Opportunities for Educators

Opens: February 26, 2025
Deadline: Closed

The Illinois Arts Council’s (IAC) Creative Accelerator Fund (CAF) provides crucial support to artists with a goal of strengthening the creative workforce that composes a significant portion of Illinois’ economic activity.

Opens: April 2025

Deadline: Closed

Creative Learning Grants for Schools supports arts learning opportunities in Illinois schools. The goal of this grant is to enable schools to acquire supplies, materials, equipment, or services from Illinois artists or arts organizations that are needed to address student needs for arts learning opportunities.

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.

Opens: September 16, 2024
Deadline: Closed

Illinois Statewide POL Contest: March 17, 2025

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. 

Early Entry Deadline: August 31

Late Entry Deadline: October 10

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is encouraging Illinois filmmakers to enter the DCEO Illinois Film Office’s Shortcuts Short Film Contest dedicated to promoting the best short films from Illinois students or residents 22 years old or younger.  The Shortcuts winner will receive $250 and be screened at the 815HORTS festival, a short film festival based in Rockford scheduled November 14-15, 2025. 

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.