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.
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.
Non Discriminatory Statement and Commitment to Equity
Luminarts is committed to ensuring equity within its programs and welcomes applicants, artists, audience members, and supporters regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, class, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or citizenship status.
Luminarts works directly with artists, jurors, and attendees to make accommodations as needed and holds events at various spaces which are accessible. To request accommodations for Luminarts’ programs or events, please contact Jason Kalajainen at info@luminarts.org or (312) 435-5961.
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.
For questions about project grants and eligibility click below or contact the Foundation at info@luminarts.org or call (312) 435-5961.
The Project Grant application and award process is currently under review. The updated guidelines will available on September 1, 2023 in preparation for the October 15, 2023 application deadline.
Luminarts Fellows are eligible to apply for $2,500 awards in support of being ambassadors for the Luminarts Cultural Foundation beyond the Chicago region.
The Luminarts Cultural Foundation will accept funding proposals from Luminarts Fellows who have significant projects (performances, exhibitions, readings, etc.) in major markets outside of the Chicago area whereby they will highlight the Luminarts Cultural Foundation’s support in tandem with their outstanding talent.
While the available funds should be of benefit to the Luminarts Fellow, a primary goal of this funding is to raise awareness of the Luminarts Cultural Foundation outside of the Chicago region. In accordance with this, awards will be distributed based on the following criteria:
Ambassador Guidelines
For questions about Ambassador Awards and eligibility click below or contact the Foundation at info@luminarts.org or call (312) 435-5961.
Emily and Daniel North
Luminarts Board of Directors
When
Saturday, October 7, 2023
6 – 9 PM
Location
The Arts Club of Chicago
201 E Ontario St, Chicago, IL
Attire
Cocktail Attire
Join us for Next begins Now, the Luminarts annual celebration honoring our Fellows. The event will feature world-class performances, studio visits, and readings by Chicago’s most outstanding emerging artists, as well as an elegant dinner and cocktail reception. Proceeds from Next begins Now enable the Foundation to distribute core Fellowships of $10,000 or more per artist and provide the life-changing resources needed to launch a professional career in the arts.
Contact Alex Benjamin, Development Director, at alex@luminarts.org or (312) 692-2379 with any questions. To view sponsorship opportunities, please click below. Click HERE to view the 2022 Program Book.
Interested in joining the host committee? Contact Alex Benjamin, Development Director, at alex@luminarts.org or (312) 692-2379.
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: Alex Benjamin
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 Alex Benjamin, Development Director, at alex@luminarts.org or (312) 692-2379.
This list reflects gifts made between January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022. Luminarts sincerely apologizes for any omissions or spelling errors. Please contact Alex Benjamin, Director of Development, at (312) 692-2379 or alex@luminarts.org with any corrections.
