Chicago Awards $6M to Support 300 Arts Nonprofits in 2025

More than 300 nonprofit arts and culture organizations across Chicago will receive over $6 million in general operating support through the CityArts program in 2025, according to an announcement from Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE). The number of grantees has increased from approximately 200 in 2021 to around 300 this year.

“The arts are essential to the soul of our city and to the health of our neighborhoods,” Mayor Johnson said in the announcement. “Through the CityArts program, we are uplifting the creativity and resilience that define Chicago. These grants help ensure that every community has access to the transformative power of art, while supporting the organizations that make Chicago’s cultural landscape second to none.”

DCASE Acting Commissioner Kenya Merritt emphasized the long-term impact of the investment. “CityArts grants are an investment in the people and organizations that fuel creativity and inspire connection,” Merritt said. “By prioritizing general operating support, we are strengthening the foundation for artists and cultural organizations in every neighborhood to grow, thrive, and continue making Chicago a world-class city for the arts.”

CityArts provides funding to nonprofit organizations across the city to help sustain a diverse cultural ecosystem. This year’s list includes 184 renewed grants and 119 new awardees, reflecting growth from last year’s 279 grantees.

Recipients represent a wide range of artistic fields, including the Chicago Humanities Festival, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Hyde Park Art Center, National Museum of Mexican Art, Red Clay Dance Company, True Star Foundation, Kuumba Lynx, Intonation Music, and the League of Chicago Theatres Foundation, among others.

The CityArts budget has expanded significantly since 2021, rising from $1.7 million to $7.5 million at its peak in 2023 with federal American Recovery Plan funding. It now stands at $6 million for both 2024 and 2025. DCASE increased award amounts after community outreach identified general operating support as a top need for nonprofits.

This year’s grantees reflect the city’s equity goals as well: 44% are based on Chicago’s South and West sides, and 81% of recipients have annual revenues under $1 million.