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Chicago Artists' Coalition

Chicago, Illinois

Grants

2016 (2 years)
$150,000

The Chicago Artists Coalition develops and promotes entrepreneurship in artists and creative individuals through its educational programs, residency programs, cultivation programs, and its Chicago Artists Resource website. Whether professionals or hobbyists, artists can access its core programs, which are: a series of professional development workshops, trainings, and consultations on topics such as grantwriting, finance, and marketing; two year-long residency initiatives that produce exhibitions; the Collectors Circle, a special membership and event series that cultivates emerging and established collectors; and special collaborations with businesses and other organizations to support commissions and other opportunities with artists.

The Coalition began operating the Chicago Artists Resource website in 2012. The website is an online arts community that provides creative individuals access to artistic and income-generating opportunities. In 2015, the site had more than 550,000 unique visitors and more than one million visits. The website features professional development modules in the form of video tutorials and articles, along with artist interviews, examples of successful projects, showings and events, auditions, and job listings. This award will provide renewed support to the Coalition as it refines the website’s content, structure, and business model to ensure that it remains an important virtual resource and online gathering place for creative individuals. Funds will be used over the next two years to further integrate the website into the core programs of the Coalition and to support activities that test new strategies for content development, audience building, and financial sustainability.

2013 (3 years)
$150,000

This grant will support the continued operation and technological improvements to the Chicago Artists Resource (CAR) website (www.chicagoartistsresource.org). The site now provides listings of events, jobs, opportunities for artists, and space availability along with curated content such as professional stories, articles and links to resources in five disciplines (visual arts, performance, theater, music and literary arts). In 2012, CAR had more than 3.3 million page views and 372,000 unique visitors. Over the next three years the Coalition plans to increase CAR’s original content; add three new disciplines - culinary arts, fashion, and digital media/film; and introduce new features that help match artists with potential employers.

2012 (1 year)
$50,000

To support the expansion of the Chicago Artists' Resource Website (over three years).

2010 (1 year)
$50,000

In support of the inaugural Art Loop Open.

2001 (2 years)
$20,000

In support of general operations (over two years).

1998 (2 years)
$20,000

In support of general operations (over two years).

1993 (3 years)
$30,000

In support of general operations (over three years).

1991 (1 year)
$20,000

In support of general operations (over two years).

1988 (2 years)
$30,000

In support of general operations (over three years).

1987 (1 year)
$10,000

In support of general operations.