Opportunities for Educators

Opens: July 10, 2024
Deadline: Open Deadline

Chicago Metro Catalyst grant funds have been fully expended. Applications are still being accepted from IAC’s Northern, Western, Central, Eastern, and Southern regions.

Creative Catalyst Grant offers support to Illinois artists and non-profit organizations for arts-related projects, programming, events, and/or professional development.

Opens: September 25, 2024
Deadline: November 20, 2024

The Creative Accelerator Fund (CAF) provides holistic support to Illinois artists. A primary goal of the program is to bolster a creative workforce that composes a significant portion of Illinois’ creative and economic activity.

Opens: TBD
Deadline: TBD

Grant Range: up to $40,000 for planning, $100,000 (Y1), $75,000 (Y2), and $50,000 (Y3)

The Arts & Foreign Language (AFL) Grant is to support arts and foreign language education in schools, with an emphasis on ensuring that these areas become part of the school’s core curriculum. Funding is available for each area for up to four years, with one year of planning and three years of implementation.

Opens: Fall
Closes: January

Illinois Regional POL Contests: Varies, generally in February

Illinois Statewide POL Contest: Early March

A partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Poetry Foundation, and the state arts agencies, Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life.  

The ArtsTour Roster is a resource created in collaboration between the Illinois Presenters Network and the Illinois Arts Council.  This directory lists Illinois performing artists, companies, and ensembles that tour the state.The Artstour Roster is used by Illinois presenters including schools, libraries, park districts, arts and community organizations, and performing arts presenters to identify artists, companies and groups to perform in their communities.

Deadline: October 18

The Illinois Flag Commission will begin accepting public submissions for a new state flag design beginning Tuesday, Sept. 3.

Submissions will be considered from the public – online or via mail – until Oct. 18. The commission also plans to work with schools and local libraries to inform Illinoisans about the process and encourage residents to take part.

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