Kanye West’s childhood home in Chicago is reportedly going to be turned into an art space for at-risk youth.

The news was announced this weekend by the rapper’s longtime collaborator and co-writer, Rhymefest. According to a post on his Instagram, the south side property will soon be turned into a “community Arts incubator” – complete with an art recording studio, curriculum space and music museum. The songwriter said that the project would be the first in a new line of so-called “lite-houses”.

“I'm excited to announce the purchase of Kanye's childhood home as a community Arts incubator,” Rhymefest wrote. “It will be the first of our Nationwide Lite-Houses. A state of the art recording studio, a curriculum space for @dondashouse and southside music museum. We want to show bright spots in communities that’ve been divested from, we know more Lights exist here, they just need to be activated.”

The refurbishment will be funded by West and Rhymefest’s arts charity, Donda’s House. Founded in 2013, the organisation was named after the rapper’s late mother Donda West: a noted English professor who died following cosmetic surgery complications. Kanye, who was hospitalised last week after allegedly suffering from “severe sleep deprivation”, is yet to comment on the project. 

“Donda’s House, Inc. was designed to provide access to premium arts instruction to youth. Arts and music programs are routinely the first casualty in schools facing budget crises, specifically institutions in at-risk communities that directly benefit from access to safe environments and developmental opportunities,” reads the website. “Our teaching philosophy is based on the research and career of Dr. Donda West who believed that arts instruction improves a child’s analytical and creative capacity. Donda’s House seeks to provide a safe, creative environment that inspires, empowers, challenges and produces tomorrow’s problem solvers.”

You can donate to Donda's House by clicking here.