Community Arts Assistance Program

The Community Arts Assistance Program (CAAP) was created in 1987 through funding provided by the Illinois Arts Council Access Program. The goals of CAAP are to discover, nurture and expand Chicago’s multi-ethnic artists and nonprofit arts organizations; and to foster new and emerging individual artists and arts groups by providing grants for professional, artistic, and organizational development to those who have had limited access to funding in both public and private grants programs. CAAP grants provide financial assistance to individual artists, and to nonprofit arts organizations with incomes under $150,000. The maximum grant request is $1,000. Funding priority is intended for applicants who have not been previously funded through the CAAP Program, or have not had access to traditional funding programs such as grants, fellowships and art commissions from the National Endowment for the Arts, Illinois Arts Council, corporations, or foundations.

WHAT WE FUND

Individual Artists

Professional development in the areas of Artistic, Management, and Technical/Artistic Services including:

• Creation of high quality artistic projects (e.g. development or completion of a work of art)
• High quality training programs (non-credit master classes, workshops, etc.) which develop professional artistic skills
• Technical assistance in the form of a consultant to help with publicity, proposal writing, marketing, financial management, etc.
• Portfolio development: slides, resumes, and audio and video presentations for funders and galleries, etc.
• Exhibition expenses which may include mounting, framing and installation (may not include gallery rental or reception costs)

Nonprofit Arts Organizations

Organizational Development including:

• High quality training programs aimed at developing administrative and organizational skills
• Technical assistance in the form of a consultant to help in publicity, fundraising, board development, planning, marketing, audience development, and bookkeeping
• Documentation of cultural activity through photography, slides, brochures, annual reports, audio and video which will assist the organization in presentations to funders or promotion to attract new and broader audiences
• Assistance for seeking 501(c)(3) status (must contact Cultural Grants staff for separate application instructions)

REQUIREMENTS

Individual Applicants

• Must be 21 years of age
• Must be practicing artists with demonstrated ability in their artistic discipline
• Must be a City of Chicago resident with a Chicago street address (no P.O. boxes accepted)
• Must be Chicago resident for at least six (6) months prior to the application deadline
• Must have a social security number

Nonprofit Arts Organizations

• Must be incorporated and located in the City of Chicago
• Must have acquired, or be in the process of applying for, or seeking funds to apply for Federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
• Must have a valid Federal Employer Identification Number

APPLICATION ASSISTANCE WORKSHOPS

All applicants are strongly encouraged to attend one of the Application Assistance Workshops held in late fall or early winter of each year. Pertinent information regarding the application process and helpful grant writing information will be discussed. A schedule of workshops will be available during the next CAAP grant cycle.

DEADLINES

The 2012 Community Arts Assistance Program grants are due no later than Monday, January 30, 2012 at 5 pm.

REVIEW CRITERIA

Community Arts Assistance Program (CAAP) applications are evaluated by review panels composed of artists, arts administrators, arts advocates, and educators representing a broad range of the community. CAAP panels evaluate grant applications according to the criteria listed below. The review of applications is an annual competitive process. Support in one year does not guarantee funding in subsequent years.

Please refer to the following criteria when completing the application:

Artistic Merit

• Quality of artist’s or organization’s artistic work as demonstrated by slides, video, audio, manuscripts, etc
• Ability to clearly communicate purpose and goals through one’s artistic discipline
• Ability to convey concrete and specific background qualifications
• Quality of support materials and resume

Quality of Project Plan

• Project shows clear and specific objectives through a well conceived and realistic plan for implementation
• Fiscal planning reflects a reasonable project budget
• Project request clearly documents expenditures
• Quality and completeness of application

Potential Impact

• Project reflects progressive career or organizational development
• Project reflects the artistic and problem solving efforts of the individual artist or organization
• Application reflects that the individual or group has been under represented in established funding programs

FORMS

Download 2012 Application

Applications are available during specified application cycles. Additional documentation and forms for CAAP grantees may be accessed below.

GRANT REVIEW MEETINGS

Grant Review Meetings are held at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington Street. Meetings are open to the public and applicants are strongly encourage to attend. The meeting schedule will be posted late winter or early spring of each year.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Cultural Grants Coordinator, Meg Duguid by phone, 312-744-9797 or via email, Meg.Duguid@explorechicago.org
 

Supporting Information

• 2012 Community Arts Assistance Program (CAAP) Application and Workshops
• Community Arts Assistance Program (CAAP) Forms and Support Documentation