Evanston Arts Council Awards $70,000 To Local Arts Programs

EVANSTON, IL — The Evanston Arts Council has awarded $70,000 in increments of up to $5,000 to 20 local arts programs.

This year's budget for grants was more than twice previous years, with the city's $30,000 contribution bolstered by $30,000 in grant funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and $10,000 from the Illinois Arts Council, city staff announced.

The council, a 12-member body appointed by the mayor that reports to the Human Services Committee of the Evanston City Council, received 34 applications this year from individual artists, organizations and community arts groups — the most in the program's history.

“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,” Arts Council Chair Toby Sachs said after applications opened in February. “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.”

Application guidelines call for the grant money to be spent by the end of June 2023, with final reports due at the end of the following month.

In addition to the Evanston Arts Council Cultural Arts Fund grant, the city offers grants of up to $1,000 for special art projects. Applications are rolling and renewable but no more than once a year.

2022 Cultural Fund Grant Awardees, Descriptions

$5,000

Open Studio Project
To support art-therapy based arts programming at their new studio in Evanston's Fifth Ward.

Northlight Theatre
To support SPEAK UP!: THEATRE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE which works with the AVID program at ETHS.

Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Assistance with producing a new play with music REFUGE, co-created By Satya Jnani Chávez and Andrew Rosendorf.

Crossing Borders Music
"We Walk: A Celebration of Black Community" in partnership with the Haitian American Museum of Chicago.

Music Institute of Chicago
Two projects to engage the Evanston Latino community, including Celebración de la Música Latinoamericana.

$4,000

Mudlark Theater
To support Story Quest, a literary and dramatic arts program designed for Black youth, held at the library.

The Actors Gymnasium
The return of the Annual Winter Circus, celebrating our humanity as only circus and live storytelling can do

Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
To support honorariums for Native artists collaborating in virtual discussions and in person workshops.

Claudia Renteria
A theater project with the community group of women recovering from domestic violence "Las Promotoras."

Melissa Raman Molitor
To support the Kitchen Table Stories Exhibition at Evanston Art Center and the Umbrella Arts Festival 2023.

$3,600

Mathew Rappaport
To highlight the work of experimental video artists from underrepresented backgrounds in Evanston at Side/Lot.

$2,500

Art Encounter
A new collaboration with Dawes Elementary School in the 8th ward to create a mosaic and painted mural.

Yeefah Thurman and Lisa Reitman
An artist residency for middle schoolers on the cross cultural affinity between Yanga Mexico and Evanston

Piven Theatre Workshop
To support Piven Empowerment and Enrichment Theatre Programs and Options for College Success.

Evanston Art Center
To support the Curatorial Fellow Program that honors and magnifies the voices of people of color in our community.

Evanston Symphony Orchestra Association
To continue their partnership with D65's Early Childhood Education programs; Music In Your World and Head Start.

Haitian Community Organization
To support the annual Evanston Haitian Community Festival, celebrating their culture in music and dance.

Evanston In-School Music Association
To support costs of their two free community concerts in neighborhoods that are often underserved by the arts.

$2,200

The Musical Offering
To support programming of their 'Women Composers Performance and Composition Series.'

$1,700

North Shore Choral Society
For an artist residency at Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center and free intergenerational workshops.

Grant descriptions via city of Evanston