Bustling Spaces 90-day Grants Outlook + Artist Feature: Mandala Arts!

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES | VOLUME 61| April 16, 2026

Our featured Arts Organization for this month is Mandala South Asian Performing Arts!

Mandala Arts is a MacArthur Award-winning organization founded by Executive Artistic Director Pranita Nayar. From classical to contemporary, Mandala offers evocative dance, theatre, and musical arts, connecting audiences and students with the vibrancy of the performing arts traditions of South Asia.

From April to October, Mandala is hosting its annual Makers Festival, a multidisciplinary arts festival celebrating the creativity, diversity, and innovation of South Asian artists in the United States and the global diaspora. Launched in 2019, the festival provides a vital platform for emerging and established artists working across dance, music, theater, film, and interdisciplinary performance. Mandala Makers Festival highlights both traditional and contemporary expressions, fostering artistic experimentation while honoring cultural heritage. Through performances, community gatherings, and collaborative programming, the festival brings together artists and audiences to experience the richness of South Asian culture and to amplify voices shaping the future of diasporic arts.

The next Makers Festival event is "Purush: When Power Becomes Poetry” , featuring an evening-length performance that explores improvisation across classical Indian dance traditions by male dancers. Dancers trained in Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and Odissi interpret shared musical compositions through their distinct movement vocabularies and rhythmic sensibilities. As each artist responds spontaneously to the music, the performance reveals how different classical forms approach improvisation—through unique body language, rhythmic dialogue, and expressive interpretation—creating a dynamic conversation between tradition, individuality, and creativity.

Experience “Purush” on May 2nd, and see the full Makers Festival Lineup here: Mandala Makers Festival 2026

Learn more about Mandala’s Red Line Jazz Project coming in May at the bottom of this newsletter!

Funder: Ragdale
Grant Program: Ragdale Residencies & Fellowships
Max Award/Opportunity: For Fellowships - Fee-waived 18-day residency + $1000 stipend (sliding-scale residency applications also open)
Application Closes: May 14, 2026
Funding Area: Art & Design, Placemaking, Performance (Individual Artist)

Ragdale awards 140 residencies annually across ten sessions to artists working in a variety of disciplines including dance, music, writing, and visual art.
A residency at Ragdale offers individual artists 18 days of uninterrupted time and space to focus on their work, surrounded by remarkable Arts and Crafts style architecture, cozy spaces for gathering and working, and the camaraderie of an exceptional cohort. Residents gather on weeknights to enjoy delicious meals made with ingredients harvested from our gardens whenever possible. Residents have access to 20 acres of open prairie land maintained by our friends at Lake Forest Open Lands Association.
A limited number of fellowships are awarded to residents each year. Fellowship recipients do not pay a residency fee and receive a stipend of $1000 or more.
Fellowship opportunities include
- Ragdale Fellowship for Caregivers (new)
- Schumann Family Fellowship for Arts + Well-being (new)
- Alice Judson Hayes Social Justice Fellowship for Writers
..and more!
Applications are due May 14th. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their application earlier than the stated deadline. Late applications will not be considered.
Please reach out to admissions@ragdale.org with questions.

Funder: City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
Grant Program: CityArts
Max Award/Opportunity: based on formula - see guidelines for details
Application Closes: TBD - opening soon!
Funding Area: Multiple Disciplines (Nonprofits)

The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) supports artists and cultural organizations, invests in the creative economy, and expands access and participation in the arts throughout Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods. Chicago arts and culture nonprofits of all sizes and artistic disciplines can apply for CityArts general operating grants.
The 2026 Application window will is scheduled to open near the end of April. New guidelines for 2026 will be available at that time.
Bookmark the CityArts website and sign up for the DCASE Newsletter to be notified when the window opens.

Grant Tip of the Week 💡- “Assessing Alignment-Knowing Your Lane”

There’s a pot of gold at the end of this newsletter!

Do you have a low batting average with your grant applications? Tired of “Thank you for your application” letters that don’t have an award attached to them?

You actually might be doing too much - not too little.

Head to the bottom of the newsletter for some quick tips on how to be more strategic with your grant research and focus on the grants that are really for you.

Scroll down with us after the funding opportunities to get a little perspective.

NEXT 30 DAYS

Funder: Baldwin For The Arts - The Baldwin Fellowship Program
Maximum Grant Size / Opportunity: Fully-funded artist residency
Application Closes: April 18, 2026
Funding Area: Multiple Arts Disciplines (Individual BIPOC Artist)

Funder: Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) - 2026 Art + Technology Lab Grant
Maximum Grant Size / Opportunity: $50,000
Application Closes: April 22, 2026
Funding Area: Multiple Arts Disciplines (Artists / Artist collectives )

Funder: NBC Universal - NBC Universal Local Impact Grants
Maximum Grant Size: not more than 30% of operational budget
Application Closes: April 24, 2026
Funding Area: Community Empowerment (Organization)

Funder: Harpo Foundation - Grants for Visual Artists
Maximum Grant Size: $10,000
Application Closes: April 27, 2026
Funding Area: Visual Art (Individual Artist, aged 21+)

Funder: Harpo Foundation - Impact Award for Native American Art
Maximum Grant Size: $25,000
Application Closes: April 27, 2026
Funding Area: Visual Art (Individual Native-American Artist)

Funder: Chicken & Egg Films - (Egg)celerator Lab
Maximum Grant Size: $40,000
Application Closes: April 29, 2026 (early-bird 4/1)
Funding Area: Nonfiction Film (Individual Artist, women / gender expansive)

Funder: Chicago Community Trust - African American Legacy Fund
Maximum Grant Size: $75,000
Application Closes: April 29, 2026
Funding Area: Community Wealth Building, Mobilization and Care (Organization)

Funder: Oak Park Area Arts Council - Mini Murals Project 2026
Maximum Grant Size: $1,500
Application Closes: April 30, 2026
Funding Area: Visual Arts (Individual Artist)

Funder: Vilcek Foundation Grants
Maximum Grant Size: $20,000
Application Closes: April 30, 2026
Funding Area: Immigrants in Arts, Sciences, Education, Social Services (Organization)

Funder: Chicago DPD/SBIF (79th/Vincennes | Belmont/Central | Foster/Edens | Kennedy/Kimball | Western/Ogden)
Maximum Grant Size: $150,000 commercial | $250,000 industrial
Application Closes: April 30, 2026
Funding Area: Capital (Organization)

Funder: Chicago Department of Planning and Development - Workforce Solutions Program
Maximum Grant Size: $250,000
Application Closes: April 30, 2026
Funding Area: Workforce Development (Business)

Funder: Lillstreet Arts Center - Artist Residencies
Maximum Grant Size/Opportunity: 9-month residency (free classes, 24-hr facility access)
Application Closes: May 1, 2026
Funding Area: Visual & Craft Arts (Individual Artist)

Funder: Illinois Humanities - Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards
Maximum Grant Size: $300 + poem publication /performance
Application Closes: May 1, 2026
Funding Area: Poetry (Individual Youth Artist, K-12 )

Funder: SouthArts - Jazz & Human Connection Creative Residency
Maximum Grant Size: $40,000
Application Closes: May, TBD **(opening soon)
Funding Area: Music (Individual Artist / Jazz )

Funder: SouthArts - Jazz Road Legacy Residency
Maximum Grant Size: $40,000
Application Closes: May, TBD **(opening soon)
Funding Area: Music (Individual Artist aged 55+ / Jazz )

Funder: Skokie Public Library - Public Art Installation RFP
Maximum Grant Size: $75,000
Application Closes: May 1, 2026
Funding Area: Visual Art (individual artist)

Funder: Hearing In Color - Young Composers Residency
Maximum Grant Size /Opportunity: Residency, $750 in stipends + additional paid opportunities (see guidelines for details)
Application Closes: May 3, 2026
Funding Area: Music Composition (Individual Composer)

Funder: FirelightMedia - Documentary Lab
Opportunity: 12-month Fellowship + $25,000 grant
Application Closes: May 4, 2026
Funding Area: Documentary Film (Individual Directors of Color)

Funder: Film Independent - Documentary Producing Lab
Opportunity: Week-long documentary development lab + pitch event
Application Closes: May 4, 2026
Funding Area: Documentary Film (Individual Artist)

Funder: Film Independent - Fiction Producing Lab
Opportunity: 2-week-long fiction development lab + pitch event
Application Closes: May 4, 2026
Funding Area: Film - Fiction (Individual Artist)

Funder: Film Independent - Alfred P. Sloan Producing Grant
Maximum Grant Size: $30,000
Application Closes: May 4, 2026
Funding Area: Film - math /tech/science (Individual Artist)

Funder: The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts - Arts Writers Grant
Maximum Grant Size: $50,000
Application Closes: May 6, 2026
Funding Area: Writing in Contemporary Art (Individual Writer)

Funder: Chicago DPD: Neighborhood Opportunity Fund, Q2
Maximum Grant Size: $250,000
Application Closes: May 15, 2026
Funding Area: Capital (Organization)

NEXT 90 DAYS

Funder: National Performance Network - Creation and Development Fund (Phase 1)
Minimum Grant Size: $15,000
Application Closes: May 18, 2026
Funding Area: Multiple disciplines (Artist + Partner Organizations)

Funder: Crossroads Fund - Chicago Racial Justice Pooled
Maximum Grant Size: $50,000
Application Closes: May 29, 2026
Funding Area: Racial Justice (Organizations / Collectives)

Funder: Chicago DPD/SBIF (35th/Halsted | 47th/State | Elston/Armstrong| Ogden/Pulaski | Pilsen Industrial Corridor)
Maximum Grant Size: $150,000 commercial | $250,000 industrial
Application Closes: May 30, 2026
Funding Area: Capital (Organization)

Funder: National Trust For Historic Preservation - National Trust Preservation Funds Grants
Maximum Grant Size: $5,000
Application Closes: June 1, 2026
Funding Area: Historic Preservation (Organization / Site)

Funder: Black Harvest Film Festival
Maximum Grant Size: Film Festival Screening - additional awards may apply (see guidelines)
Application Closes: June 10, 2026
Funding Area: Film (Black Filmmakers)

Funder: Illinois Humanities - Envisioning Justice Grants for Individuals
Maximum Grant Size: $5,000
Application Closes: June 12, 2026 **(opens May 1)
Funding Area: Humanities / Mass Incarceration Awareness (Individuals)

Funder: Illinois Humanities - Envisioning Justice Grants for Organizations
Maximum Grant Size: $10,000
Application Closes: June 12, 2026 **(opens May 1)
Funding Area: Humanities / Mass Incarceration Awareness (Organizations)

Funder: Queer | Art - Illuminations Grant for Black Trans Women Visual Artists
Maximum Grant Size: $10,000
Application Closes: July 2, 2026
Funding Area: Visual Art (Individual Artist - Black Trans Woman)

Funder: Salt Lick Incubator - Artist Project Grants
Maximum Grant Size: $15,000
Application Closes: July 15, 2026 **(opens June 1)
Funding Area: Music / Singer - Songwriter (Individual Artist)

Rolling Grants

Funder: Arts Work Fund
Maximum Grant Size: $40,000
Application Status: Rolling
Funding Area: Capacity Building/Planning (Organization)

*RE-OPENED - Funder: Reva & David Logan Foundation
Maximum Grant Size: Varies
Application Status: Rolling (LOI)
Funding Area: Arts, Social Justice, and Journalism (Organization / Individual)

Funder: Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+): Emergency Relief Grant
Grant/Award: $3,000 Emergency Relief Grants
Application Status: Rolling
Funding Area: Emergency relief for Craft Artists (Individual)

Funder: Epiphany Center for the Arts - Call for Exhibitions
Maximum Grant Size: Exhibition platform / space (see guidelines for details)
Application Status: Rolling
Funding Area: Visual Arts (Artist)

Funder: New Music USA--Reel Change: Fund for Diversity in Film Scoring
Maximum Grant Size: $20,000
Application Status: Rolling
Funding Area: Music (Artist)

Funder: Pollock-Krasner Foundation - Grants for Artists
Maximum Grant Size: $50,000
Application Status: Rolling
Funding Area: Visual Arts (Artist)

To view additional rolling grants please visit this link!

Come travel with Mandala on the Red Line as we explore how jazz can connect communities throughout the city!

The Mandala Arts Red Line Project is a Chicago-based public arts initiative that brings live jazz performances into spaces along the Chicago ‘L’ Red Line, transforming everyday transit environments into vibrant sites of cultural exchange and musical encounter. The project uses the concept of the mandala—a symbol of unity, rhythm, and interconnectedness—as a guiding metaphor for collaborative musical expression.

Through a series of curated performances, local jazz musicians and ensembles present short live sets at or near Red Line stations, creating spontaneous moments of connection for commuters and neighborhood residents. The performances blend jazz improvisation with global musical influences, reflecting Chicago’s rich musical heritage and its diverse communities.

Activations begin in May and run through October.

Visit the link below for more details, and be sure to follow @mandalaartschi on instagram for updates!

Red Line Jazz Project

STRATEGY & TIPS

Grant Tip of the Week 💡

Assessing Alignment - Knowing Your Lane

We’re going to cut to the chase:

The #1 error we see in applying for grant opportunities is a) ineligibility or b) misalignment.

We get it - we have a big newsletter, there’s lots of commas and zeros flying around - YOU WANT THESE FUNDS.

That said - what’s for you is for you (and what isn’t, isn’t). If you’re an expert at flame- throwing and you see an opportunity - read the fine print first! They might be looking for someone who builds ice-sculptures, which is….not exactly your wheelhouse.

One way to get focused on opportunities that align with what you’re doing is to do a quick assessment of what you’re really about. If you work for an organization, revisit your mission/vision and your work. If you’re an individual artist, do an internal audit: “Who am I? What work do I really want to fund ? Who am I trying to do the work with?”

Lean into who you are, and what you do - and do that well. Focus on opportunities that “talk” to you.

When an opportunity opens, take advantage of every resource they have - info calls, drop-in sessions, etc. - and read the guidelines carefully, do it with a partner if need be!

Still not sure if an opportunity is right for you? Ask the funder!

There’s usually a contact email in the guidelines for an opportunity where you can direct questions. That person is actually getting paid to answer you - what’s more, they usually have that position because they actually want to do so!

(Do give them ample time for a 48-hr turnaround, though).

Want to hear more? Bookmark this page to be alerted for the date for our next Grant Club, coming up in June!

Mazel Tov to Bustling Spaces’ Clients for 2 Quarters of wins!

Over the last 2 quarters, we’ve been behind the scenes writing, consulting, and driving real impact… and the results are in: Over $1 MILLION secured in grants across programming, projects, planning, capital, operating , and sponsorships.

We’re officially back to sharing the wins, and trust us, there’s more coming.

We’re elated for all of the amazing artists and creative organizations who’ve received funding, and we’re officially back, and now we want to hear from YOU 💬

How has Bustling Spaces supported your journey?

📩 Through our Newsletter? 📊 Weekly Grant Watch? 🤝 Grant Club Sessions? Or are you just getting started?

Fill out the Contact link on our website for a free consultation to see how Bustling Spaces can support you!

Looking for convenient access to our Newsletter? In addition to receiving biweekly updates, you can also locate the latest newsletter on our website under Programs > Newsletter Catalogue .

Looking for Space on the Southside?

South Side Artists in Sacred Spaces

Check out our interactive map of the congregations that are participating in the South Side Artists in Sacred Spaces program. Here’s the link to the map.

Additional Funding Opportunities & Informational Resources:
Explore more funding avenues! Discover additional resources promoting diverse grants, residencies and other opportunities for artists, arts organizations, and creative businesses. Unleash new possibilities and fuel your artistic journey!

The world of public funding can be overwhelming for creatives. That's why the Arts Alliance Help Desk is here. From running list of public funding opportunities to expert staff who can help you find support for your arts practice or navigate a tricky grant application, the AAI Help Desk is there to make sure nonprofits, individual artists, creative business and beyond can thrive. Visit them at https://artsalliance.org/support!
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