Evanston Arts Council Opens Applications For $195,000 In Grant Programs

Press release from the City of Evanston:

The Evanston Arts Council is pleased to announce that applications are now open for two arts grant programs totaling $195,000.

Thanks to two National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) awards and an award from the Illinois Arts Council to supplement City funding, there will be $60,000 available to support arts programs through Cultural Fund Grants, which is twice the typical annual total. A further $135,00 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds will be available to support general operating expenses to aid recovery from the impact of the pandemic. NEA funds are federally earmarked for arts organizations and flow down through the NEA; they are not a part of the $43 million American Rescue Plan Act funding awarded to the City.

“Our arts organizations and artists have been incredibly resourceful and determined, keeping the arts alive and lifting our spirits through the past couple of years,” said Arts Council Chair Toby Sachs. “The Arts Council is delighted to have secured these NEA funds and to make significant financial support available to help the arts continue to thrive in Evanston.”

Eligible applicants can apply for both grants and may be awarded in both categories. Details and online application forms can be found at cityofevanston.org/artsfunding.

For more information, please contact artscouncil@cityofevanston.org or call/text 847-448-4311. For convenience, residents may simply dial 3-1-1 in Evanston.

This press release was produced by the City of Evanston. The views expressed here are the author’s own.