Press Release

Illinois Humanities Announces $65,000 in New Community Grants Across Illinois

Books for Women in Prison, Indigenous Oral History, a Chautauqua, and statewide preservation are some of 13 projects receiving Community Grants

CHICAGO, IL—August 4, 2016—Illinois Humanities’ Board of Directors has awarded a total of $65,000 to thirteen nonprofit organizations across Illinois for the development and production of public humanities projects. The grantees are:

  • The Chicago Literary Map – The Chicago Literary Hall of Fame ($2,000) Funding to support an online, interactive map plotting key points in Chicago’s literary history
  • Reading in prison research – Chicago Books to Women in Prison ($1,000) Funding to evaluate how to better serve incarcerated women
  • Alternative histories of labor – South Side Projections ($4,000) Funding to support screenings of documentaries on labor movements
  • Peer skill share – Forefront ($15,000) Funding to support statewide adoption of a platform for nonprofit capacity building
  • Development of an evaluation plan – Read/Write Library ($2,000) Funding to support assessment of Read/Write’s Neighborhood Pop Up Libraries program
  • Fusion Fest – Chicago Cultural Alliance ($12,000) Funding to support a citywide festival of cross-cultural ideas, art and dialogue
  • Personal Learning Conference – Eastern Illinois University ($2,000) Funding to support a one-day conference to inspire and educate professionals to promote lifelong learning
  • Prairieland Chautauqua – Morgan County Historical Society ($3,000) Funding to support the 18th annual Prairie Chautauqua, focused on the theme of the “Silver Screen”
  • Art for Social Change – Oak Park Art League ($2,500) Funding to support a collaborative project between OPAL and Sarah’s Inn and Threshold social service agencies
  • GoGallery – Galesburg Civic Art Center ($4,000) Funding to support an arts education outreach program placing docents in classrooms and interactive web component
  • Robust Indigenes – American Indian Center ($4,000) Funding to support an oral history project, storytelling events and retrospective exhibit
  • “What is America For?” – The Point magazine ($4,000) Funding to support a series of essays and public programs examining the American democratic process in the context of presidential elections
  • People Saving Places – Landmarks Illinois ($10,000) Funding to support a partnership between LI, documentary film makers and the new app Vamonde to highlight how local groups are working to preserve places

Any nonprofit group, organization or institution is eligible for financial support from Illinois Humanities. IH funds public projects in the humanities, including documentary films, local and community history projects, literary symposia, oral history and other projects. Smaller nonprofits can apply for technical assistance grants. The deadline for the next application cycle is September 15, 2016.
Potential applicants may review and download grant applications and guidelines by visiting https://www.ilhumanities.org/grants. Please call 312.374.1555 or send an email to mark.hallett@ilhumanities.org. Illinois Humanities program officers are available for consultations, and new applicants are 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. Illinois Humanities engages communities across Illinois in conversation in a variety of humanities programs that focus on Public Policy, Media & Journalism, Business, and Art. Illinois Humanities lowers barriers to participation and offers access to programs, events, and grants to 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.