Since 1971, eta Creative Arts Foundation has been a major cultural institution for preserving and perpetuating the African-American story. Located on Chicago's South Side, the group has provided professional training and performance opportunities for both children and adults, producing over 100 mainstage productions of original plays by African-American playwrights (nearly all of it never produced previously).

eta is a theater and a cultural center which produces a full six-play Mainstage season annually. In addition their Showfolk series, produced 33 weeks of the year, is presented for school aged children. A Saturday Family Matinee performance series features eta students (both children and teens) from January through May annually.

The venue's visual arts gallery showcases the work of local and national artists. Programming also includes a Reader's Theatre, Music Mondays jazz cabaret, book signings and outreach programs at area schools with Playwriting/Creative Dramatics. The wheelchair-accessible theatre seats about 200.