What are the opening hours?

Monday 8:30am - 5pm Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm Thursday 8:30am - 5pm Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Illinois Arts Council, 115 S. LaSalle Street , Ste. 2202, Chicago, IL (2026)

02/26/2026

Opportunity for non-profit organizations, performance groups, dance organizations, festivals, presenters, and venues:
New Music USA /
Deadline to apply: March 19 at 11:59pm ET/8:59pm PT

Applications are now open for the 2026 cycle of the New Music Organization Fund!

The New Music Organization Fund offers grants to non-profit organizations, performance groups, dance organizations, festivals, presenters, and venues that need support to sustain their programming of new music and/or nurturing of music creators and other artists. The average grant award is $7,000, and you may apply for up to $10,000.

The New Music Organization Fund program guidelines and FAQs provides all the information you’ll need to learn more about this year’s program, including registration links for the following:

Application webinar: March 5 at 2pm ET/11am PT (follow link below)
Q&A session: March 11 at 2pm ET/11am PT (follow link below)
Deadline to apply: March 19 at 11:59pm ET/8:59pm PT

Photography:
Slide 1: : Izzy Madover
Slide 2: :
Slide 3: : Marcos Toledo

Follow the link for more details: www.newmusicusa.org/program/organization-fund/

02/25/2026

Opportunity for Artists & Makers:
Midsummer Festival of the Arts
/ John Michael Kohler Arts Center
Don’t miss your chance to join over 100 juried artists in this beloved outdoor festival, showcasing original work in ceramics, glass, painting, photography, metal, fiber, jewelry, wood, and more.
Bands interested in performing at Midsummer Festival of the Arts can fill out an inquiry form via the website link below.

Apply by March 2, 2026 | Artist notifications sent by April 1, 2026
Artists must apply through ZAPPlication

Follow the link for more details:
www.jmkac.org/event/midsummer-festival-of-the-arts-call-for-artists/

If you have questions or need more information, please email MFA@jmkac.org.

02/25/2026

Opportunity for Artists:

Submission Deadline: Friday, February 27, 2025 11:59pm

Visionary Projects is excited to host their NEXT small-group cohort to their online (and future IRL) initiative: The Directory. A hyper-curated selection of artists they work with & represent artwork from. Select artists will be part of their official network - curatorial shows & other opportunities will be sourced from this space throughout the year ahead.

Artists of all backgrounds around the world are welcome to share their work.

Represented artwork will be selected as part of the next Cohort addition (in March) and will live online in the form of a virtual show AND discovery space — and in true Visionary Projects fashion, they are hosting an open call to make sure we don’t miss out on any talent.

Follow the link for more details: https://visionaryprojects.org/opencall

Artwork will live on visionaryprojects.org
Artwork in this post: &

02/25/2026

Opportunity for Art Critics, Curators, and Students:
Open Call: Writings on Diasporican Visual Artists
Center for Puerto Rican Studies-Centro /
Deadline: May 10, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET

CENTRO invites art critics, curators, scholars, and students to submit original essays on contemporary diasporic Puerto Rican visual artists for the Diasporican Art in Motion initiative to be published in our online magazine, RicanWritings.

They especially welcome work aligned with CENTRO’s 2026 themes “Boricuas in Relation” and “Black Cuerpas: Race, Body Politics & Culture”

Up to 10 essays will be selected for publication.
Honorarium: $300

Submissions open: March 11, 2026
Deadline: May 10, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET

Essays (max 1,500 words) may be written in English or Spanish and must focus on an artist in the Diasporican Art in Motion database.

For more details, follow the link: www.centropr.hunter.cuny.edu

02/25/2026

Opportunity for All:
/ Chicago Cultural Alliance
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
Check-in & breakfast: 9-10:30AM, Opening Remarks: 10:30AM
(See the full schedule on the CCA website)

University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC)
750 S. Halsted Street, Chicago, 60607

Activating Heritage is the Chicago Cultural Alliance’s annual professional development conference for cultural heritage and non-profit professionals. The conference connects their Core Members and other arts & culture workers from across the Chicago region with capacity-building presentations, panels, and workshops.⁠

The Activating Heritage conference invites experts in a variety of fields to engage with topics that will promote resilience in the cultural heritage sector and enhance attendees’ knowledge, capacity, and skills. Session areas will include collections, fundraising, community engagement, and more.

Join them on the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) campus for a fully in-person conference. The day’s events feature a keynote address, complimentary lunch and coffee breaks, plenty of networking opportunities, and a robust schedule of panels, workshops, and discussions.
⁠
Follow the link for more information, event details and to register: www.chicagoculturalalliance.org

02/24/2026

Free Opportunity for All:
Poetry from the Trenches: How a lifetime of work can shape a poet
A Reading Series Event with Poet Mark Turcotte
Illinois Humanities / / / Elgin Community College Arts Center

Thursday, February 26, 2026, 6:00pm–8:30pm

Join Illinois Poet Laureate Mark Turcotte for a day at Elgin Community College.
This event is part of Elgin Community College's (ECC) Writing Center.

Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive, Bldg B, Rm 181, Community Room
Elgin, IL 60123

Free.
Registration is required.

Writer Mark Turcotte (Turtle Mountain Band Anishinaabe) spent his earliest years on North Dakota's Turtle Mountain Chippewa Reservation and in the migrant camps of the western United States. Later, he grew up in and around Lansing, Michigan. After high school and one unproductive year in college, he traveled the country, working and living on the road for nearly fifteen years. Mr. Turcotte serves as Senior Lecturer and Distinguished-Writer-In-Residence in the English Department at DePaul University.

To learn more and to register, follow the link:
www.ilhumanities.org/events/ecc-reading-series

02/24/2026

Opportunity for Artists:
Artist Residency Opportunity – The Poor Farm Experiment/Living Within the Play: nido - Co-Directed by Kelly Kaczynski and Mark Jeffery

Monte Castello di Vibio, Italy
August 9th - 23rd 2026

Living Within the Play: nido celebrates its fifth annual artist residency bringing together an international consortium of artists to Monte Castello di Vibio, a 15th century hill town in the rural region of Umbria, Italy. This two-week residency culminates in an exhibition of artworks and performances. During the residency, we individually and collectively explore the relationships between the social historical landscape, use of land resources, and the narratives of Monte Castello di Vibio and the surrounding region. Our explorations inform and guide our conversations as a group while contributing to the making practices of each individual artist “living within the play.”

Residency Director Bios:

Kelly Kaczynski is an interdisciplinary artist, writer, and curator working in the language of sculpture. Kaczynski is Professor, Adjunct at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). Since 2019, she has co-directed the Living in the Play Residency at The Poor Farm, WI and, since 2022, the NIDO Residency in Monte Castello di Vibio, Italy.

Mark Jeffery is a performance artist and Full Professor at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). A former Goat Island member, he co-founded Anatomical Theatres of Mixed Reality in 2012. He co-directs the Living in the Play Residency at The Poor Farm in Wisconsin. Since 2023, he has also co-led the nido Residency in Italy.

Registration Deadline is June 1,
Contact poorfarmliving@gmail.com for questions and/or intent to attend.

For more information, follow the link: www.poorfarmexperiment.org

02/24/2026

Opportunity for Midwest Artists:
Call for Art for America at 250: Expressions of Freedom exhibit
/ Carnegie Museum of Montgomery County
Entry deadline: March 7, 2026 (at midnight)

The Carnegie Museum of Montgomery County will host a regional art exhibit celebrating America 250, titled America @ 250: Expressions of Freedom. This exhibit invites artists of all ages and levels of experience to submit works that reflect what freedom means to them. It invites artists, students, families, and visitors to participate in a meaningful civic celebration highlighting perspectives, histories, and creative expressions unique to our region.

This juried exhibition is open to artists of all ages in Indiana and the Midwest. All mediums except video will be considered. Work must be original and completed within the last three years. Artists must accurately represent all work with JPEG images. Submissions not meeting these criteria will not be exhibited.

Professional presentation of each piece is required. 2D artwork must be ready to hang. Sculptures should be fully assembled and structurally sound and must include detailed installation instructions, if necessary.

All entries or related questions should be emailed to Janna Bennett at jbennett@carnegiemuseum.in.gov with the subject line “Freedom.” Please fill out and include the attached entry form along with JPEG images of your artwork. Do not submit more than five (5) pieces for consideration. The museum reserves the right to reproduce images of qualifying work for the purposes of promoting and documenting the exhibition.

The Carnegie Museum of Montgomery County is located at 205 S. Washington Street, Crawfordsville, IN 47933

For more details, follow the link: www.carnegiemuseum.in.gov/america-250-expressions-of-freedom/

02/24/2026

Opportunity for Organizations:
FY 2027 General Operating Support Grant
Drop-In #3: Friday, February 27, 2026, 12:00PM/NOON

Drop-ins are an open hour with IAC Program staff to come with any questions you have about the grant program or application and get answers on the call.

General Operating Support (GOS) Grants are offered to eligible not-for-profit organizations that provide arts programming to their defined communities in a manner that supports the mission of the organization. Successful applicants demonstrate ongoing arts programs and a strong commitment to making artistic programs accessible and relevant to a diverse range of participants.

The Youth Employment in the Arts (YEA) Grants provide up to $4,500 to General Operating Support recipients to support youth employment opportunities in their organization throughout the year. Youth employees may be between the ages of 14 and 22. Organizations may request funds for up to 4 youth employees. Duties may be administrative or artistic in nature, or a combination of both.

Guidelines released: January 30, 2026
Opens: February 3, 2026
Deadline: March 18, 2026

Please visit our website and click the link to join the meeting when it is time:
www.arts.illinois.gov/granting-opportunities/grants-programs/general-operating-support.html

02/24/2026

Opportunity for Champaign County Poets:
Poet Laureate Applications Due - Applications DUE March 1st, 2026.

CALLING ALL POETS!
The Urbana Poet Laureate program application for the 2026 cycle is due this Sunday, March 1, 2026.

Eligibility:
• Must be at least 21 years of age
• Have resided in Champaign County for a minimum of one year prior to applying
• Display a strong commitment to the community
• Be active as a poet (i.e. a poet who performs, published, and/or presented through an editorial/curatorial review)
• Be able and enthusiastic to fulfill duties

About the Poet Laureate Program
In April of 2019, the City of Urbana’s Office of the Mayor and the Urbana Arts & Culture Program announced the inaugural Poet Laureate Program for the City of Urbana.

Now in its fifth cycle, the City's Poet Laureate Program celebrates poetry by recognizing a resident poet who honors and serves their diverse community while elevating the importance of the creative writing art form by sharing their work with Urbana residents.
"The Poet Laureate acts as an advocate for poetry, language, and the arts," said Rachel Lauren Storm, past Arts & Culture Coordinator, "The selected poet creates a unique artistic legacy by conducting outreach activities, special programs, and presentations of individual works with support from our arts program."

For more information, follow the link: www.urbanail.gov/community-development-services/page/poet-laureate

Questions? Contact Vivian Krishnan, City of Urbana Program Specialist, 217-328-8265 &/or email: www.urbanail.gov/email-contact/node/1651/field_email/sidebar_standard

02/23/2026

Arts Alliance Illinois Announces Landmark 2026 Study of The Chicago and Illinois Creative Economy
Arts Alliance Illinois /

Arts Alliance Illinois has embarked on a significant research initiative, the Creative Economy Study, which focuses on the economic impact and infrastructure of the creative sector in Illinois and Chicago. Scheduled for release in June 2026, this study aims to provide one of the most comprehensive analyses of the creative economy, highlighting its role as a critical component of the state's economic vitality. Supported by a coalition of public and private partners, the study will offer essential data for strategic investments and policy decisions, underscoring the creative sector's importance in community development and economic growth.

Nora Daley, Board Chair of the Illinois Arts Council, emphasized the study's significance: “A strong creative economy benefits communities in every corner of Illinois. This research will provide us with the data needed to make smarter public investments, strengthen the creative workforce in Illinois, and ensure arts and culture continue to contribute to the state’s economic resilience.”

Arts Alliance Illinois plays a pivotal role in advocating for the creative sector statewide. Their mission is to build the sector’s power through advocacy and connection to resources, aiming to enhance the quality of life across Illinois. Envisioning a thriving creative sector supported by public and private investments, Arts Alliance Illinois works towards a future where artists, cultural organizations, and creative industries are integral to the economic, civic, and social fabric of Illinois. Through their efforts, they seek to promote a just and thriving creative community that is celebrated and supported throughout the state.

READ THE PRESS RELEASE: Arts Alliance Illinois Announces Landmark 2026 Study of The Chicago and Illinois Creative Economy - Arts Alliance Illinois

www.artsalliance.org/2026/02/arts-alliance-illinois-announces-landmark-2026-study-of-the-chicago-and-illinois-creative-economy/

02/23/2026

Free Opportunity for All:
Poetry Craft Workshop with Visiting Poet Mark Turcotte
Illinois Humanities / / / Elgin Community College Arts Center

Thursday, February 26, 2026, 2:00pm–3:15pm

Join Illinois Poet Laureate Mark Turcotte for a day at Elgin Community College.
This event is part of Elgin Community College's (ECC) Writing Center.

Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive, Bldg C, Rm 120, Library Instruction Room, Elgin, IL 60123

Free.
Registration is required.

Writer Mark Turcotte (Turtle Mountain Band Anishinaabe) spent his earliest years on North Dakota's Turtle Mountain Chippewa Reservation and in the migrant camps of the western United States. Later, he grew up in and around Lansing, Michigan. After high school and one unproductive year in college, he traveled the country, working and living on the road for nearly fifteen years. Mr. Turcotte serves as Senior Lecturer and Distinguished-Writer-In-Residence in the English Department at DePaul University.

To learn more and to register, follow the link: www.ilhumanities.org/events/craft-workshop-mark-turcotte

Illinois Arts Council

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Monday	8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 5pm
Thursday	8:30am - 5pm
Friday	8:30am - 5pm