Get These Grants! + Holiday Hustling

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES | VOLUME 53| December 5, 2025

Artist Feature: Arts & Culture Organizations Making Waves in Chicago!

In this issue and throughout this holiday season, we’ll be featuring the amazing organizations participating in our year-end “Be The Ripple” collective campaign, catalyzing significant impact in their communities and the Chicago cultural landscape.

The participants are:

Arts at First Presbyterian (@chicagofirstchurch)
Blondena’s HEIRS (@blondenasheirs)
Bronzeville Black Metropolis National Heritage Area (@bronzevilleblackmetropolisnha)
Cabrini Art House (@cabriniarthouse)
ChiBrations (@chi_brations)
Coalition of Black House Museums
Diasporal Rhythms (@diasporalrhythms)
ISPro Academy (@isproacademy)
LMRM (@lmrm_chicago)
Muddy Waters MOJO Museum (@mojomuseum)

Please stay tuned to our Instagram feed to see our “Be The Ripple” spotlight reels highlighting each organization, and head to our homepage learn more about each organization and support them to reach their fundraising goal!

Don’t forget to do the Hustle by joining Bustling Spaces’ Holiday Hustle Promotional Campaign for Chicago Creatives!

Starting Monday, 12/8 - For $25, we’ll help you/your organization promote the creative products, services and programming you’re offering in December through weekly email blasts, a “Holiday Hustle” webpage on our site, and on social media.

The $25 advertising fee will go directly into our “Be The Ripple” collective fundraising campaign, allowing you promote your work and support your fellow creatives. Scroll down at our homepage to get full details, or click here to purchase your ad today!

Funder: Chicago Park District
Grant Program: Night Out in The Parks
Award/Opportunity: See Guidelines
Application Closes: December 8, 2025
Funding Area: Multiple Disciplines (Artists or Organizations)

The Chicago Park District currently seeks proposals from Chicago-based organizations, collectives, and individual artists to participate in the 2026 season of Night Out in the Parks. The season runs from June 1 to December 31, 2026.

Celebrating 14 years, Night Out in the Parks brings neighbors together, activating parks with robust cultural events that uplift communities. Through various disciplines such as theater, music, movies, dance, site-specific work, nature programs, culinary arts, literary arts, and community festivals, the Chicago Park District presents world-class performances and cultural events in our parks.

Proposals are due by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, December 8, 2025, for consideration for the 2026 season.

See full guidelines at chicagoparkdistrict.com/night-out-parks-proposals
Interested Filmmakers should apply through Chicago OnScreen

STRATEGY & TIPS

📂 Grant Tip: Are You Aligned? ✔️

When applying for grants, one of the most common errors we see is when applicants unintentionally apply for an opportunity that they are either ineligible for or that doesn’t fit their mission/work. Applying to (and being rejected by) these opportunities often leads to confusion, frustration, and application burnout.

It’s possible that less is more!

Get a buddy you trust to help you to review the prospects on your list, to check to make sure you’re eligible for the opportunities you’re exploring, and to look at funder priorities and past awardees to see if you’re a good fit. If you’re unsure, reach out and contact the funder to set up a conversation to get more information. You may end up with a shorter list than you started with, but trimming down your list can lead to a more focused application strategy, less time spent on long-shots, and better results!

Don’t change who you are and what you do - just find out who really wants to fund it.

Happy hunting!

NEXT 30 DAYS

Funder: Puffin Foundation
Maximum Grant Size: $3,500
Application Closes: December 8, 2025 (Full Application - must submit mail in application request form by 11/21)
Funding Area: Fine Arts, Music, and Photography (Artists or Organizations)

Funder: Chicago Park District - Chicago OnScreen
Award / Opportunity: Film Screening in Chicago Parks
Application Closes: December 8, 2025
Funding Area: Film (Filmmakers)

Funder: Literary Arts Fund - General Operating Grants
Award / Opportunity: Film Screening in Chicago Parks
Application Closes: December 19, 2025
Funding Area: Film (Filmmakers)

Funder: Chicago Artists Coalition - Artist Residency and Curatorial Residency
Award/Opportunity: Free studio space for 1 yr + stipend and professional development (see guidelines)
Application Closes: December 21, 2025
Funding Area: Multiple Disciplines (Individual Artists / Curators)

Funder: Chicago DPD/SBIF (47th / Halsted | Addison South | Commercial Avenue | Hollywood/Sheridan | Roosevelt / Cicero Industrial Corridor)
Maximum Grant Size: $150,000 (Commercial), $250,000 (Industrial)
Application Closes: December 30, 2025 (LOI)
Funding Area: Capital (Organization)

Funder: Definition Theatre - Amplify New Play Series 6
Maximum Grant Size: $3,000 + 2-year new play development
Application Closes: January 4, 2026
Funding Area: Theatre (Individual playwright)

NEXT 90 DAYS

Funder: Ragdale - Ragdale Ring Design-Build Competition
Maximum Grant Size: $20,000 + 18-day residency
Application Closes: January 6, 2026
Funding Area: Design (Artist/Team)

Funder: City of Chicago DCASE - DuSable Park Public Art: Honoring Native Voices
Maximum Grant Size: $500,000 (total project budget)
Application Closes: January 10, 2026 (Qualifications Submission)
Funding Area: Visual Art (Individual Artist/Team)

Funder: Chicago Community Trust - Pre-Development Fund
Maximum Grant Size: $100,000
Application Closes: January 12, 2026 (Project Scope Submission)
Funding Area: Capital Projects (Organizations)

Funder: Parent Artist Advocacy League - Parent & Artist Caregiver Grant
Maximum Grant Size: $1,000 (for caregiving support)
Application Closes: January 15, 2026
Funding Area: All Disciplines (Parents/Caregiver Artist)

Funder: Mid-America Arts Alliance - Creative Forces Grant for Arts Projects for Military-involved communities
Maximum Grant Size: $25,000
Application Closes: January 15, 2026
Funding Area: Multiple Arts Disciplines (Organizations)

Funder: Les Paul Foundation - Grants for Music and Innovation
Maximum Grant Size: varies, see FAQs
Application Closes: January 15, 2026
Funding Area: Music Education/STEAM (Organizations)

Funder: School for Advanced Research - Native Artist Fellowship
Maximum Grant Size: $15,000
Application Closes: January 15, 2026
Funding Area: Multiple Arts Disciplines (Individual Artist - Native-American)

Funder: Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation - Individual Support Grant for Mature Artists
Maximum Grant Size: $25,000
Application Closes: January 15, 2026
Funding Area: Painting/Sculpting/Printmaking (Individual Artist)

Funder: BMI Foundation - Classical Music Composer Award
Maximum Grant Size: $5,000
Application Closes: January 15, 2026
Funding Area: Music (Classical, Individual Artist under age 28)

Funder: BMI Foundation - John Lennon Award
Maximum Grant Size: $20,000
Application Closes: January 15, 2026
Funding Area: Music (Contemporary, Individual Artist ages 17-24)

Funder: BMI Foundation - Dolly Parton Songwriters Award
Maximum Grant Size: $20,000
Application Closes: January 15, 2026
Funding Area: Music (Folk/Country, Individual Artist ages 17-24)

Funder: Arts Midwest / NEA - NEA Big Read
Maximum Grant Size: $20,000 (Matching Grant)
Application Closes: January 15, 2026 (Intent to Apply)
Funding Area: Literature-centered Programming (Organizations)

Funder: Arts Midwest / NEA - NEA Big Read
Maximum Grant Size: $20,000 (Matching Grant)
Application Closes: January 29, 2026 (Full Application)
Funding Area: Literature-centered Programming (Organizations)

Funder: Arts Midwest- Shakespeare in American Communities: Schools Program
Maximum Grant Size: $25,000 (Matching Grant)
Application Closes: January 29, 2026 (Intent to Apply)
Funding Area: Shakespeare related performances & education for middle/high school (501c3)

Funder: Arts Midwest - Shakespeare in American Communities: Juvenile Justice Program
Maximum Grant Size: $25,000
Application Closes: January 29, 2026 (Intent to Apply)
Funding Area: Shakespeare related performances & education for juvenile justice facilities (501c3)

Funder: Arts Midwest - Shakespeare in American Communities: Apprenticeship Program
Maximum Grant Size: $30,000 (Matching Grant)
Application Closes: January 29, 2026 (Intent to Apply)
Funding Area: Apprenticeships (theater) (501c3)

Funder: Levitt Foundation - 2026 Festival Grants
Maximum Grant Size: $5,000
Application Closes: January 30, 2026
Funding Area: Music Festivals (Organizations)

Funder: Luminarts Cultural Foundation - Luminarts Fellowships
Maximum Grant Size: $15,000
Application Closes: February 1, 2026
Funding Area: Visual Arts, Creative Writing, Classical Music, & Jazz Improvisation (Individual Artist)

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

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: National Trust for Historic Preservation - African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund
Maximum Grant Size: $150,000
Application Closes: February 14, 2026
Funding Area: Historic Preservation (Organizations)

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

Funder: Mid Atlantic Arts - USArtists International Grants
Maximum Grant Size: $11,000 (Matching Grant)
Application Closes: February 25, 2026
Funding Area: Music (Singer/Songwriter)

Rolling Grants

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

Overview
The Arts Work Fund (AWF) is a funding collaborative supporting small and mid-sized arts organizations in Chicago and Cook County. AWF's responsive grants support individual arts organizations—or collaborations among them—as they adopt or improve new organizational practices. Grants aim to:

- Strengthen organizational resilience
- Advance strategy
- Improve community engagement and communication
- Address other key capacity-building needs

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: Ben & Jerry's Foundation - National Grassroots Organizing Program
Maximum Grant Size: $30,000 (2-year Grants)
Application Status: Rolling
Funding Area: Grassroots organizing (Organizations)

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!

We had a BLAST at One State in the Arts and Humanities!

Your faves showed up and showed out for “Meeting the Moment: Artists Supporting Artists.” The session was a powerful example of what happens when we support one another, show our work, and affirm each other’s gifts.

A thousand thanks to our featured speakers Camila Vick of The.BlkRoom, Eva Supreme of Too Creative HQ, Rachel Gadson of ILA Creative Studio, Marques “Merk” Elliston and Lauren Amos from Cabrini Art House and It’s Just Breakfast, and Max Li of Arts at First for joining us virtually, and to Kacie Smith of Arts Alliance Illinois, Sam Thousand of ChiBrations, and Bustling Spaces’ own Evin Marie for addressing our session guests in person.

Special thanks to Illinois Humanities and the Illinois Arts Council for organizing such an amazing event!

Don’t forget to head over to our instagram page to see photos and hear testimonials from attendees!

Photos by Dan Reynolds

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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