#TBT: South Side Arts Investment + Next Grants Club

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES | VOLUME 56| February 5, 2026

79th Street Renaissance Fest - Credit: Barry Brecheisen for the Chicago Sun Times

Today’s Feature - The South Side Creative Economy

We’re having a #TBT moment with a blog so nice, we’re running it twice.

At the end of last year, we reflected on the fact that, despite the challenges, 2026 has the potential to be a watershed year for Arts and Culture on the South Side. Amidst the country’s turmoil, there is an unmistakable creative renaissance underway, powered by community groups and institutions, independent artists and collectives, which could shape the future of the arts sector for decades to come.

With continued strategic investment, this work has the potential to catalyze the critical expansion already underway and transform the South Side into a Mecca of artistic activity and wealth, with impacts that could reverberate throughout the entire city.

In case you missed it, head over to the Building Blocks Blog and read why we think 2026 marks a year of opportunity for South Side creatives and communities.

Funder: The Chicago Fund for Safe and Peaceful Communitites
Grant Program: 2026 Safe and Peaceful Communities Grant
Max Award/Opportunity: $10,000
Application Closes: March 2, 2026
Funding Area: Community Placemaking

Recognizing the potential for a spike in violence in Chicago during the summer months, the Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities will once again administer the Chicago Fund for Safe and Peaceful Communities to support activities by nonprofit organizations that build community cohesion, provide safe spaces, and promote peace.
The Chicago Fund will consider applications from groups, agencies, and organizations with a valid 501(c)(3) designation or a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor whose mission aligns with the fund’s goal of supporting grassroots, community-based solutions for safer Chicago neighborhoods
To qualify, applicants must propose activities that adhere to the Seven Field Principles (7FP) model. Collaboration among community organizations is also strongly encouraged.
See full guidelines and RFP here: Chicago Fund PSPC 2026 RFP
Applications are due March 2, and awards will be announced on May 1, 2026.

🎨 Bustling Spaces Grant Club is back! Come to our first Grant Club virtual coworking session of the year on Tuesday, February 17th from 6:30 - 8:30 PM 🕡

Get guidance, tools, and perspective as you chart your course to funding your next project, event, or organization. We’ll have breakout rooms available so you can tailor the experience to meet your needs, including:

🤫 Quiet writing room
Funding landscape overview
Assessment of eligibility / alignment for funding
General Q&A

...and more!

Register at the link below, prep in advance by perusing the opportunities in today’s issue, and come ready with questions!

Register Here

Our Services:

DID YOU KNOW - Bustling Spaces LLC helps nonprofits, artists, and community organizations build capacity, secure funding, and strengthen their operations. Whether you’re getting started or ready to scale, we offer strategic, hands-on support tailored to your goals.

✨ Curious about how we can support your work? Let’s connect.

NEXT 30 DAYS

Funder: National Trust for Historic Preservation - African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, National Grants
Maximum Grant Size: $150,000
Application Closes: February 6, 2026
Funding Area: Historic Preservation (Organizations)

Funder: National Trust for Historic Preservation - African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, Conserving Black Modernism
Maximum Grant Size: $150,000
Application Closes: February 6, 2026
Funding Area: Historic Preservation (Organizations)

Funder: Luminarts Cultural Foundation - Luminarts Fellowships
Maximum Grant Size: $15,000
Application Closes: EXTENDED - February 8, 2026
Funding Area: Visual Arts, Creative Writing, Classical Music, & Jazz Improvisation (Individual Artist)

Funder: Antigravity Academy Short Film Studio
Maximum Grant Size: $35,000
Application Closes: February 9, 2026
Funding Area: Film (Individual Filmmaker)

Funder: Crossroads Fund - Seed Fund
Maximum Grant Size: $15,000
Application Closes: February 10, 2026
Funding Area: Social change (Organization /Collective)

Funder: Chicago Public Library - 2026 Maker in residence
Maximum Grant Size: $6,500 + 12-week residency
Application Closes: February 11, 2026
Funding Area: Craft Arts

Funder: National Endowment for the Arts - Grants for Arts Projects, Pt. 1
Maximum Grant Size: $100,000
Application Closes: February 12, 2026
Funding Area: All Arts Disciplines + Arts Education (Organization)

Funder: Chicago Community Trust: Community & Civic Leadership RFP (LOI)
Maximum Grant Size: $75,000
Application Closes: February 12, 2026
Funding Area: Social Change/Leadership (Organization)

Funder: Chicago Department of Planning and Development - Community Development Grant (Small)
Maximum Grant Size: $250,000
Application Closes: February 13, 2026
Funding Area: Capital (Organizations)

Funder: Chicago Department of Planning and Development - Community Development Grant (Medium)
Maximum Grant Size: $5,000,000
Application Closes: February 13, 2026
Funding Area: Capital (Organizations)

Funder: Chicago Department of Planning and Development - Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (Quarterly Grant)
Maximum Grant Size: $250,000
Application Closes: February 13, 2026
Funding Area: Capital (Organizations)

Funder: Illinois Humanities - Project Grants
Maximum Grant Size: $4,000
Application Closes: February 13, 2026 (Letter of Inquiry)
Funding Area: Humanities (Individuals/Organizations)

Funder: Illinois Humanities - Collaborative Project Grants
Maximum Grant Size: $10,000
Application Closes: February 13, 2026 (Letter of Inquiry)
Funding Area: Humanities (Individuals/Organizations)

Funder: Salt Lick Incubator - Artist Project Grants
Maximum Grant Size: $15,000
Application Closes: February 15, 2026
Funding Area: Music (Singer/Songwriter)

Funder: Terra Foundation - Convening Grants
Maximum Grant Size: $25,000
Application Closes: February 16, 2026 (Letter of Inquiry)
Funding Area: Visual Arts focus (Organization)

Funder: AMPT: Advancing Nonprofits - Capacity Building
Maximum Grant Size: $10,000
Application Closes: February 16, 2026
Funding Area: Social Change

Funder: Illinois Arts Council - Creative Learning Grants for Schools
Maximum Grant Size: $20,000
Application Closes: February 18, 2026
Funding Area: Art Education (School)

Funder: Ben & Jerry's Foundation - National Grassroots Organizing Program
Maximum Grant Size: $30,000 max (2 yr grants)
Application Closes: February 18, 2026
Funding Area: Grassroots Organizing (Organizations)

Funder: Chamber Music America - Empowerment for Impact & Growth
Maximum Grant Size: $20,000
Application Closes: February 19, 2026 (EXTENDED)
Funding Area: Music - Jazz (Ensembles)

Funder: Arts and Public Life - 2026/27 Community Cultural Arts Partnership (CCAP)
Grant Award: Partnership w/ Arts & Public Life (reduced rental rates, communications and program design support)
Application Closes: February 23, 2026
Funding Area: Dance, music, film, and media arts (organizations)

Funder: Mid Atlantic Arts - US Artists International Grants
Maximum Grant Size: $11,000 (Matching Grant)
Application Closes: February 25, 2026
Funding Area: Music: international tours (individuals / ensembles)

Funder: National Endowment for the Arts - Grants for Arts Projects, Pt. 2
Maximum Grant Size: $100,000
Application Closes: February 25, 2026
Funding Area: All Arts Disciplines + Arts Education (Organization)

Funder: New Music USA - New Music, Inc Incubator Grants
Maximum Grant Size: $8000 + 18-month Cohort Mentorship
Application Closes: February 26, 2026
Funding Area: Music (Organization)

Funder: Chamber Music America - New Jazz Works
Minimum Grant Size: $9,000 (see guidelines for details)
Application Closes: February 26, 2026
Funding Area: Music - Jazz (Individuals / Ensembles)

Funder: Artadia - Chicago Artadia Awards
Maximum Grant Size: $15,000
Application Closes: March 1, 2026
Funding Area: Visual Art (Individual Artist)

Funder: Chicago DPD/SBIF (119th/Halsted | 47th/Ashland | Avalon Park/South Shore | Chicago/Central Park | Lawrence/Pulaski)
Maximum Grant Size: $150,000 commercial | $250,000 industrial
Application Closes: March 2, 2026
Funding Area: Capital (Organization)

Funder: Poetry Foundation - Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowships
Maximum Grant Size: $27,000
Application Closes: March 2, 2026
Funding Area: Poetry (Individual Artist)

Funder: The Saints - 2026 Saints Performing Arts Grants
Maximum Grant Size: $7,000
Application Closes: March 2, 2026
Funding Area: Performing Arts: Theater, Dance, Music, Multidisciplinary (Organization)

Funder: Illinois Arts Council - Disability LEAD Conference Scholarships
Maximum Grant Size: $1,500
Application Closes: March 5, 2026
Funding Area: Disability Justice / Conference (Organizational Staff)

NEXT 60 DAYS

Funder: Terra Foundation - Exhibition Grant (LOI)
Maximum Grant Size: $200,000
Application Closes: March 6, 2026
Funding Area: Visual Art (Organization)

Funder: SouthArts - Jazz Road tours
Maximum Grant Size: $15,000
Application Closes: March 10, 2026 (Letter of Inquiry)
Funding Area: Music (Jazz, Artist / Ensemble)

Funder: Chicago Community Trust - Sponsorships
Maximum Grant Size: $10,000
Application Closes: March 12, 2026
Funding Area: Events, Panels, Forums (organization)

Funder: Live Music Society - Music in Action
Maximum Grant Size: $50,000
Application Closes: March 12, 2026
Funding Area: Music (Organization / Venue)

Funder: League of Chicago Theaters - ComEd Powering the Arts
Maximum Grant Size: $20,000
Application Closes: March 13, 2026
Funding Area: Multiple Disciplines (Organization)

Funder: Artist Grant
Maximum Grant Size: $1,200
Application Closes: March 15, 2026
Funding Area: Visual Arts (Organization)

Funder: Illinois Arts Council General Operating Support and Youth Employment in the Arts
Maximum Grant Size: YEA Max = $4,500 | GOS Max = determined by funding formula
Application Closes: March 18, 2026
Funding Area: Multiple Disciplines, Youth in Arts (Organization)

Funder: Chicago Community Trust: Community & Civic Leadership RFP (Invite Only)
Maximum Grant Size: $75,000
Application Closes: March 19, 2026
Funding Area: Social Change/Leadership (Organization)

Funder: National Endowment for the Arts - Research Grants in the Arts, Pt. 1
Maximum Grant Size: $100,000
Application Closes: March 23, 2026
Funding Area: Arts Research (Organization)

Funder: Cliff Dwellers Arts Foundation
Maximum Grant Size: $2,000
Application Closes: March 27, 2026 (Application must be postmarked by March 27)
Funding Area: Multiple Disciplines (Organization or Individual)

Funder: Hyde Park Art Center - Bridge Performance Incubator Program
Grant Award: 10-week seminar-style exploratory practice cohort
Application Closes: March 29, 2026
Funding Area: Performance (Individual Artist)

Funder: Chicago DPD/SBIF (47th/King Drive | 63rd/Pulaski | 87th/Cottage Grove | Central West | Ewing Avenue)
Maximum Grant Size: $150,000 commercial | $250,000 industrial
Application Closes: March 30, 2026
Funding Area: Capital (Organization)

Funder: Illinois Department of Hunan Services - Problem Gambling Awareness Art Competition
Maximum Grant Size: $2,000
Application Closes: March 31, 2026
Funding Area: Multiple Disciplines (Visual Art, Literature, Performance, Film)

Funder: National Endowment for the Arts - Research Grants in the Arts, Pt. 2
Maximum Grant Size: $100,000
Application Closes: April 2, 2026
Funding Area: Arts Research (Organizations)

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 DPD: Neighborhood Opportunity Fund, Q2
Maximum Grant Size: $250,000
Application Closes: May 15, 2026
Funding Area: Immigrants in Arts, Sciences, Education, Social Services (Organization)

Rolling Grants

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

Funder: Chicago Racial Justice Pooled Fund - Racial Justice Community Organizing Grants
Maximum Grant Size: $50,000
Application Status: Rolling
Funding Area: Racial Justice (Organizations / Collectives)

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

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)

To view additional rolling grants please visit this link!

STRATEGY & TIPS

Grant Tip of the Week 💡

Before you start drafting your proposal, take time to truly understand the funder’s mission — not just what they fund, but why they fund it.

Ask yourself:

What problem is this funder most committed to solving?
What language or themes appear repeatedly across their website and past awards?

Aligning your proposal’s language with the funder’s priorities helps your application feel like a natural fit — not a stretch.

Pro Tip: Pull 3–5 key phrases from the funder’s website and thoughtfully integrate them into your needs statement and outcomes section. This signals alignment and strengthens your case for support.

At Bustling Spaces, we believe that a successful grant application requires a multi-faceted approach that combines precision, creativity, and strategic planning.

Tell City Council to keep arts funding strong in Chicago’s 2026 budget! Contact your alderperson and urge them to support cultural grants and programs in this year's budget. Contact Your Alderman

Take a closer look at what’s in (and what’s not) for arts and culture in Chicago’s FY26 budget. Read Arts Alliance full analysis for key takeaways and context. Read Arts Alliance’s Analysis

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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