General Program

Arts and Culture in Chicago

Support for arts and cultural organizations in Chicago and the region is an expression of civic commitment to the place where the Foundation has its headquarters and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur made their home. Grants are designed to help sustain the cultural life of the city and region.

Arts and culture grants to organizations with annual budgets of $500,000 or less are made through a special fund at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation; grants to organizations with annual budgets between $500,000 and $2 million are made through the Prince Charitable Trusts.

Grants to arts and cultural organizations with annual budgets above $2 million are made directly by MacArthur. These grants are usually for multi-year general operating support. While the Foundation does not make grants to capital or endowment campaigns, it may occasionally make a grant in support of a special, time-limited project or initiative of an arts and culture organization.

A new $1 million International Connections Fund will support efforts by MacArthur's existing grantees in the Chicago area to increase their international connections.  Guidelines for the International Connections Fund.

FROM THE FIELD Josephine Lee of the Chicago Children’s Choir receives 3Arts Award October 9, 2008 3Arts is committed to supporting the creative development of Chicago’s underrepresented artists, specifically women, people of color, and people with disabilities who are working in music, theater, and visual arts. Annually, six artists producing distinctive work in the disciplines of music, theater, and visual arts receive awards of $15,000 each to put to use according to their priorities with no strings attached. Josephine Lee, the artistic director since 1999 of the Chicago Children’s Choir, a MacArthur grantee, received one of two music awards this year. Born in Chicago, Josephine Lee is a classically trained pianist, conductor, arranger and producer.  More From the Field