Opportunities for Communities

Guidelines Released June 20, 2025
Opens July 1, 2025
Grant Amount: Up to $12,000

Creative Project Grant (CPG) supports art projects for Illinois artists, eligible not-for-profit organizations, municipal entities, or colleges and universities.

Opens: May 23, 2025
Deadline: Closed

The Illinois Arts Council (IAC) is offering scholarship funds of up to $750 to cover expenses related to attending the 2025 One State Together in the Arts & Humanities Conference, to include registration, travel, and hotel costs. The 2025 One State Conference will be held November 5–7, 2025, in Champaign-Urbana.

Opens: May 15, 2025
Deadline: Closed

The Regional Arts Partner (RAP) Grant creates a partnership between the Illinois Arts Council (IAC) and IAC-designated organizations by providing funds to expand local mechanisms that encourage and support developing arts programs throughout the organization’s service area. Based on the assessment and perception of local needs, the RAP regranting funds make it possible for designated RAPs to develop grantmaking processes that are responsive to their service area.

Opens: January 22, 2025
Deadline: Closed
 

General Operating Support (GOS) Grants are available for Illinois non-profit organizations that provide ongoing arts programming.

Youth Employment in the Arts (YEA) Grants provide funds to GOS grantees for individuals between the ages of 14-22.

Opens: April 15, 2025
Deadline: Closed

Scholarship Amount: up to $1,500

Grant Period: June 2, 2025 to August 31, 2025

IAC is offering scholarship funds of up to $1,500 to cover expenses related to attending the 2025 Leadership Exchange in Arts & Disability (LEAD) Conference, to include registration, travel, and hotel costs. The 2025 LEAD Conference will be held in Cleveland, OH, August 18- August 22, 2025.

The Local Arts Network (LAN) is an initiative to build capacity and excellence amongst Local Arts Agencies so they can better serve their communities and to provide opportunities for validation and support. The LAN is open to leaders from Local Arts Agencies across Illinois.

DCEO's grant programs provide funds to organizations throughout Illinois that support and maintain a strong economy. To better assist potential and current grantees, this page contains a variety of resources to provide end to end support for grant recipients.

GIG Fund

Deadline: September 15, 2025

Applications are now open for the GIG Fund! These grants of up to $15,000 help Midwestern organizations bring professional artists into their community and host creative, engaging public activities.  purchase tools and equipment needed to create their work. 

At IL250.org, individuals and organizations can sign up to become a promotional partner, establish an IL250 community, submit events to the local and national calendar, and access resources.

Join a statewide commemoration of the 250th signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026. Stay tuned for more information and program announcements from Illinois Humanities. Questions? Email IL250@ilhumanities.org.

Search for additional state and national resources for organizations through the IAC's Discipline-Specific Resources database.