mom), Posted December 29th 2023 on google

Had my kid's birthday party here, it was wonderful! The process was very smooth and easy. The kids had a blast, the staff were wonderful, and we will definitely plan on coming back for some fun art classes. Highly recommended!

— Lisa Bun, Posted April 15th 2024 on google

Popped in for a weekday art class with my toddler and had a lovely time on a rainy day.

— Mira Andreeva, Posted September 27th 2023 on google

KidCreate Studio was the best birthday party decision we could have made for our toddler. They made it SO easy to schedule, have hundreds of art projects to choose from, and were fantastic dealing with 20+ four-year-olds. Thank you for an incredible birthday party!

— Sara Brodsky, Posted July 16th 2023 on google

My daughter runs into the studio. Teachers are great! Wonderful experience

— Megan Mergener, Posted March 13th 2023 on google

An absolute perfect place for a five-year-old birthday. It was so helpful to not have to worry about the details - Alison and team handled everything; all we did was show up with our child and food. The group had a blast - the teachers kept them super engaged. We plan to send him back for camp in the summer.

— Elizabeth Newman, Posted March 6th 2023 on google

We hosted a 5th birthday party and it was great! We had a wonderful time! The staff was very accommodating.

— Danielle Rodriguez, Posted November 21st 2022 on google

A lot of fun and great experience for my 2years old princess

— Diana Ameltchenia, Posted November 21st 2022 on google

Great venue for our son’s 4th birthday, the kids made rockets and slime! The staff was friendly and helpful, Kierra (sp?) stood out. We’ll be back!

— Shalini Hanoman, Posted November 20th 2022 on google

Kidcreate was a perfect spot for our first "birthday party with friends!" The staff was patient and engaging with a group of 8 toddlers. Even the parents enjoyed the experience! Would definitely recommend especially if you don't have the space to host at your condo.

— Allison Bradley, Posted April 3rd 2022 on google

We had my son's 4th birthday party at Kidcreate in Lakeview and the children had a blast! I'm so glad I picked the clay Mickey / Minnie Mouse project because the children LOVED working with a material they don't usually get experience with everyday at preschool. The parents all told me how much fun their children had a...

— Stephanie Westergaard, Posted January 10th 2022 on google

We had our 4 year old's birthday party at Kidcreate and it was wonderful!! All the kids (aged 4-11) loved it. The staff took care of everything. There is a small area for parents (so most parents dropped off), which was nice to have snacks and chat. The Gift Cups were also great! Wonderful party from start to finish.

— Payal Adhikari, Posted December 14th 2021 on google

Kidcreate was a great experience! My 7 year old loved having her birthday party there. It was also a nice, calm activity for everyone to do so it didn't get a bunch of kids crazy. Everyone had a wonderful time and the staff was super helpful and great at engaging the kids.

— Jennifer Riek, Posted November 21st 2021 on google

My daughter celebrated her 6th birthday here with her friends. We had around 18 kids all between ages 5-6. The kids had a great time painting and paying with slime. The staff was awesome and very accommodative. So glad we chose this place.

— Bhavana Bansal, Posted November 14th 2021 on google

An absolutely wonderful birthday party experience for our 6 year old! Her and her friends had so much fun with the wonderful staff at Kidcreate! Together, they created Fairy Gardens using paint, clay, glitter, and paper

— F Sun, Posted October 11th 2021 on google

My seven year old had a blast at her birthday party and the kids loved the project and gift cups! The studio was very accommodating.

— Jeanette Murphy, Posted September 19th 2021 on google

I held my daughter's birthday party at this location and the girls had fun! The staff was nice and patient with the kids, and the final project that they created was unique and fun to do. The facility was also clean and organized. I would bring my kids here again. Thank you!

— Magda M, Posted May 24th 2021 on google

Allison and Lindsey go above and beyond to make programming at KidCreate fun, engaging and creative for kiddos. They’re always dreaming up new ideas and it’s so fun to see what they’ll do next. You’re in great hands at KidCreate!

— , Posted March 15th 2020 on facebook

My Grandkids were visiting and they LOVED IT. I'd highly recommend this school

— Sherry Asper, Posted August 21st 2019 on google

Kids loved the Harry Potter themed camp week. Staff is great and facility well equipped.

— Ravi Srivastava, Posted July 19th 2019 on google

I needed this today! For $55 Eli got to spend 9AM-12PM doing various projects to celebrate New Year's Day 2024. There were two helpers Katy and Ms. Ciera (sp?) who helped Eli get acclimated as he was crying and asking me to stay. They let me sit with him for a bit to help him calm down. Projects included paper crown,...

— Jackie Acker Garland (Chicago Photo Mom), Posted December 29th 2023 on google

Had my kid's birthday party here, it was wonderful! The process was very smooth and easy. The kids had a blast, the staff were wonderful, and we will definitely plan on coming back for some fun art classes. Highly recommended!

— Lisa Bun, Posted April 15th 2024 on google

Popped in for a weekday art class with my toddler and had a lovely time on a rainy day.

— Mira Andreeva, Posted September 27th 2023 on google

KidCreate Studio was the best birthday party decision we could have made for our toddler. They made it SO easy to schedule, have hundreds of art projects to choose from, and were fantastic dealing with 20+ four-year-olds. Thank you for an incredible birthday party!

— Sara Brodsky, Posted July 16th 2023 on google

My daughter runs into the studio. Teachers are great! Wonderful experience

— Megan Mergener, Posted March 13th 2023 on google

An absolute perfect place for a five-year-old birthday. It was so helpful to not have to worry about the details - Alison and team handled everything; all we did was show up with our child and food. The group had a blast - the teachers kept them super engaged. We plan to send him back for camp in the summer.

— Elizabeth Newman, Posted March 6th 2023 on google

We hosted a 5th birthday party and it was great! We had a wonderful time! The staff was very accommodating.

— Danielle Rodriguez, Posted November 21st 2022 on google

A lot of fun and great experience for my 2years old princess

— Diana Ameltchenia, Posted November 21st 2022 on google

Great venue for our son’s 4th birthday, the kids made rockets and slime! The staff was friendly and helpful, Kierra (sp?) stood out. We’ll be back!

— Shalini Hanoman, Posted November 20th 2022 on google

Kidcreate was a perfect spot for our first "birthday party with friends!" The staff was patient and engaging with a group of 8 toddlers. Even the parents enjoyed the experience! Would definitely recommend especially if you don't have the space to host at your condo.

— Allison Bradley, Posted April 3rd 2022 on google

We had my son's 4th birthday party at Kidcreate in Lakeview and the children had a blast! I'm so glad I picked the clay Mickey / Minnie Mouse project because the children LOVED working with a material they don't usually get experience with everyday at preschool. The parents all told me how much fun their children had a...

— Stephanie Westergaard, Posted January 10th 2022 on google

We had our 4 year old's birthday party at Kidcreate and it was wonderful!! All the kids (aged 4-11) loved it. The staff took care of everything. There is a small area for parents (so most parents dropped off), which was nice to have snacks and chat. The Gift Cups were also great! Wonderful party from start to finish.

— Payal Adhikari, Posted December 14th 2021 on google

Kidcreate was a great experience! My 7 year old loved having her birthday party there. It was also a nice, calm activity for everyone to do so it didn't get a bunch of kids crazy. Everyone had a wonderful time and the staff was super helpful and great at engaging the kids.

— Jennifer Riek, Posted November 21st 2021 on google

My daughter celebrated her 6th birthday here with her friends. We had around 18 kids all between ages 5-6. The kids had a great time painting and paying with slime. The staff was awesome and very accommodative. So glad we chose this place.

— Bhavana Bansal, Posted November 14th 2021 on google

An absolutely wonderful birthday party experience for our 6 year old! Her and her friends had so much fun with the wonderful staff at Kidcreate! Together, they created Fairy Gardens using paint, clay, glitter, and paper

— F Sun, Posted October 11th 2021 on google

My seven year old had a blast at her birthday party and the kids loved the project and gift cups! The studio was very accommodating.

— Jeanette Murphy, Posted September 19th 2021 on google

I held my daughter's birthday party at this location and the girls had fun! The staff was nice and patient with the kids, and the final project that they created was unique and fun to do. The facility was also clean and organized. I would bring my kids here again. Thank you!

— Magda M, Posted May 24th 2021 on google

Allison and Lindsey go above and beyond to make programming at KidCreate fun, engaging and creative for kiddos. They’re always dreaming up new ideas and it’s so fun to see what they’ll do next. You’re in great hands at KidCreate!

— , Posted March 15th 2020 on facebook

My Grandkids were visiting and they LOVED IT. I'd highly recommend this school

— Sherry Asper, Posted August 21st 2019 on google

Kids loved the Harry Potter themed camp week. Staff is great and facility well equipped.

— Ravi Srivastava, Posted July 19th 2019 on google

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About Us Kidcreate Studio - Chicago Lakeview

About Us Kidcreate Studio - Chicago Lakeview

Meet the Owners

Lindsey Danhauser & Allison Durkee

How our story
began

Classes

Parties

Mobile Studio

Read Our Rave Reviews

Meet our founderThe Kidcreate Studio Difference

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About Us Kidcreate Studio - Chicago Lakeview

About Us Kidcreate Studio - Chicago Lakeview

Meet the Owners

Lindsey Danhauser & Allison Durkee

How our story began

Classes

Parties

Mobile Studio

Read Our Rave Reviews

Meet our founderThe Kidcreate Studio Difference

Want to have a Free Party?

Kidcreate Studio Newsletter

How our story
began

Want to have
a Free Party?