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.

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.

Luminarts Fellowship Opportunities

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.

Fellow Project Grants

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Introducing the Chicago area’s most talented, emerging young artists. Join us in celebrating their exceptional creativity and work.

FELLOWS BY YEAR

This year may be different, but Luminarts’ mission to provide life-changing resources and opportunities to Chicago’s most exemplary, emerging artists remains the same. Opportunities they need now, more than ever.

Despite the changing landscape, Luminarts Fellows are finding new ways to create and connect. They are seeking inspiration, launching new projects, addressing critical social issues, and focusing on their craft, all while facing unprecedented challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although our Fellows are re-envisioning their trajectories, they remain inspired and hopeful for the future, hope that is possible thanks to the generosity of donors like you.

We thank you for your support of Luminarts and invite you to join our community of donors by making an Annual Fund gift to Luminarts today. Your gift – at any level – will make a meaningful impact on our outstanding, young Fellows.

To make a gift, please use the form below or contact Marlena Dzis, Development Director, at marley@luminarts.org or 312-692-2379. With your help, we can continue providing the opportunities needed for our Fellows to continue pursuing a professional career in the arts and enhancing our dynamic cultural community.

See our Fellows in action by clicking HERE.

Luminarts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your gift is
tax-deductible to the full extent provided by law.

Questions about giving to Luminarts? Please contact Marlena Dzis, Development Director, at marley@luminarts.org or 312-692-2379.

Gifts may also be made via check, made out to “Luminarts Cultural Foundation” and sent to:

65 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604

If you’d like to make a gift over the phone, or via stock, wire transfer, or your ULCC membership, please email marley@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.

Interested in making a gift to Luminarts?

• To make an online contribution via credit card, please click here.
• To make a gift over the phone, please call Marlena Dzis, Development Director, at (312) 692-2379.
• To make a gift via check, please send your check, made out to “Luminarts Cultural Foundation” to:

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.

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Thank You to Our 2019 Donors

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.

$10,000+

$5,000 – 9,999

$2,500 – 4,999

$1,000 – 2,499

$500 – 999

$250 – 499

$150 – 249