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)

04/03/2026

Opportunity for All:
Business of Art: DONE DAY Saturday, April 11, 2026
ArtsPartners of Central Illinois /
Peoria Public Library Main Library (107 NE Monroe St, Peoria)

The Business of Art is designed to connect entrepreneurial artists with business professionals who can help them navigate the world of business. Through seminars and networking, Business of Art assists artists of all disciplines with establishing or enhancing their businesses.

Participants can expect a highly interactive day that may include getting a professional headshot; registering as an LLC if desired; learning how to copyright their work — and even beginning that process during a copyright workshop; exploring the many free resources available through the Peoria Public Library; creating and submitting a Sky Art Peoria image on site; registering for Ignite Peoria; receiving one-on-one business support; and more, all designed to help artists make meaningful progress by the end of the day.

The Keynote Speaker is Joshua Davis-Ruperto
Executive Director of the Illinois Arts Council

For more information and to register for the event, follow the link: www.artspartners.net/boa/

04/03/2026

IAC Muse Newsletter's Featured Illinois Arts Organization
International Latino Cultural Center, FY26 General Operating Support Recipient
/ Chicago Latino Film Festival

The International Latino Cultural Center (ILCC) of Chicago, a cornerstone of Latino culture in the city since 1987, is gearing up for the much-anticipated Chicago Latino Film Festival. The ILCC, originally known as Chicago Latino Cinema, has a storied history of showcasing the rich and diverse Latino heritage through various art forms. As the largest festival of its kind in the United States, the Chicago Latino Film Festival is a testament to the ILCC's mission to challenge stereotypes and celebrate the multifaceted Latino identity through cultural expressions.

This year's festival promises an impressive lineup with 51 feature films and 31 shorts, set to run from April 16 to April 27, 2026, at the Landmark Century Centre Cinemas. The festival opens with the Chicago premiere of the dystopian film "It Would Be Night in Caracas" by Mariana Rondón and Marité Ugás. The closing night will feature the Ecuadorian comedy "The Dog, My Father and Us" by Pablo Arturo Suárez. Both films promise engaging post-screening Q&As with the filmmakers. Tickets for these special events include not only the film screenings but also a reception with food, drinks, and live music.

LEARN MORE: www.chicagolatinofilmfestival.org

04/02/2026

Opportunity for Chicagoland 501c3 nonprofits:
Bustling Spaces /
Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events /
Bustling Spaces Grant Club
Thursday, April 9, 2026, 6:30 - 8:30 PM on Zoom

Get guidance, tools, and perspective as you chart your course to funding your next project, your next event, your organization or collective.

Their featured grant for this session will be CityArts, a grant program offered by
Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events for 501c3 nonprofits operating in artistic disciplines, in arts service, or as museums.

Bustling Spaces will give a preview of CityArts, provide an offline document template for drafting, expert Q&A and more.

Not eligible for this grant?
No worries! After the CityArts overview, they'll have breakout rooms that can assist with this or other opportunities, including

- Funding landscape overview
- Grant Narrative review
- Quiet writing room
- NEW: Tips & strategies for neurodiverse grant seekers..and more!

Register at the link in their IG bio or using the link below, and prep in advance by signing up for their bimonthly grants newsletter for Chicagoland Arts & Culture opportunities! * Zoom link will be sent to all registrants by Tuesday, April 7th.

Register here (IG users, head on over to Bustling Spaces linktree on their IG page: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScY9xeGDwbXCuk6u9gVHBIxveXjDtf2MQ6qaBD0p5w83eVR6A/viewform

For more information, follow the link:
www.bustlingspaces.com

Questions? www.bustlingspaces.com/contact

04/02/2026

Opportunity for Artists:
/ Chicago Park District
Deadline to submit is April 13, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CT.

Calling all artists interested in bringing to life a new Jean Baptiste Point DuSable statue to be unveiled at the forthcoming opening of the DuSable Park in 2027.

All artists are welcome, with priority given to Haitian artists or teams, particularly those with strong connections to the Chicago region.

DuSable Park is a 3.44-acre park located east of Lake Shore Drive at the confluence of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. After decades of remaining vacant land, the site is now in design for upcoming park development.

The park site is located upon an area of lake fill that was home to various industrial uses beginning in the late 1800s. The site was established as a park as part of the Chicago Dock and Canal Trust Planned Development, and in 1987 Mayor Harold Washington dedicated and named the site in honor of Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable, the first non-native American settler and founder of Chicago. In 1988, a quitclaim of 3.44 acres for DuSable Park was deeded to the Chicago Park District.

Per the Framework Plan, the Chicago Park District's goals in creating DuSable Park are to:
-Honor and celebrate Jean Baptiste Pointe Du Sable's contributions to Chicago and to educate the public accordingly.
- Recognize the unique confluence of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan by creating a passive, visible and accessible park.
- Attract the local community, citywide residents, and tourists to the park.
- Create a park design that has evolved from the input of the Chicago Park District and the DuSable Park Steering Committee.
- Incorporate art and storytelling into the park that celebrates the life and legacy of DuSable

For more details, follow the link: www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/featured-capital-projects #141866

04/01/2026

Opportunity for Artists:
/ Women's Suffrage National Monument Foundation

History is built by many voices. This moment is no different.

For the first time, the public is being invited to inspire the design of a future monument on the National Mall.

It's your turn to be part of what comes next.

History is built by many voices. This moment is no different.

For the first time, the public is being invited to inspire the design of a future monument on the National Mall.

It's your turn to be part of what comes next.

We are asking people nationwide to share creative ideas that reflect what the women’s suffrage movement means to you.

Ready to take part?

The Women's Suffrage National Monument Foundation is asking people nationwide to share creative ideas that reflect what the women’s suffrage movement means to you.

Ready to take part?

For more details and to submit your idea in our bio to be featured., follow the link: www.womensmonument.org/monumental-ideas/

Questions? Email: info@womensmonument.org

04/01/2026

Opportunity for Artists in Peoria, Tazewell, or Woodford counties:
Class of 2026 Submissions for Sky Art Are Now Open!
/ ArtsPartners of Central Illinois
Submission deadline is April 19, 2026 at midnight
Entry Fee: $20 processing fee to submit up to three pieces

Sky Art Peoria is a juried competition that puts the work of local artists on Adams Outdoor 48’ x 14’ billboards that are seen by thousands of local residents. This is a value of over $37,000 in free advertising awarded to each winning artist.

The Sky Art Peoria program will receive submissions from both adults and students under the age of 18.

The mission of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois is to build awareness and strengthen the arts for the economic and cultural enrichment of central Illinois.

Follow the link for both adult and student submissions
www.artspartners.net/skyartpeoria

Questions?
For questions or more information about Sky Art Peoria, please contact them at info@artspartners.net

04/01/2026

DEADLINE REMINDER!
The Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards
Illinois Humanities /

The 2026 Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards are accepting submissions now until Friday, May 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Illinois students in grades K to 12 can submit a poem via our online portal. Winners will be announced in August.

Celebrate the legacy of Gwendolyn Brooks and the creativity of K-12 writers in Illinois. These annual awards are a platform for the next generation of poets to share their voices and develop their craft.

The Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards honor the legacy of Illinois’ own Gwendolyn Brooks: renowned poet, author, and the first Black Pulitzer Prize winner. Each and every one of the young poets who take part in this competition is a part of that legacy. Brooks summed up the contest best in a note in 1977: “All the children who entered the contest are winners… They worked hard. They created. And that is what is important.”

Save the date for our 10th anniversary awards ceremony on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts.

Follow the link to learn more and to submit your poem:
www.ilhumanities.org/programs/gwendolyn-brooks-youth-poetry-awards

Questions? Contact Margy LaFreniere, Program Manager, Teaching and Learning
poetry@ilhumanities.org
(312) 422-5584

03/31/2026

Opportunity for Springfield Artists including Performing Arts, Visual Arts, and Literary Arts:
Springfield Area Arts Council /

Up to $3,000 for Individual Artists
CLOSES April 17, 2026

With funding from the City of Springfield, the City Arts grant aims to assist practicing Springfield artists by developing their craft while adding to the cultural vitality of the city of Springfield. This initiative provides assistance to artists across all artistic disciplines, including Performing Arts, Visual Arts, and Literary Arts.

This program supports special projects, programs, events, and opportunities occurring between May 10 and November 10, 2026. We welcome applications from a variety of eligible artists. Projects must serve or benefit the Springfield community. They must be open and accessible to the public and should be family friendly.

Grants are awarded to three individual artists.

There will be a grant workshop on Friday, April 3 at 1 PM
During this one-hour webinar, SAAC staff discuss application tips and best practices. Participants may ask questions and get answers in real time. Please register by emailing director@springfieldartsco.org.

Follow the link to learn more and to apply: www.springfieldartsco.org/city-arts/
Questions? Contact Bella Szabo, (217)753-3519
Email: director@springfieldartsco.org

03/31/2026

Two Opportunities for Artists:
/ Waukegan Arts Council
The 2026 Waukegan Arts Council Grant Program
Both grant applications deadline: May 1, 2026.

Two funding opportunities are available to support the arts in Waukegan:

• Public Art Grant: $6,500 total to support projects that promote high quality public art, artistic expression, and cultural appreciation. Funds will be divided among selected applicants.

• Individual Artist Grant: $2,500 total, with up to $500 per artist, to assist working Waukegan artists with production costs such as supplies, equipment, and classes.

For full details and to apply, follow the link: waukeganartscouncil.org

Questions about the grant process may be directed to: waukeganartscouncil@gmail.com.

03/31/2026

Opportunity for Artists: CALL FOR ART
Oak Park Art League /
Annual jury exhibition, BLOOM: Art of Flowers, Foliage and Fruit
Submission deadline: April 30, 2026, midnight

Entry Fee: 3 works per artist for $35., $5. each additional work
CASH AWARDS

The Oak park Art League (OPAL) invites contemporary artists to explore the timeless yet ever-evolving relationship between humanity and the botanical world in BLOOM: Art of Flowers, Foliage & Fruit. This juried exhibition celebrates the diverse ways artists interpret, reimagine, and respond to floral and botanical subjects through contemporary perspectives.

From intimate studies of botanical detail to abstract interpretations of natural forms, from environmental commentary to cultural symbolism, this exhibition seeks works that engage with flowers, foliage, and fruit as more than mere subject matter—as vessels for deeper artistic inquiry and expression.

All contemporary art media are welcome, including but not limited to:
- Painting (oil, acrylic, watercolor, mixed media)
- Drawing and printmaking
- Photography and digital art
- Sculpture and installation
- Textile arts and fiber work
- Ceramics and glass
- Video and new media
- Collage and assemblage

This exhibit will be part of the Oak Park & River Forest Garden Walk on June 28.

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

Questions? Call 708.386.9853 or email: oakparkartleague@gmail.com

03/30/2026

Opportunity for Artists:
/ .gallery1701
Chicago Center for Arts & Technology

OPEN CALL FOR AANHPI ARTISTS
Submission deadline: Friday, April 10, 2026

The Chicago Center for Arts and Technology (CHICAT) invites Chicago area artists who identify as Asian, Native Hawaiian, and/or Pacific Islander (AANHPI) to submit work for our upcoming exhibit and celebration of AANHPI Heritage Month this May.
Our theme, “Where Our Voices Unite” seeks to celebrate the creativity and diverse cultural perspectives of AANHPI artists and the many stories that shape their communities.

Eligibility:
- Open to artists who identify as Asian, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander and are residents of the Chicago area.
- Artists ages 16 and up

Accepted Media:
- Painting
- Drawing
- Photography
- Printmaking
- Mixed Media
- Sculpture
- Textile / Fiber Art
- Digital Art
Due to gallery space limitations, video or digital works may be limited.

Artwork Requirements:
- Artists may submit up to 3 artworks.
- All 2D works must be smaller than 3 x 4 feet, including frames.
- Artwork must be ready to install (framed or wired for hanging if applicable).

Important Dates :
Open Call: March 6 – April 10, 2026
Notification of Acceptance: April 17, 2026
Installation: April 20 – April 23, 2026
Exhibition Dates: May 4 – June 8, 2026
Opening Reception: May 21st, 5:30PM - 7:30PM

For more information, follow the link: www.chicat.org/gallery-1701

If you have any questions, please reach out to our Gallery Coordinator, Yidi Wang via Yidi@chicat

03/30/2026

Opportunity for Chicagoland BIPOC Playwrights and Directors:
is now taking director submissions!
The Living Color Festival is a ten minute play festival dedicated to providing opportunities to emerging BIPOC artists in the Chicagoland area.

Submission deadline for Directors is April 5th, 2026 at 11:59pm CST
Submission deadline for Playwrights is April 12th, 2026 at 11:59pm CST

The goal of the Living Color Festival is to give artists of color a chance to explore the freedom of creating art.

For Playwrights:
- Plays should be no more than 12 minutes in duration
- Plays which require between 1 to 5 actors
- Accepting one submission per playwright
- Please include a Title Page with your full contact information, dramatis personae, and a brief synopsis of the play
- Please number all pages

For Directors:
Calendar
April 6th – 12th – Director Interviews
May 22nd -24th 2026 – In Person Auditions
June 8th – August 9th Rehearsals *
August 10th & 11th – Tech
August 12th – Dress Rehearsal
August 13th, 2026 – Show Opening
* The Living Color Festival will be providing rehearsal space in the 3-4 weeks leading up to tech. Any additional rehearsal scheduled will be at the discretion of the Director and Actors.

As a director for the Living Color Festival you will be tasked with choosing and directing a ten minute play to be fully staged for performance.

Feel free to contact The Living Color Festival with any question or concerns at livingcolorfest@gmail.com, Rashaad A. Bond

Follow the link to submit: https://forms.gle/8EiZXu8jRJFbPo1z5
Follow the IG link for more information: https://linktr.ee/livingcolorfest

Illinois Arts Council

04/03/2026

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