Categories: Chicago

Chicago Artists Coalition announces second cycle of SPARK Grant

The second cycle of the SPARK Grant has been announced by the Chicago Artists Coalition (CAC) today. The SPARK Grant provides an opportunity for artists based in Chicago to get unrestricted awards. The grant opportunity is for the following categories of artists:

  • ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, Native American) visual artists
  • Artists with financial need
  • Disable artists
  • Non-formally trained artists

The grants are provided to the emerging artists for the fulfillment of their financial needs as a working artist. The SPARK Grant is a great initiative taken by the CAC for helping the emerging artists in need. According to the SPARK Grant program, an emerging artist is not only said to be the one who has a young age.

Joyce Foundation is providing support to the CAC in the SPARK Grant program. The grant program offers unrestricted awards of $2000 each to the emerging artists based in Chicago. 20 unrestricted awards will be granted to the emerging artists this year under the SPARK Grant program. Caroline Older, the CAC’s executive director, said, “We are excited to launch the second year of the SPARK Grant.”

Older appreciated the support of the Joyce Foundation. The cultural plan of Chicago prioritizes the funding of the Chicago-based artists at a broader level. The SPARK Grant program was initiated in an effort to expand the funding of the artists. Tracie D. Hall, the director of the Joyce Foundation’s cultural program, said. “The creation of this grant program directly connects to the goal of the city’s cultural plan.”

Chicago has emerging and talented artists in every neighborhood. The SPARK Grant program will help emerging artists in bringing their vision to life. The application submission deadline is set on December 16, 2019. The program aims to provide individual benefits to artists. It also aims to achieve artistic goals at a broader community level.

Gabriella Remillard

Staff writer for the Chicago Morning Star

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