The Luminarts Cultural Foundation cultivates Chicago’s vibrant arts community by supporting exemplary young artists through its competitive programs that offer financial awards, artistic opportunities, and mentoring that bridge the gap between education and career.
Founded in 1949 as the Union League Civic & Arts Foundation (CAF), Luminarts Cultural Foundation was created by members of the Union League Club of Chicago as a separate, not-for-profit organization. Deeply rooted in the Union League Club of Chicago, Luminarts strengthens the cultural community of Chicago by upholding the club’s century-long tradition of advocating for the arts. Luminarts is dedicated to encouraging our city’s outstanding young artists so that their emerging talent might be heard in performance halls, read within libraries and homes, and exhibited in galleries, museums, and the hallowed walls of the Union League Club.
Click HERE for a listing of our 2022 Luminarts Events. Also be sure to subscribe to our email list and receive updates regarding program announcements, Fellows, events, and the monthly Luminarts Letter!
Luminarts welcomes talented young artists of all social, economic and cultural backgrounds. As a young visual artist, musician, vocalist, or writer from the Chicago area, we invite and encourage you to compete for grants, creative opportunities, and to become Luminarts Fellows.
The Luminarts Fellowship includes programs in Visual Arts, Creative Writing, Classical Music, and Jazz. In order to be eligible to apply for the Fellowship Program applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 30, live or reside within 150 miles of the Chicago Loop, and be currently enrolled in, or graduated from, a degree program, conservatory, or other professional artist development program.
Luminarts also offers extensive opportunities for Luminarts Fellows through Fellow Project Grants to support special residency opportunities, lectures, workshops, mentorship, and facilitated conversations that provide valuable insights into building a successful career in the arts and strengthening our community of participating artists.
Luminarts Fellows are eligible to apply for Fellow Project Grants; available only to Luminarts Fellows to support career development opportunities, such as residencies, master classes, exhibition and performance expenses, material costs, publishing projects, professional travel, and more.
While these grants can be used for a broad array of career development opportunities. Applicants must demonstrate how the funding will support this development, and how the funded experience will in turn benefit the Chicago community. Applicant requests for funding may not exceed $2,500 and the total request must be no more than 50 percent of the total expenditure. Project Grants will be reviewed twice per year. Deadlines to apply are October 15 and March 15. Fellows will be notified about the status of their proposal within four weeks of the application deadline. The next deadline to apply is October 15, 2019.
For questions about project grants and eligibility click below or contact the Foundation at info@luminarts.org or call (312) 435-5961.
Mary and Lionel Go
Luminarts Board of Directors
When
Saturday, October 2, 2021
6 – 9 PM
Location
The Arts Club of Chicago
201 E Ontario St, Chicago, IL
Attire
Cocktail/Gallery Chic
Come together again for Luminarts’ signature celebration, Next begins Now! The event will feature world-class performances, studio visits, and readings by Chicago’s most outstanding, emerging artists, an elegant dinner and cocktail reception, and an exciting live auction with works by Nick Cave and Michelle Grabner. Proceeds from Next begins Now will provide the life-changing resources needed by exemplary, young artists to launch a professional career in the arts.
All guests will be invited to attend a private after-party immediately following at the Union League Club of Chicago, generously sponsored by our Co-Chairs.
As part of efforts to ensure the safety of all artists and patrons, attendees will be asked to wear masks unless actively eating or drinking in accordance with current CDC guidelines. The evening will begin with a seated cocktail hour, followed by theater-style performances and presentations (during which guests will be asked to wear masks regardless of vaccination status), and conclude with a plated dinner. To further protect the wellbeing of those in attendance, extra masks and hand sanitizer will be provided.
We thank everyone for their cooperation in ensuring the safety of our community so that we may come together to celebrate our fantastic Fellows.
For updates, please visit luminarts.org/nbn or contact Marlena Dzis, Development Director, at marley@luminarts.org or (312) 692-2379. To view sponsorship opportunities, please click HERE.
Matt R. Olaveson, Chair
Mark and Lynne Arizmendi
Sarah de Blasio
Mike and Cheryl Del Campo
Mr. Michael J. Dompke
John and Connie Donnelly
Celine Fitzgerald
Mr. and Mrs. C. Luther Fors, II
Scott and Edie Fortman
David Helverson
L. Jessica Jagielnik
Karen and Bob Jones
Myrna W. Kaplan
Kylie A. Krizek
Susan Lape and Tim Bowling
Lindsay and Kyle Mackey
Dr. Sally Metzler and George Dunea, MD
Emily F. Moreno
Cherilyn G. Murer
Ken Norgan
Tope Sadiku and Aaron-Michael Sapp
Steve. Schlegel
Doug Walker
Rebecca Woan
*As of July 21, 2021
The Luminarts Cultural Foundation provides grant funding to local organizations through developed core partnerships that align with Luminarts’ mission. The Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals, letters of inquiry, or other unsolicited monetary requests.
If you have questions about Luminarts and its partnerships please contact info@luminarts.org.
The Luminarts Cultural Foundation cultivates Chicago’s vibrant arts community by supporting exemplary young artists through its competitive programs that offer financial awards, artistic opportunities, and mentoring that bridge the gap between education and career.
Attn: Marlena Dzis
Development Director, Luminarts Cultural Foundation
65 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604-3598
Are you a member of the Union League Club of Chicago? If you are a Union League Club of Chicago Member and would like to use your ULC Member Number to make a contribution please contact Luminarts at (312) 435-5961 or info@luminarts.org to provide your ULC Member Number and contribution amount.
Questions or comments? Please contact Marlena Dzis, Development Director, at marley@luminarts.org or (312) 692-2379.
This list reflects gifts made between January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. Luminarts sincerely apologizes for any omissions or spelling errors. Please contact Marlena Dzis, Development Director, at 312-692-2379 or marley@luminarts.org with any corrections.
