Cultural Grants

Funding for the arts, totaling more than $1 million a year, is administered through the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Grants, issued to Chicago artists and arts organizations through a competitive, peer review process, provide funding for arts activities that reach people in every Chicago community.

According to an independent study, the department's greatest accomplishment is the fact that it has managed to extend its grant making to every sector of the arts community, reaching constituents who in many cities simply do not have access to public arts funding. An analysis of grantees reveals a panoply of small neighborhood organizations, emerging organizations with tiny budgets, organizations serving the truly disenfranchised, and artists.

DCASE administers four grant programs.

• Neighborhood Arts Program (NAP) For Individual Artists Only
  This is a multi-year program which encourages and supports the presentation of high quality instructional arts programs benefiting youth, senior citizens, and people with disabilities in Chicago’s low-to-moderate income neighborhoods. Individual artists of all disciplines with demonstrated teaching experience are eligible to receive funding up to $4,000.

• CityArts Program For Non-Profit Organizations Only
  CityArts is a triennial multi-year program that encourages the attainment of artistic excellence and financial stability through general operating support for arts organizations. Organizations can request from $4,000 to $10,000 based on the organization’s annual operating budget.

• Community Arts Assistance Program (CAAP) Individual Artists & Non-Profit Arts Organizations Only
  New, emerging, and mid-career artists and arts organizations of all disciplines with annual operating budgets up to $150,000 are eligible to request funding for projects which address specific professional organizational and artistic development needs. The maximum request is $1,000.
  
  

• Cultural Outreach Program Non-Profit Organizations Only
  Cultural Outreach is an annual grant program that supports arts organizations and social service agencies in the presentation of high quality arts classes, workshops, and performances benefitting youth, seniors, and persons with disabilities in the low-to-moderate income communities of Chicago. Organizations of all artistic disciplines with strong outreach programming may be eligible to request grants ranging on average from $7,000 to $30,000.

For more detailed information about eligibility and how to apply select from the services below. Applications also are available seasonally at the Chicago Cultural Center and at numerous arts service organizations and cultural centers throughout Chicago.

CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER
78 East Washington Street, 4th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60602
For more information, please call (312) 744-8937

Most Recent News (Cultural Grants)

Services

• CityArts Program
• Community Arts Assistance Program
• Neighborhood Arts Program

Supporting Information

• 2012 Community Arts Assistance Program (CAAP) Application and Workshops
• CityArts Program Forms and Support Documentation
• Community Arts Assistance Program (CAAP) Forms and Support Documentation
• Cultural Outreach Program Forms and Support Documentation
• Neighborhood Arts Program (NAP) Forms and Support Documentation