A Road Together (ART)
In April 2023, the Field Foundation, in partnership with the MacArthur Foundation, launched A Road Together (ART), a new grantmaking program designed specifically for small and mid-sized arts and culture organizations with annual operating budgets up to $1 million and with a strong commitment to equity that are reflective and inclusive of Chicago’s diverse and historically underserved communities. Through this initiative, there are opportunities to apply for multi-year general operating grants using a participatory grantmaking process, as well as single-year general operating grants outside of the participatory process.
The ART application portal is open through Friday, May 17, 2024.
Info webinar
On March 28, 2024, we held an informational webinar, where Field and MacArthur representatives described our aspiration, working together with ART grantees, to make a sustainable impact in advancing racial equity by enabling more Chicagoans to dream and flourish while accessing platforms for art and cultural expression. We shared details about the program, including eligibility criteria, the application process, and the program timeline. We also devoted time to Q&A. Our goal was to provide as much information as possible ahead of the April 15 portal application opening.
Richard Tran
Field Arts Program Officer
“A Road Together is a commitment to continuously be on a learning-to-action journey with Chicago’s creative community. Together, we are imagining how a collaboration in the creative realm can enable a more equitable, diverse, and sustainable arts and culture ecosystem in our city.”
Celebrating our 2023 ART Grantees
In October 2023, the Field Foundation, in partnership with the MacArthur Foundation, announced its inaugural group of “A Road Together” (ART) grantees. Through this initiative, 80 small to mid-sized, Chicago-based arts and culture organizations will receive $2.26 million in funding for their work to advance racial and social equity; 25 organizations will receive three-year grants and 55 organizations will receive one-year grants.
The ART initiative is rooted in the belief that arts and culture organizations—including social service groups and those organizing for social change—play a vital role in Chicago’s identity, economy, and social fabric. The initiative prioritizes organizations with a commitment to racial equity in their programming and those that serve historically underserved communities, particularly in Chicago’s South and West Sides. These organizations have traditionally faced significant roadblocks when trying to access resources.
Working together with ART grantees, the Field and MacArthur Foundations aspire to make a sustainable impact in advancing racial and social equity by enabling more Chicagoans to dream and flourish while accessing platforms for art and cultural expression in their communities.
Celebrating our Three-Year ART Grantees
Through the ART initiative, 25 organizations will receive three-year grants. A panel of Chicago art sector leaders recommended this cohort from more than 120 proposals using a participatory grantmaking process—ensuring representation from a wide array of creative disciplines, identities, and geographies. Grants range in size with a maximum grant of $100,000 per year. Grantee organizations, all of which have annual budgets of less than $1 million, will receive unrestricted, general operating funds to help the organizations achieve their missions.
Alt Space Chicago
BandWith Chicago
Black Alphabet
Chicago Art Department
eta Creative Arts Foundation
Floating Museum
Jazz Institute of Chicago
Joel Hall Dancers & Center
Kehrein Center for the Arts Foundation
Kuumba Lynx
Live the Spirit Residency
Mandala South Asian Performing Arts
Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
Muntu Dance Theatre
Musical Arts Institute
Playmakers Laboratory Theatre
Praize Productions, Inc.
Prison + Neighborhood Arts Education Project
Silk Road Rising
South Side Community Art Center
Teatro Vista Theater with a View
TGi Movement
True Star Foundation
Water People Theater Group
Young Chicago Authors
Celebrating our One-Year ART Grantees
Through the ART initiative, the Field Foundation staff selected 55 organizations to receive one-year grants. Among this group, grants range between $10,000 and $50,000. Grantee organizations, all of which have annual budgets of less than $1 million, will receive unrestricted, general operating funds to help the organizations achieve their missions.
About Face Theatre Collective
Africa International House USA, Inc.
African American Arts Alliance
Aguijon Theater Company
American Indian Association of Illinois
Archi-Treasures
Arts & Business Council
Asian Improv aRts Midwest
Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians
Ballet Folklorico de Chicago
Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre
Chicago Artists Coalition
Chicago Dancemakers Forum
Chicago Multi-cultural Dance Center
Chicago Torture Justice Memorials Foundation
Chicago West Community Music Center
Collaboraction Theatre Company
Congo Square Theatre Company
D-Composed Gives
Definition Theatre
Diasporal Rhythms
Elastic Arts
Esprit des Concerts
Firebird Community Arts
Free Street Theater
Haitian American Museum of Chicago
Honey Pot Performance
Hyde Park Jazz Festival
ILA Creative Studio, NFP
International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago
Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago
Lawndale Pop-Up Spot
Lawyers for the Creative Arts
Lighthouse Foundation
Links Hall
LOVE UNITY & VALUES INSTITUTE
Muddy Waters MOJO Museum, Inc.
NAJWA Dance Corps
National Museum of Gospel Music
Natya Dance Theatre
OH Art Foundation
OPEN CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
2nd Story
Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center
Snow City Arts
Sones de Mexico Ensemble
South Chicago Dance Theatre
Teatro Tariakuri
The First Presbyterian Church of Chicago
The Simple Good
Theatre Y
Threewalls
UrbanTheater Company
West Point School of Music
We’re incredibly excited about this program and look forward to our conversations about A Road Together and the many possibilities to shape a more creative, just, and equitable society in Chicago.
Field Foundation Heat Maps: Art
The Field Foundation has created a series of heat maps outlining a geographic study area where less than 20% of the residents identify their race as White. We have analyzed quality of life indicators, including access to arts and culture in these areas. The data depicts disparities across race, parallel with geographic regions of Chicago. These are the barriers we are working to dismantle.
