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.
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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
Please join the Luminarts Cultural Foundation for its signature fall celebration, Next begins Now! This event will feature world-class performances, studio visits, and readings by Chicago’s exemplary young artists in Classical Music, Creative Writing, Jazz, Visual Arts, Dance, Fashion, and Architecture. It is scheduled to take place in-person at The Arts Club of Chicago with an elegant dinner and cocktails and will be broadcast simultaneously the night of the event. Proceeds from Next begins Now will support Luminarts’ mission of providing the resources needed for outstanding, emerging artists to launch a professional career in the arts.
For updates, please visit luminarts.org/nbn or contact Marlena Dzis, Development Director, at marley@luminarts.org or (312) 692-2379. Ticket information coming soon. 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
Cherilyn G. Murer
Ken Norgan
Stephen J. Schlegel
Doug Walker
Rebecca Woan
*As of May 26, 2021
The 2020 Next begins Now digital program may be found HERE.
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, 2019 to December 31, 2019. 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.
