NEW! - Illinois Arts Council Individual Artist Initiative
The Illinois Arts Council (IAC) has a long history of support for Illinois' individual artists. Until this year, the IAC Artist FellowshipProgram had continuously provided fellowships to Illinois creative artists for more than 20 years. Illinois artists have also been supported through the Special Assistance, Ethnic & Folk Arts Master/Apprentice, and Governor's International Arts Exchange Programs. In addition, the Artstour Program and Arts-in-Education residencies have provided opportunities for artists to work as teaching artists and performers throughout Illinois. The IAC recognizes that individual artists are the keystone to the creation of art. The Council remains committed to individual artists despite diminishing resources.
Due to steep reductions in the IAC's operating budget for grants, several grant programs had to be suspended for FY2010 and others had to be greatly reduced. The limited funds available in FY2010 to provide direct support to individual artists forced the agency to suspend the Artists Fellowship and Ethnic and Folk Arts Master/Apprenticeship Programs and severely limit the availability of Special Assistance opportunities for artists. The Individual Artist Support (IAS) Initiative introduced below was developed to bridge the gap left by the suspension of these programs.
This initiative was created to help Illinois artists realize a career goal, take advantage of a professional opportunity, and/or produce a project or body of work for public viewing. IAS represents the Illinois Arts Council's commitment to continuing our support for the work of individual artists.
About The Individual Artist Support Initiative
The Individual Artist Support (IAS) initiative has two tracks:
1. The Individual Artist Professional Development track (IA-PD) seeks to support professional development opportunities and projects related to an individual artist's career. Grant amounts for IA-PD are $500 or $750 with no cash match required
2. The Individual Artist Project Track (IA-Project) seeks to support individual creative artists in the creation, production, and presentation of their work. Grant amounts for IA-Project are $2,000, $3,500, or $5,000 with a 25% cash match required.
Deadline: Monday, February 1, 2010
Project Dates: April 1 - August 31, 2010
Guidelines including more information now available on the IAC website:
http://www.state.il.us/agency/iac/Guidelines/IASI/includes/grant.htm.
Application workshop webinars are scheduled in mid-January:
Wednesday, January 13, 2010, beginning at 1:00 PM CST
Thursday, January 21, 2010, beginning at 3:30 PM CST
Registration information will be posted soon in the guidelines. Please email Encarnacion Teruel at encarnacion.teruel@illinois.gov to express your interest in advance.
Excerpted from a letter by Illinois Arts Council Executive Director Terry A. Scrogum from the Illinois Arts Council January 2010 newsletter.