Cultural Grants Program

(Mallory Backstrom, a 2022 Esteemed Artist Award grantee, at her home studio in Chicago's Oakland neighborhood)

The mission of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events is to enrich Chicago’s artistic vitality and cultural vibrancy. To support this overarching mission, the Cultural Grants Program’s goal is to play an active role in the development of Chicago’s arts and culture community by funding artists and arts organizations that have the potential to meaningfully contribute to the City’s cultural vitality.

The DCASE Cultural Grants Program strives to:

(1) Elevate Chicago’s arts and culture community;

(2) Promote access to the breadth of arts and cultural programming in our city; and

(3) Support those not typically represented in traditional local funding infrastructures.