Opportunities for Artists

Opens: February 26, 2025
Deadline: April 9, 2025

The Illinois Arts Council’s (IAC) Creative Accelerator Fund (CAF) provides crucial support to artists with a goal of strengthening the creative workforce that composes a significant portion of Illinois’ economic activity.

Opens: July, 2025
Open Deadline

Creative Projects Grant offers support to Illinois artists and non-profit organizations for arts-related projects, events, or professional development.

Opens: February 5, 2025
Deadline: Closed

The Illinois Poet Laureate is an appointment made possible by the Office of the Governor. The Poet Laureate advances awareness of and appreciation for the literary arts and humanities within the state.

Opens: October 30, 2024
Deadline: Closed

Award Size: $4,000 to the Mentor and $1,000 to the Apprentice

Funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Folk Arts Mentorship (FAM) grant supports the mentoring relationship that develops between exemplary practitioners working with dedicated apprentices in ethnic, folk, and traditional arts.

Are You Really Winning?

Deadline: March 31, 2025

The Illinois Department of Human Services is looking for artwork (in all media) to bring attention to a statewide educational campaign addressing problem gambling: Are You Really Winning? Illinois-based artists ages 14 and up are called to shine a light on the journey from darkness to hope for individuals challenged with gambling addiction. 

Commission artwork (exterior sculpture)

Deadline: April 11, 2025, 3:00 pm

The Art-in-Architecture Program of the Capital Development Board is pleased to announce a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to Illinois professional artists to create permanent original public art for The Phillip J. Rock Center and School in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. 

Request for Proposals

Deadline: April 28, 2025, 11:59 pm

The Park District, with support from CNL Projects, invites artists or artist teams with a demonstrated history of completing temporary, outdoor installations, performances or ephemeral public artworks (or other relevant experiences) to submit their proposals for the commission of a site-responsive installation or performance-based intervention for one of three selected monuments identified by the Park District and highlighted in the Chicago Monuments Project Report: A Signal of Peace, William McKinley Monument, and General Philip Henry Sheridan. 

Paid Opportunities for Chicago Dance Artists & Companies

Deadline: March 17, 2025

Chicago Dance Month applications are now open! Submit your materials today to be considered for paid performance and teaching opportunities!*

Now in its 12th year, Chicago Dance Month—the largest dance celebration in Chicago—runs May 31–June 30!

Walking Together: Investing in Folklife in Communities of Color

Deadline: March 19, 2025

Walking Together is a national program that offers grants of $15,000–$50,000 to support folklife and traditional arts rooted in communities of color.

Request for Proposals

Deadline: March 31

The Chicago History Museum invites visual artists to submit a proposal to create an original work for display in the Museum as it marks the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.

Jazz Residencies
Deadline: April 2

Jazz Road Creative Residencies offers grants to jazz artists to support a residency for artistic creation or connecting with audiences. 

Search for additional state and national resources for organizations through the IAC's Discipline-Specific Resources database.