Individual Artist Support

The Individual Artist Support (IAS) Initiative was created to help Illinois artists realize a career goal, take advantage of a professional opportunity, or for the production and presentation of an artistic project. 

General Program Information

The IAS Initiative encompasses two different tracks.  Artists may apply to one track only.:

• Track 1: Individual Artist Professional Development  (IA-PD) seeks to support professional development opportunities related to an individual artist’s career. Grant amounts for IA-PD are $500 or $750 with no cash match required.
• Track 2: Individual Artist Project (IA-Project) seeks to support individual creative artists in the production and presentation of an artistic project. Grant amounts for IA-Project are $1,500 or $2,500, and a 25% cash match is required.

Each track has specific limitations and requirements. Please read the entire guidelines thoroughly to determine which track best suits your goals . Artists may submit one application only. Awards will be equal to the amount requested by the applicant.

Artistic Disciplines

Artists who work in the following artistic disciplines are eligible to apply for funding. 

• Dance
• Music
• Theatre
• Visual Arts
• Design Arts
• Crafts
• Photography
• Media Arts (includes film, video, audio, and computer art)
• Literature (includes creative non-fiction*, fiction, and poetry)
• Interdisciplinary
• New Performance Forms
• Ethnic & Folk Arts

*Creative non-fiction is distinguished from analytical, journalistic, technical, and scholarly/academic writing by its strong narrative literary quality as found in personal essays and memoirs.  The Illinois Arts Council’s Individual Artists Support Program does not accept applications to support scholarly/academic, analytical, journalistic, and technical writing

Note: Applications for Track 2: IA - Project  will be accepted from creative/originating artists only (i.e. choreographers, composers, playwrights, visual artists, etc.).  

Fiscal Year 2013 Project Dates:

Professional Development Support:  All activities must occur and be completed within January 1, 2013 and August 31, 2013

Project Support:  All activities must occur and be completed within January 1, 2013 and August 31, 2013.

*For projects with public presentations, exhibition openings, CD and publication releases after August 31 and up to November 15, you must contact the appropriate Program Director before submitting an application.

Use the menu to the left to navigate through the complete Individual Artist Support (IAS) Initiative online guidelines. A link to the eGrant Instructions can be found in the "Resources" section.