The Illinois Arts Council’s (IAC) Creative Projects Grant (CPG) supports artists’ and organizations’ arts
projects.
Donor Name: Illinois Arts Council
State: Illinois
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: All Time
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The goal of the Creative Project Grant (CPG) is to provide up to $12,000 to support art projects for Illinois artists, eligible not-for-profit organizations, municipal entities, or colleges and universities. CPG projects must include a public release or presentation of the work accomplished during the grant period.
CPG is an open-deadline grant program with funds administered regionally. Applications will be accepted until allotted funds have been expended. Each IAC region has its own allocation of funds. Funds will be expended at varying rates and regions will close to new applications at different times.
Funding Information
Grants Up to $12,000.
Eligible Projects
- Ethnic, folk, and traditional arts
- Acting
- Performance art
- Theater design and direction
- Puppeteering
- Choreography
- Dance
- Film/video/media arts
- Digital media
- Music
- Composition
- Conducting
- Creative writing
- Visual arts
- Murals/public art
- Community-based art
- Community-based teaching arts
Allowable Expenses
Detailed Allowable Expenses, not limited to:
- Up to 15% of administrative expenses:
- Organizational applicants may include staff salaries, rent, etc.
- Individual applicants may include fees to self, studio rental, etc.
- Fees for artists, teaching artists, and contractual personnel. Artists must be compensated at best practice levels including prep time. All artists, companies, ensembles, etc. that receive money from this grant must be Illinois residents.
- Equipment costs for durable equipment with a useful life of more than one-year equipment.
- Equipment costs must be a justifiable expense associated with the proposed art project and may not
exceed $3,000. - Consumable supply costs such as office supplies, printing, art supplies, etc. that will be used during the grant period.
- Marketing and promotion costs
- Project documentation expenses
- Travel and lodging should be budgeted for the most cost-effective means allowable by your location in the state of Illinois. If driving, the mileage reimbursement rate must follow federal standards of $0.725 per mile. Lodging expenses may not exceed the allowable federal rates.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible Applicants:
- Individual artists and arts educators that are 21 years or older and have been established as Illinois residents for a minimum of 1 year. Individuals may not be currently enrolled in a degree-obtaining program, including a college or university in any undergraduate or graduate program. Ph.D. candidates need to have completed their coursework by the application deadline to be eligible.
- Registered 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit Organizations in good standing with the Office of the Illinois Secretary of State
- Branches of Government Entities (e.g., Municipal, County, Libraries, Park Districts, etc.)
Ineligibility
- Recipients of the 2025 Creative Catalyst Grant
- Recipients of the 2026 Creative Projects Grant
- Public K-12 school districts, schools, and charter schools.
- With the exception of state colleges/universities, state agencies and their affiliates are ineligible to receive funds from the IAC. State agencies are those entities defined by the Office of the Comptroller.
For more information, visit Illinois Arts Council.
