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.
Luminarts supports high school students through its High School Jazz Program. In order to be eligible to apply to the High School Jazz Program applicants must be enrolled in high school at the time of applying, and live within 150 miles of the Chicago Loop. For general questions about high school eligibility visit our Frequently Asked Questions page or contact info@luminarts.org or (312) 435-5961.
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
Did you know? By contributing $150 or more you become a Member of the Foundation and will be invited to participate in the Foundation’s Annual Meeting and special events throughout the year. See below for a complete list of Membership Levels and Benefits!
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.
Your contribution of $15,000 sponsors a Luminarts Fellow in the Classical Music Voice genre. Your gift at this level will make a significant impact on the career of an emerging artist.
All of the benefits of a Luminarts Fellow Sponsor, plus:
Your contribution of $5,000 sponsors a Luminarts Fellow in a genre of your choosing (Classical Music, Jazz, Creative Writing, and Visual Arts). Your gift at this level will make a significant impact on the career of an emerging artist.
All of the benefits of a Luminarts Project Grant Sponsor, plus:
Your contribution of $2,500 helps further support the outstanding work of our Luminarts Fellows by providing them with the opportunity to cover the costs of residencies, master classes, exhibition and performance expenses, material costs, publishing projects, professional travel, and more to further enhance their career development.
All of the benefits of a Luminarts Patron, plus:
All of the benefits of a Luminarts Supporter, plus:
All of the benefits of a Luminarts Member, plus:
All of the benefits of a Luminarts Member, plus:
Questions or comments? Please contact Marlena Dzis, Development Director at marley@luminarts.org or (312) 692-2379.
