Nine Illinois nonprofits receive $37,856 in Community Grants to support public humanities projects. Illinois Humanities is currently accepting applications for the next cycle of Community Grants, which ends on July 15, 2015.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chicago – June 16, 2015 – Illinois Humanities’ Board of Directors has awarded a total of $37,856 to nine nonprofit organizations across Illinois for development and production of public humanities projects. Community Grants will help to support diverse projects, including a Native Veterans event, theatrical presentations about Lincoln and the Civil War, and dance adaptations of literary works.

The grantees are:

• Dance Me A Story – Ballet Quad Cities ($5,000) Funding for interactive educational programs intended primarily for children based on dance adaptations of literary works.
• 2015 Chautauqua – Bishop Hill Heritage Association ($1,700) Funding for a theatrical presentation involving elements of historical enactment, focused on the theme of “Lincoln and the Civil War.”
• Black Alphabet Film Festival – Black Alphabet, NFP ($4,352) Funding for a documentary film festival exploring the experiences of Black LGBTQ and SGL people and communities.
• The Air We Breathe – Carl Sandburg Literacy Coalition ($4,304) Funding for a collection of free multimedia exhibits that will be displayed throughout the community showcasing stories from the lives of local immigrants.
• Senior Reminiscence Program  – McLean County Museum of History ($5,000) Funding for an innovative program engaging older adults in senior centers, assisted living facilities and adult day service programs to share stories from their lives.
• “Go Penguins!”  – Northern Illinois University ($2,500) Funding for NIU’s feature-length documentary following the efforts of young artists with developmental disabilities.
• The Examined Life Project – The Point Magazine ($5,000) Funding for a magazine and events aimed at bringing the humanities to bear on issues of vital public interest.
• General Support Grant – Trickster Art Gallery ($5,000) Funding for the gallery’s August 2015 two-day program “American Indian Veterans: The Untold Story.”
• MARCH: The Struggle for Racial Equality – University of Illinois Springfield ($5,000) Funding for a public lecture and discussion with Congressman John Lewis and authors Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell as the culminating event of the annual “One Book, One UIS” reading program.

Any nonprofit group, organization, or institution is eligible for financial support from Illinois Humanities. We fund public projects in the humanities, including documentary films, local and community history projects, literary symposia, and oral history projects. Nonprofits with annual budgets of $250,000 or less can apply for technical assistance grants and nonprofits with a primary focus on the humanities can apply for general support grants. The deadline for the next application cycle is July 15, 2015.

Potential applicants may review and download grant applications and guidelines by visiting www.ilhumanities.org. Please call 312.374.1555 or send an email to mark.hallett@ilhumanities.org. Illinois Humanities program officers are available for consultations. New applicants are especially encouraged to contact program officers for grant advice.

About Illinois Humanities

Illinois Humanities is an independent, nonprofit state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, with a mission to strengthen society by fueling inquiry and conversation about the ideas and works that shape our culture. We create 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. Illinois Humanities is supported by state, federal, and private funds.

For more, visit www.ILhumanities.org.