Make Waves, Get Grants, & Do The (Holiday) Hustle!

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES | VOLUME 52| November 13, 2025

Make some Waves and Do the Hustle this Holiday!

Bustling Spaces will be launching TWO first-time initiatives this holiday season that we’re excited about - both coming next week!

First, we’ll be launching the “Be The Ripple” Collective Campaign, amplifying 10 incredible arts and social justice organizations that are making powerful change across Chicago. You can have a direct and far-reaching impact on local artists and organizations by helping us reach our $12,000 collective goal!

Next, Bustling Spaces is launching a Holiday Hustle Promotional Campaign for Chicago Creatives!

Here’s how it works: we’ll be sending out weekly Holiday Hustle e-blasts and social media posts spotlighting dynamic creatives, their organizations, and their holiday events and specials. For $25, you or your organization can advertise whatever creative products, services or programming you are offering in December with a link for folks to click through to purchase from you or donate to your cause. Social media posts will tag you so you can easily share with your networks.

The $25 advertising fee will go directly into our “Be The Ripple” collective fundraising campaign, So you can simultaneously promote your work and support your fellow creatives.

Working together to support one another this holiday season, we truly can make this “the most wonderful tiiiiiiiiiime of the yeeeaaaaaaar”

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: Save and Reuse Core Proposal Language
Create a master file with your mission, vision, program descriptions, org history, outcomes, evaluation methods, and budget notes. Most funders ask similar questions — so instead of starting from scratch each time, you can customize and strengthen your responses faster. Efficiency = more applications out the door ✔️

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

NEXT 30 DAYS

Funder: ACRE Residency
Award / Opportunity : 14-day arts residency
EXTENDED - Application Closes: November 20, 2025
Funding Area: Multiple Disciplines (Artist/Collaboration)

Funder: Puffin Foundation
Maximum Grant Size: $3,500
Application Closes: postmarked by November 21, 2025 (*due date for mail-in application request form)
Funding Area: Fine Arts, Music, and Photography (Artists or Organizations)

Funder: New Music USA - New Music Creator Fund
Maximum Grant Size: $5,000
Application Closes: November 21, 2025
Funding Area: Music (Creator/Composer)

Funder: Àkójọpọ̀ Music Foundation - Call for Composers
Award/Opportunity: Royalties, Promotional and Commission Opportunities (see guidelines for details)
Application Closes: November 23, 2025
Funding Area: Multiple Disciplines (Artist/Collaboration)

Funder: Chicago Park District - Anchor Curatorial Residency
Maximum Grant Size: $30K max ($20,000 curator fee, $10,000 program and exhibition expenses)
Application Closes: November 24, 2025
Funding Area: Placemaking/Curation, Multiple Disciplines (Individual Artist)

Funder: ILA Creative Studio: ILA X Kimball Art Center Residency (*exclusively on BLACC app)
Award/Opportunity: Residency cohort membership + $500 stipend
Application Closes: November 28, 2025
Funding Area: Visual Arts (Individual Artist)

Funder: Chicago DPD/SBIF (43rd / Cottage Grove | 71st / Stony Island | Avondale | Little Village East | Madison / Austin)
Maximum Grant Size: $150,000 (Commercial), $250,000 (Industrial)
Application Closes: November 30, 2025 (LOI)
Funding Area: Capital (Organization)

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)

NEXT 90 DAYS

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: 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: 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: 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: 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!
Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) Opportunities Newsletter
Creative Capital Artist Resources
Arts Alliance Illinois Newsletter & Loans 101 Webinar Workshop
3Arts - Additional Resources
Illinois Humanities - Additional Resources
Allies for Community Business - both Loans & Grants
ILA Creative Studio's BLACC App
Chibrations App
Newcity Today Newsletter