DCASE Opportunities
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot announced recently that the City of Chicago will increase funding for cultural grants by $1 million, fulfilling a commitment to prioritize equitable grantmaking and microfinancing to individual artists, organizations and arts corridors throughout Chicago - particularly in communities of need. This new investment increases the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) Cultural Grants Program budget by 59% from $1.7 million to $2.7 million. At least $500,000 will be restricted for projects taking place on the South and West sides and in wards that have traditionally been least served by the Program. For more information, visit chicago.gov/dcase
 
Grants
Nominations Deadline: Tuesday, December 31
Part of Designing a Better Chicago, the Design Impact Grant Program seeks to recognize individuals or organizations using design for civic good. The program will offer annual project-specific grants up to $25,000 to individuals and organizations using design or design principles to directly address pressing issues in Chicago communities. Nominations are required for this invitation-only program. You may nominate yourself, a peer, friend or mentor - anyone that lives or works in the City of Chicago at designchicago.org/dbc.  

Designing a Better Chicago is a collaborative initiative organized and supported by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), NeoCon and theMART, and the Design Museum of Chicago. It is aimed at elevating the visibility of Chicago's design legacy, assets, talent and community, and at supporting civic good through design.

 
Application Opens Monday, January 20
Application Deadline: Friday, February 28, 2020 at 5pm CST 
DCASE is pleased to announce the timeline for the 2020 CityArts Program, offering grants to nonprofit arts and culture organizations of all sizes. This year's program will include opportunities to apply for general operating grants across all artistic disciplines, as well as project grants in alignment with the City of Chicago's Year of Chicago Music. Project grants will support initiatives that have the potential to impact the Chicago music sector at large. All applicants are encouraged to attend an application assistance workshop. To RSVP for a workshops please visit chicagoculturalgrants.org.
 
Opportunities for Individual Artists
Application Deadline: Friday, January 31, at 5pm CST  
As a part of the Year of Chicago Music,DCASE will launch the Chicago Band Roster, a searchable database of high-quality musical performers that are based in the Chicagoland area. The program aims to increase meaningful performance opportunities for Chicago-based musicians.Solo musicians and ensembles are encouraged to apply to be listed on the Chicago Band Roster. Following the competitive applications process, the Chicago Band Roster will be posted on the DCASE website as a resource for residents and organizations looking to present high-quality music programs. More information and application at chicago.gov/music.
 
Application Deadline: Saturday, February 15
Full Spectrum Features and DCASE's Chicago Film Office is offering a nine-month program for chicago-based creative entrepreneurs with a producer-driven film project. Through immersive workshops, industry mentors and pitch meetings, Selected participants will emerge from the program not only equipped to see their projects through to production but also through to distribution and beyond. Timeline, eligibility requirements and application are available at fullspectrumfeatures.com/producers-lab.
 
Applications accepted on a rolling basis 
DCASE recently launched the City of Chicago Mural Registry, a publicly-accessible database documenting the growing collection of murals across the city on both private and public property. Artists, organizations and property owners are encouraged to register completed murals by submitting an application. For more information about the registration process, visit chicago.gov/muralregistry.
    
 
 
Public Art Community Forum
Tuesday, December 17, 10-11:30am
Community Youth Center, Community Room, 951 E. 132nd Place
Please join DCASE, the Chicago Housing Authority and the Chicago Public Library for a Community Forum. Selected semi-finalists will present and discuss their design proposals for a new library public art commission.

   

For more information please email nathan.mason@cityofchicago.org.

   
Opportunities for Educators/Instructors
By reservation, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10am-12:30pm, maximum 30 students

Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. 

DCASE offers a free guided Exhibition Exploration especially for Elementary and High School groups.  Delve into current exhibitions and explore the Chicago Cultural Center, Learning Lab and Millennium Park! Register at chicago.gov/ccctours, and please note in the comment section whether you are interested in an Exhibition Exploration or Building Tour.

 

 

Tuesdays-Fridays, Through December 20 

Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. 

CAB will offer 90-minute guided tours of the Biennial, Tuesday through Friday, between October 1 and December 20 for school groups with students in grades 5-12. Free buses will be provided to qualifying schools on a first come first serve basis. The Biennial will also provide a welcome and guidebook to teachers wishing to lead a self-guided tour of the Biennial. Field trip sign up will begin in mid-august at chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org/learn

 

Opportunities for Arts Organizations and Businesses
Chicago Tree Lighting Ceremony
Proposals Deadline: Friday, December 20, at 4pm, CST 
The City of Chicago, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events seeks proposals from qualified firms to provide fireworks display services. For more information, visit chicago.gov/dcase
 
Development and Sales of Event Promotional Merchandise   Request for Proposals
Proposals Deadline: Wednesday, February 5, at 4pm, CST 
DCASE invites the submission of proposals for development and sales of event promotional merchandise for DCASE festivals and events. For more information, visit chicago.gov/dcase
 
Applications accepted on a rolling basis
The DCASE ArtsSpace Program offers access to space at DCASE venues for free public programs organized by Chicago's cultural organizations. Applications for programs at the Chicago Cultural Center are reviewed on a rolling basis and must be submitted at least 120 days prior to the event date. Selected organizations will have their venue rental fee waived, but will incur operational costs for their programs. For more information and the application, visit ChicagoCulturalGrants.org.
 
DCASE produces Chicago's largest free festivals including Taste of Chicago, Chicago Blues Festival and Chicago Jazz Festival plus a variety of other festivals and events throughout the year. Our goal is to engage companies, agencies and other partners to add value to the City's events while bringing brands directly to local consumers to increase brand awareness, generate valuable press exposure, drive traffic and sales, and build customer loyalty. To learn more about partnership opportunities, visit ChicagoPartnerships.com or email at chicagopartnerships@cityofchicago.org
   
 
City Seal _ DCASE logo