Individual Artists Program (IAP)
Upcoming Deadlines
Track 1: Creative Projects
One annual cycle with one deadline.
► Application Opens: October 24, 2014 Apply Here
► Deadline: December 17, 2014
Track 2: Professional Development
Rolling application program with two deadlines – one for opportunities in the Fall/Winter 2014/15 and one for opportunities in the Spring/Summer 2015.
► Cycle 1: Fall/Winter
► Application Opens: November 3, 2014 Apply Here
► Deadline: December 3, 2014
► Cycle 2: Spring/Summer
► Application Opens: April 10, 2015;
► Deadline: May 15, 2015
NOTE: Artists may only apply for and receive one grant in one of the two funding tracks per year.
To Apply:
The online application for Track 1: Creative Projects is available here: http://www.cybergrants.com/dcase/grants/IndividualArtists2015
The online application for Track 1: Creative Projects is available here: http://www.cybergrants.com/dcase/grants/IAPProfessionalDevelopment2015
Program Overview
The goal of the Individual Artists Program (IAP) is to discover, nurture, and expand Chicago’s practicing artists and creative professionals. Through this grant program, DCASE will award project-based grants to Chicago-based artists and creative professionals over 18 years of age, at all career levels (emerging, mid-career, mature), and working across numerous disciplines. Funds are awarded through two separate IAP programs: Track 1: Creative Projects and Track 2: Professional Development. Artists may only apply for and receive one grant in one of the two funding tracks per year.
General IAP Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible to apply for funding in either of the two Individual Artists Programs, applicants must meet each of the following criteria:
• Be professional, practicing artists or creatives in one of the following disciplines: Visual Arts (includes Graphic Artists), Music, Dance, Theater, Performance Art, Literary Arts, Design (includes fashion, industrial, and costume), Curatorial Arts, Culinary Arts, Media Arts/Film and Interdisciplinary; and
• Be at least 18 years old; and
• Be a United States citizen or a holder of permanent alien status; and
• Be a resident of the city of Chicago, Illinois (proof of residency is required for application).
Beginning in 2013, Artists may receive an IAP award for three consecutive years before being required to take a year off from funding. All grantees receiving support through the 2013 and 2014 IAP are eligible to apply for funding in either track in 2015.
Track 1: Creative Projects
Goal: To support practicing artists and creative professionals in the development or creation of experimental, risk-taking creative projects that seeks to elevate and advance their careers and expose them to new audiences. This program is partially supported by a Grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Key Points:
• Program Priorities:
o Experimental, innovative, risk-taking projects demonstrating a strong and original artistic/creative vision, purpose or theme
o New work (however, applications will be accepted for both new and existing projects)
o Work that is likely to be highly impactful for an artist’s career
o Projects proposed by emerging artists
o Projects seeking to increase public access to and participation in high-quality arts activities/events (especially underrepresented populations)
• Grant Amount: DCASE will accept requests up to $5,000. Grant amounts typically range from $2,000 to $5,000; the average grant size in 2014 was $4,000.
• If awarded, grant funds provided through Track 1 must be spent between January 1, 2015 and August 31, 2015. Funded activities must originate and be completed during the grant period; the entire project does not need to be completed during this time period.
• All proposed projects must have a public component or include some public “presentation” of the work (i.e., performances, exhibitions, presentations, showings, publications) for residents of the City of Chicago residents.This public component need not occur within the grant period, but plans to share your work with the Chicago public must be articulated in the grant application for the proposed project, along with clear marketing/outreach plans to ensure audiences will know about your work.
• Artists working collaboratively on a project are eligible to submit a single application to support the work; however, one collaborator must serve as the main contact for purposes of the application.
• Funds may not be used for applicants to pay themselves or for capital purchases or the purchase of permanent, depreciable equipment valued at more than $250.
Track 2: Professional Development
Goal: To support professional artists and creative entrepreneurs to develop and expand their audience, promote/gain more exposure for their work, strengthen and sustain their career/business, develop administrative or organizational skills, receive technical assistance, or other projects that help them to become more competitive in the creative marketplace.
Key Points:
• Program Priorities:
o Unique opportunities likely to be highly impactful for an artist’s career
o Timeliness: Opportunities that clearly align with the current stage of the artist’s career
• Grant Amount: DCASE will accept requests up to $2,500.
• Applications will be reviewed through an expedited process to allow for more timely release of funds to participate in opportunities.
• If awarded, grant funds provided through this program must be spent as follows:
o Cycle 1 Grant Period: Funds must be spent between January 1, 2015 and May 31, 2015.
o Cycle 2 Grant Period: Funds must be spent between June 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015.
• Artists working collaboratively on a project are eligible to submit a single application to support the work; however, one collaborator must serve as the main contact for purposes of the application.
Further Information : http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dca/culgrants/programs/individual-artist.html
