A Road Together
“A Road Together” (ART) is a grantmaking partnership between the Field Foundation and the MacArthur Foundation. It is designed specifically for small and mid-sized arts and culture organizations with annual operating budgets up to $1 million. ART is rooted in the belief that the arts are vital to Chicago’s identity, economy, and social fabric. Through the ART partnership, the Field and MacArthur foundations support grant recipients in creating opportunities for more Chicagoans to dream and flourish through a vibrant and sustainable creative ecosystem. To date, the partnership has committed $3.86 million in unrestricted, general operating funding for 131 organizations.
In 2025, a total of 25 grants will be awarded, using a participatory grantmaking approach. Funding will range from $10K to $100K per year. The 2025 ART cohort will be announced this fall.
Spotlight on ART
The American Indian Center of Chicago helps urban Natives connect with their culture. Established in 1953, the center is one of the oldest urban Native centers in the country. Created out of love for community, the center’s founders sought to help Natives who moved to Chicago through the U.S. government’s relocation program. Today, the American Indian Center continues its mission by supporting Natives throughout the Chicagoland area.
By promoting fellowship among all Indian people of all Tribes living in metropolitan Chicago, the American Indian Center creates bonds of understanding and communication between Indians and non-Indians It advances the general welfare of American Indians in community life, fosters the economic advancement of Indian people, sustains cultural, artistic, and avocational pursuits, and perpetuates Indian cultural values.
“Long before skyscrapers lined this coast, the lake was our gathering place. These waters have reflected generations of Native people — Bodéwadmi, Ojibwe, Odawa, Myaamia, Ho-Chunk, and so many others — trading, traveling, making ceremony, raising families.”
Photo credit: American Indian Center of Chicago Instagram
“A Road Together is a commitment to continuously be on a learning-to-action journey with Chicago’s creative community. Together, we are reimagining how a collaboration in the creative realm can enable a stronger and more sustainable arts and culture ecosystem in our city.”
Richard Tran
Field Foundation
Director of ART & Leadership Initiatives
Celebrating our 2024 Three-Year ART Grant Recipients
Through the ART initiative, 25 organizations will receive three-year grants. A panel of Chicago artists and cultural leaders recommended this cohort from more than 110 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. ART grant recipients will receive unrestricted, general operating funds to help the organizations achieve their missions.
American Indian Association of Illinois
American Indian Center of Chicago
Artists’ Cooperative Residency and Exhibitions Project
Haitian American Museum of Chicago
Korean Performing Arts Institute of Chicago
National Cambodian Heritage Museum & Killing Fields Memorial
Celebrating our 2024 One-Year ART Grant Recipients
Through the ART initiative, the Field Foundation staff selected 26 organizations to receive one-year grants. Among this group, grants range between $10,000 and $50,000. ART grant recipients will receive unrestricted, general operating funds to help the organizations achieve their missions.
Africa International House USA
Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center
Chicago Torture Justice Memorials Foundation
Collaboraction Theatre Company
National Museum of Gospel Music
Celebrating our 2023 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 2023 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
Geographic Priority Areas for the Arts
The Field Foundation created a series of maps, outlining geographic areas where an analysis of quality-of-life factors indicates areas of greatest need. These maps show the spatial impact of the arts in Chicago through various datasets. Explore the data below to learn more about the arts in our geographic priority areas.
