Press Release

ILLINOIS HUMANITIES COUNCIL AWARDS MINI GRANTS TO SIX LOCAL NONPROFITS

Next grant deadline is October 15, 2008.

CHICAGO – The Illinois Humanities Council Board of Directors has awarded a total of $13,000 to six nonprofit organizations for development and production of public humanities projects.  Funded programs include an oral history of the civil rights struggle for Mexican Americans in the Pilsen community (Chicago), an examination of Kristallnacht and the lessons it holds for today (Rock Island), and public programming around the dedication of a statue paying tribute to "Wild Bill" Hickok (Mendota). Community support for these projects totaled $89,030.  The grantees are:

  • Chicago Maritime Festival and Festival Outreach: Common Times, Chicago ($2,500)
  • Museum in the Streets: National Public Housing Museum, Chicago ($2,000)
  • Quarterly Book Discussions: The Literary Exchange, Chicago ($2,000)
  • Towards an Oral History of the Civil Rights Struggle in Mexican Pilsen: Casa Aztlán, Chicago ($2,500)
  • Dedication of "Wild Bill" Hickok Statue: Mendota Museum and Historical Society, Mendota ($1,500)
  • Beyond Kristallnacht: Lessons for Today: Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities, Rock Island ($2,500)

The Illinois Humanities Council (IHC) invites nonprofit organizations to apply for its next cycle of mini grants (up to $2,500) by its October 15, 2008 deadline.  The deadline for the next cycle of major grants (up to $10,000) is February 15, 2009.  Any nonprofit group, organization, or institution is eligible to apply for financial support from the Illinois Humanities Council for a public project in the humanities, including documentary films, local and community history projects, literary symposia, and oral history projects.

Mini grants are restricted to organizations with annual budgets under $1 million or organizations applying for new or experimental programs.  The IHC makes it a priority to fund projects developed by, for, or aimed at reaching new or historically neglected audiences.  The IHC also encourages applications for projects about American history and culture.

Potential applicants may review and download grant applications and guidelines by visiting www.prairie.org/grants. Grant information may also be requested by calling 312.422.5580 or by sending an email to ihc@prairie.org.  IHC program officers are also available for consultation and new applicants are encouraged to contact program officers for grant advice.

For further information about the IHC or the grants program, please call 312.422.5580 or visit www.prairie.org.

The Illinois Humanities Council is a nonprofit educational organization [501 (c) 3] dedicated to fostering a culture in which the humanities are a vital part of the lives of individuals and communities. Organized in 1973 as the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the IHC creates programs and funds organizations that promote greater understanding of, appreciation for, and involvement in the humanities by all Illinoisans, regardless of their economic resources, cultural background, or geographic location. The IHC is supported by state, federal, and private funds.

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