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.

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.

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.

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

Apply Now

 

Ambassador Award

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

• Location of the Luminarts Fellow’s project
• Anticipated number in attendance at event
• Anticipated marketing/media for the event
• Luminarts prominence in event materials
• Luminarts prominence in promotion and media
• The use of social media to promote the project and the Luminarts Cultural Foundation and the potential number of people reached

 

For questions about Ambassador Awards and eligibility click below or contact the Foundation at info@luminarts.org or call (312) 435-5961.

Frequently Asked Questions

Apply Now

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

FELLOWS BY YEAR

Next begins Now is sold out! 

Any tickets purchased will be put on a wait list. Payment will not be processed until a seat becomes available. For those unable to purchase tickets, donations are welcome and appreciated and may be made via the form below. Any questions may be directed to marley@luminarts.org.

EVENT CO-CHAIRS

Emily and Daniel North
Luminarts Board of Directors

EVENT DETAILS

When
Saturday, October 1, 2022
6 – 9 PM

Location
The Arts Club of Chicago
201 E Ontario St, Chicago, IL

Attire
Cocktail Attire

ABOUT NEXT BEGINS NOW

Join us for a special Next begins Now celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Luminarts! 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 will enable the Foundation to distribute core Fellowships of $10,000 or more per artist and provide the life-changing resources needed by exemplary, young 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. To view sponsorship opportunities, please click below.

Click Here to View Sponsorship Opportunities

Presenting Sponsors

Innovation Sponsors

Mary and Lionel Go

Emily and Daniel North

Matt R. Olaveson and Adam G. Vitale

Creativity Sponsors

Dr. Sally Metzler and George Dunea, MD

Cherilyn G. Murer

William E. and Sandra Richards &

Impact Sponsor

J Alexander Cestero and Brian Walsh

Jason Kalajainen and Josh Shames

Dan and Anita Mauro

Metropolitan Capital

Shade Family Foundation

US Bank

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HOST COMMITTEE

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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 2021 Donors

This list reflects gifts made between January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. 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.

Visionaries $20,000+

Champions $10,000 – 19,999

Partners $5,000 – 9,999

Benefactors $2,500 – 4,999

Patrons $1,000 – 2,499

Supporters $500 – 999

Advocates $250 – 499

Members $150 – 249

 

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