The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events’ Individual Artists Program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Donor Name: Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)
State: Illinois
City: Chicago
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 01/15/2024
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
The Individual Artists Program is to support Chicago’s practicing artists in creating work that develops their craft and elevates their careers while adding to the cultural vitality of the City.
Through this program, DCASE will award project grants to resident Chicago artists.
This program seeks to address the following goals, in support of its mission:
- To make grants in alignment with artists’ self-identified, unique and evolving needs.
- To address gaps in local and national individual artist funding infrastructures.
- To support a diverse group of artists reflective of the city of Chicago and its cultural landscape.
Artists Must Select Only ONE Primary Discipline for their project:
Funding Information
DCASE will accept requests up to $6,000. DCASE may award larger or smaller grants than those requested by applicants based on the available funds, the strength of the proposed work, and the clarity of the submitted budget. A majority of grants will be awarded at no less than 75% of request amounts. Note: If you are a City of Chicago employee or contractor, you are only eligible to receive up to $1,000.
Grant Period
The grant period will be January 1, 2024 – August 31, 2024, or January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2025 depending on the timing of your project. Grant periods have been extended to two years due to payments being projected to go out later in 2024, and to give grantees more time to execute their projects. If awarded, all grant funds must be expended by the grantee during the grant period. You will be notified of your grant period when grant decisions are made.
Eligible Projects and Expenses
- IAP grants can be used to support the creation, development, presentation or publication/distribution of specific artistic projects; or to support general administrative costs associated with the applicant’s artistic practice, such as artistic or professional training and other professional advancement opportunities, renting or purchase of equipment and materials needed to develop a body of work, or other services such as website development or studio fees.
- All project expenses incurred during the grant period that meet the parameters listed in this section and are NOT otherwise listed under Funding Restrictions are eligible for support through this program. These expenses can include studio and venue rental fees, fees paid to individuals serving as collaborative and contracted artists, and the cost of raw materials needed to create art.
- If applying for support of an investment in artistic practice the proposed opportunity must demonstrate the project’s potential to advance the applicant’s work or career. Training in trauma-informed work, intimacy, antiracism, accessibility, and other practices that will improve the safety and wellbeing of artists, collaborators and audiences continue to be eligible for funding.
- The following travel expenses are allowed: travel stipends (up to $250 per domestic round-trip flight, up to $650 per international round-trip flight, up to $185 plus tax per night for lodging including hotels, Airbnb’s, etc.), and up to $50 per full trip using ground transportation (bus, train, other transit, shuttles, taxis, etc.) Other cargo, freight, shipping, baggage fees, visa processing fees and agent fees related to participation in the project should be itemized. Lodging stipends have been determined based on federal travel stipend standards.
- IAP grantees can use 25% of their grant to pay themselves for their work on the project and to purchase equipment with a total value of $5,000 or less.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for an IAP Grant, grant applicants must:
- Be a practicing artist, artisan, curator or cultural producer. This is defined as someone who:
- Is actively creating, curating or producing work
- Has demonstrated experience in the arts through the creation, curation or production of work or contributions to the field.
- Has at least a two-year history of public presentation or publication.
- Be a resident of the city of Chicago, Illinois with a valid street address (no PO boxes). A Driver’s License, State I.D., or Chicago CityKey showing Chicago address must be provided. No other proof of Chicago residency will be accepted. Chicago must be the home base and geographic focus for applicants.
- Be at least 18 years old.
Ineligibility
The following are NOT eligible to apply for the 2024 IAP grant program:
- Individuals applying as a business or other incorporated entity.
- Individuals enrolled full-time in undergraduate college/university studies of any kind.
- 2023 IAP grantees.
- Previously-awarded IAP grantees who received an extension on their grant period through 2024.
- Past IAP grantees that have not completed the required Final Report for their funded project or that did not execute a previously funded project.
- Past IAP grantees that did not complete their grant contracting paperwork within the allowable timeline.
For more information, visit DCASE.
