Illinois Arts Council
Program Guidelines and Applications

Since 1999 the Illinois Arts Council has been making program guidelines and application forms accessible online in Hypertext format and downloadable as a PDF (Portable Document Format) file.

The newest version PDF files allow users to download forms to their own computer, complete and print them. To view and complete PDF documents you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader software - version 5.0 or later. If you do not have a copy, Macintosh and Windows versions Acrobat Reader may be downloaded free of charge from the Adobe Web Site.

Submitting the Application Form (PDF only)

Applicants should refer to the program guidelines as they fill out the application form.

Application forms may be downloaded, completed, printed out and mailed. The completed application form must be mailed to the Illinois Arts Council in hard copy format as part of the application package.

Mail all applications to:
ILLINOIS ARTS COUNCIL
JAMES R THOMPSON CENTER
100 W RANDOLPH - SUITE 10-500
CHICAGO, IL 60601
(Your application may be hand-delivered* to the above address M-F 8:30A-5:00P)

*New Security Measures at the James R. Thompson Center

Effective January 14, 2008, all visitors to state government offices including the Illinois Arts Council in the James R. Thompson Center (JRTC) will be required to submit to a security screening before being allowed access to the elevators. Visitors will be required to show a valid government-issued picture I.D. and pass through metal detectors. In addition, all bags and items carried by visitors will be searched by the Illinois State Police Protective Service Unit (PSU).

PLEASE BE AWARE ADOBE ACROBAT FORMS CANNOT BE SAVED ONCE THEY ARE FILLED OUT. MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT CLOSE YOUR DOCUMENT BEFORE YOU PRINT IT OUT.

YOU MAY WISH TO GENERATE YOUR TEXT IN ANOTHER PROGRAM (such as MS WORD) THAT CAN BE SAVED AND PASTE THE SAVED TEXT INTO THE ACROBAT FORM.

Please note: Beginning in FY09 the Illinois Arts Council will begin introducing an electronic application process for IAC grant programs. The first program to use an electronic application is the FY09 Artists Fellowship Program. More electronic applications will be added as the year progresses.

Please note: If problems occur, please contact the Web Master.

Non-matching Fellowships of $7,000 and Finalist Awards of $700 are awarded to Illinois artists of exceptional talent in recognition of their outstanding work and commitment to the arts. Awards are based upon the quality of works submitted and the evolving professional accomplishments of the applicant.

Tthe Artists Fellowship Program operates on a two-year rotating cycle. The following discipline categories will be reviewed in even-numbered fiscal years (FY10) Choreography, Crafts, Ethnic and Folk Arts, Media Arts, New Performance Forms, Prose and Scriptworks.. In odd-numbered fiscal years (FY11) Interdisciplinary/Computer Art, Music Composition, Photography, Poetry and Visual Arts will be offered.

Annual Deadline: September 1

PLEASE NOTE: Illinois Arts Council (IAC) Artists Fellowship applications will be submitted online through the CueRate system. CueRate is an electronic application developed by Carnegie Mellon University Center for Arts Management and Technology for the submission and review of Artists Fellowship applications. The CueRate system enables artists to complete and submit the Artists Fellowship application via the internet. If you need assistance using CueRate, please contact Encarnacion Teruel, Director of Visual Arts, Media Arts, and Multi-Disciplinary Programs, by telephone 312/814-6753, or email:  encarnacion.teruel@illinois.gov.

The FY09 Artists Fellowship Guidelines and Online Application

This program has been suspended for Fiscal Year 2010

Arts-in-Education Residency Program -

Deadline: March 1, 2009

The Deadline has passed - please use this material as reference only.

FY10 Arts-in-Education Residency Program Guidelines and Application -

FY10 Arts-in-Education Residency Program APPLICATION ONLY -

Current Arts-in-Education Residency Artists Roster

Arts-in-Education Residency Final Report Form -

Arts-in-Education Residency Program
Artists Roster Application

The IAC AIE Residency Program provides support to primary and secondary educational institutions, community colleges, and not-for-profit local arts and community organizations to work with an individual artist from one month to six months. Residencies involving performing artist companies range from two weeks to six months. Artists who conduct these residencies must be listed in the current IAC AIE Residency Program Artists Roster.

In order to be considered for the AIE Residency Program artists must apply for inclusion in the AIE Residency Program Artists Roster. The roster is updated every two years and is available on the agency website.

DEADLINE: DEADLINE HAS PASSED

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Arts-in-Education ArtsResource Grants for Schools and School Districts

ArtsResource Program will support selected schools or consortias of schools to apply for grants to support projects that provide professional development opportunities in the fine arts for their teachers.

 

For information regarding this program contact the Director of Arts-in-Education Programs

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Artstour Program -
2007-2009 Artstour Artists Roster, Application and Guidelines

These grants are available throughout the year to provide fee support to not-for-profit organizations that seek to present Illinois touring performing artists, companies or groups for performances and master classes, short residencies and lectures/demonstrations held in conjunction with performances.

If you have questions please contact the Artstour Program Staff

2007-2009 Artstour Program Roster, Guidelines and Application

This program has been suspended for Fiscal Year 2010

Current Artstour Residency Artists Roster

Artstour Final Report Form

 

 

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Artstour Program -
Artstour Artists Roster Application

Artstour in the IAC's fee support grants program linking arts presenters with Illinois' wealth of touring artists, companies and ensembles. The Artstour Program is designed to provide a variety of high-quality touring performances and exhibitions in various price ranges to all Illinois communities throughout the year.

In order to be considered for the Artstour Program artists/companies and ensembles must apply for inclusion in the Artstour Program Artists Roster. The roster is updated every two years and sent to hundreds of Illinois Presenters including schools, libraries, park disctricts, arts and community organizations and performing arts presenters. The roster is available on the agency website.

 

DEADLINE: DEADLINE HAS PASSED

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Ethnic and Folk Arts Master/Apprentice Program -

The Ethnic and Folk Arts Master/Apprentice Program supports a limited number of apprenticeships each year with an $2,000 honorarium for the teacher or master artist and a $1,000 stipend for the apprentice. The informal apprenticeships take place wherever the master artist and apprentice usually practice their art. This program is for Ethnic and Folk Arts that generally are not learned in school but are handed down from generation to generation within a specific ethnic, regional, occupational or other community.

Annual Deadline: September 1

FY09 Ethnic and Folk Arts Master/Apprentice Program Guidelines and Application 548K

This program has been suspended for Fiscal Year 2010

Final Report Form - Apprentice

Final Report Form - Master

** this application can be filled out on your computer using Adobe crobat Reader version 5.0 or higher **

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Literary Awards Program

Literary Awards are given each year for the publication of quality new writing by Illinois writers in Illinois not-for-profit literary magazines.

Annual Deadline: February 15

The Deadline has passed - please use this material as reference only.

 

2009 Literary Awards Program Guidelines and Application 390K
This program has been suspended for Fiscal Year 2010

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Program Grants -

Program Grants are available for Illinois non-profit organizations that provide arts programming of high artistic merit in arts-education, dance, ethnic and folk arts, literature, media, multi-disciplinary, music, theater and visual arts. Grants are available for either general operating support or project support.

Annual Deadline: March 15

 

The Deadline has passed - please use this material as reference only.

FY2010 Program Grants Guidelines and Application
- Deadline: March 16, 2009

 

FY09 FINAL REPORT - NOW AVAILABLE!!

 

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Project Quick Start for Schools and School Districts

Project QuickStart provides funding for schools/sponsoring school districts that are first-time IAC applicants to host a professional Illinois artist to work with teachers and students up to six times during a six week period. The program encourages participants to develop new initiatives and relationships with artists.

Deadline: Open

Project Quick Start Guidelines and Application (41K)

Quick Start Final Report Form

Short Term Artists Residency (S.T.A.R.) Program

The S.T.A.R. program provides funding for Illinois non-profit organizations to work with professional artists from Illinois to develop and implement residency programs that bring arts activities into their community. This program emphasizes the interaction between professional artists and the public through hands-on participatory experiences. Each residency lasts from 5 to 30 hours.

Deadline: Open

S.T.A.R. Program Guidelines and Application (85K) This program has been suspended for Fiscal Year 2010

S.T.A.R. Final Report Form

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Youth Employment in the Arts Program

Through the Youth Employment in the Arts (YEA) Program, the IAC will support Illinois not-for-profit organizations to provide arts related employment opportunities (internships) for high school students. These projects will provide youth with positive cultural experiences and paid on-the-job training in the arts to enhance their personal development.

Any Illinois not-for-profit organization that is currently in good standing with the Illinois Arts Council and the Illinois Secretary of State is eligible to apply. Individual schools and school districts are not eligible for this program.

FY10 Deadline: This program has been suspended for Fiscal Year 2010

 

Youth Employment in the Arts Final Report Form

Please note: If problems occur, please contact the agency Web Master.