Illinois Humanities and the Illinois Arts Council Agency announced that they are each launching emergency relief grantmaking initiatives, that combine will total $1.3 million. The grants aim to assist humanities, arts and cultural organizations across Illinois that have been impacted by the coronavirus.
“Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, we need the arts and humanities in Illinois now more than ever,” said Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). “CARES Act funding will help arts and cultural organizations across Illinois weather the storm of this pandemic. Thanks to Illinois Humanities and the Illinois Arts Council Agency for moving quickly and thoughtfully to make grants with that funding -and to ensure that the arts and humanities are here for Illinoisans now and well beyond the pandemic.”

Illinois Humanities (IH) CARES funds will provide general operating support grants, program grants, and project grants to organizations with operating budgets up to $1.5M. For complete details about Illinois Humanities COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grants, as well as ongoing Community Grants guidelines and application forms visit ilhumanities.org/ReliefGrants.

Illinois Arts Council Agency (IACA) Relief Funds will be dedicated to organizations throughout Illinois with budgets of less than $500,000. The IACA recognizes that organizations at this level are often in underserved communities and may be most challenged in their sustainability for vital services. Grants of $3,000 each will be available to organizations who have received funding from IACA since 2018. For details about IACA’s guidelines visit https://bit.ly/2VQDg8E. Both organizations will accept applications through May 15 at 5p.m.

“I’m glad the CARES Act included support for our arts and humanities organizations, which play an essential role in bringing communities together in cities and towns of every size across Illinois,” said Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). “It’s critical that we sustain these organizations so that they can help our communities recover and rekindle their vibrance after the pandemic ends. I was proud to support this funding and am grateful for organizations like Illinois Humanities and Illinois Arts Council Agency for their work distributing these funds during this challenging time.”

Funding for the grants is made possible by Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act allocations to the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:
1) 2019 Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards
2) 2019 Odyssey Project Graduation