RFP: Arts & Culture for Community Wealth – Collective Power

Background

The Chicago region is home to communities with deep histories and rich cultures. Through art, residents can celebrate their history, demonstrate their resilience, and create opportunities that not only increase social cohesion but foster economic growth with minimal displacement. Research shows that “access to local arts and culture boosts connection to community, both in feeling and in action.” Local data reflect similar trends. Seventy-nine percent of Chicago residents believe art enhances community livability. Yet, on the South and West sides, where communities are predominantly Black and Latine, the disparity in access to local arts and culture is limited. Data shows that nearly half of the city’s population feels arts and culture activities are unavailable in their neighborhoods.

Need/Opportunity Statement

The Arts and Culture for Community Wealth RFP seeks to support projects that integrate arts and culture into public spaces and drive economic growth in underinvested communities. Arts funding at the federal, regional and local levels is limited and at risk of being reduced even more. Now, more than ever, communities need resources to create art that reflects the local values, identities and aspirations of their residents. By focusing our funding in high-traffic areas with proximity to existing economic or cultural corridors, this project-based grant opportunity aims to engage residents, strengthen community connections, and increase economic growth in underinvested communities. 

Goals & Outcomes

The Chicago Community Trust believes in the collective power of community engagement and the stabilizing power of community wealth. Over a two-year grant term, the Arts and Culture for Wealth Building RFP aims to support projects that both empower residents and drive economic growth through the creative transformation of public spaces, cultural programming, and hyper-local engagements.  

Priority Strategies & Activities

The Arts and Culture for Community Wealth funding program will prioritize community-driven projects in communities that are historically underinvested or experiencing displacement of longtime residents that are also in proximity to public transit, community hubs, cultural or commercial corridors, or other physical spaces that promote economic activities.  

This RFP is best suited for projects that are in the late planning stage, with fully formed ideas and established partnerships, but require additional resources to complete. Projects featuring the following activities will also be prioritized:  

• Community Engagement: Projects must actively engage residents – with a particular focus on long-term residents – at all stages of the process, including design, planning, implementation, and execution.  As such, projects should also reflect the unique aspirations or cultural identity of their neighborhood’s residents. Submissions that can demonstrate alignment with an existing community or quality-of-life plan or include a community engagement plan that indicates how community members participated in the design and development of the project are encouraged.  
• Public Space Activation: Projects that utilize or transform public spaces such as parks, plazas, streetscapes, and other shared environments into canvases for artistic expression and community interaction are encouraged. Successful submissions will be able to demonstrate how their project reflects the community’s identity, inspires cultural pride, and fosters social cohesion. Examples include but are not limited to murals, art installations, pop-up marketplaces, cultural festivals, film screenings, and theatrical or dance performances. 
• Economic Opportunity: Successful submissions will demonstrate how their project contributes to the economic vitality of the host community or neighborhood. Example activities may include creating potential employment and/or fostering career pathways for local artists, stimulating local commerce by increasing visitation, and fostering growth for small businesses by increasing foot traffic or awareness. Applications that include partnerships or collaborations between local artists, small businesses, neighborhood chambers of commerce, commercial businesses, or residential developers are encouraged. 

We are specifically seeking organizations with established experience in collaboration and fostering community partnerships. While applications from other types of organizations may be considered, preference will be given to cultural institutions, public art organizations, art collaboratives, and Community Development Corporations.  

Grant Type

Project Based, Multi-Year

Grant Amounts Available & Grant Term

The Arts and Culture for Community Wealth RFPis a project-based funding opportunity with a two-year grant term. Approximately 15-20 projects will be awarded from a total grant budget of $3.9 million. As an extension of the funding program, grant recipients will receive technical assistance and engage in peer learning opportunities. 

Grant Term: Projects awarded under this grant opportunity are encouraged to align with the following timeline: 

• Year 1: Planning – Projects have already completed the design stage, are in the planning stage, and require additional resources to reach completion. 
• Year 2: Execution – Projects are on track to be executed, erected, presented, or launched within the grant year. 

Peer Learning: Peer-to-peer learning sessions will be offered semi-regularly and provide opportunities for grant recipients to collaborate, build connections, and increase their organization’s capacity. Sessions will be held in person throughout the grant term. Regular attendance at the peer-learning sessions is expected.  

External Evaluation: A key component of this initiative is the evaluation process. It is designed to deepen our understanding of how arts and culture contribute to building thriving communities and driving economic growth. A learning agenda will guide the evaluation to generate insights that can inform future initiatives. What we learn throughout this process will help shape how we structure and implement future projects. 

The Trust will hire an external evaluator who will actively engage with grant recipients throughout the two-year grant term to gather feedback, track progress, and assess the impact of the project efforts. This ongoing evaluation will contribute to this pilot’s success and provide valuable lessons for future endeavors. 

How to Apply

The Trust awards grants to organizations whose work is consistent with our mission and our current priorities. Learn about the application process and eligibility.

How to Apply

What We Fund

Our grants are not just checks, not just points on a map. Our grants are lifelines, connecting individual donors with people and families striving for a better life.

What We Fund