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Issue 76 / January 9, 2026
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In this issue:
• IAC Announces FY2027 Creative Learning Grants for Schools: Applications Now Open
• Poetry Out Loud Registration Closes January 16
• Celebrating the Nation's Birthday with Music from U.S. Military Bands
• Webinars for Internationally Touring Artists
• Submissions for the Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards are Now Open
• Featured Illinois Arts Organization
• Additional Opportunities
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Illinois Arts Council Announces
Fiscal Year 2027 Creative Learning Grants for Schools: Applications Now Available
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The Illinois Arts Council(IAC) is pleased to announce that applications are now available for the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Creative Learning Grants for Schools(CLGS) program. The goal of this grant is to enable schools to acquire supplies, materials, equipment, or services from Illinois artists or arts organizations that are needed to address student needs for arts learning opportunities in Illinois schools.
K-12 School districts, public schools, and charter schools are eligible to apply for up to $20,000 to support arts learning opportunities in dance, media arts, music, theatre, or visual arts. Each IAC regionhas its own allocation and will select recipients from the applications submitted in that region. The deadline is Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 11:59pm. The application must be submitted via IAC's Salesforce grant portal.
A prerecorded webinar is available on IAC's website. The IAC will also host four "Drop-In'' sessions to answer any questions you may have. The first will take place Monday, January 12, at 3pm. Drop-in sessions are one-hour sessions that have no agenda. Participants may ask questions of the participating program staff and get answers in real time. Follow the link below for details.
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The IAC reminds all Illinois educators that the 2025-2026 Poetry Out Loud Competition deadline is fast approaching. High schools and organizations planning to participate must complete the Poetry Out Loud Participation Form by January 16, 2026.
The journey begins at the classroom level in January, with successful participants progressing to regional contests in February. These events culminate in the state competition held in Springfield on March 2, 2026. State winners will then advance to the national finals in Washington, DC, in April, competing for a total of $50,000 in awards and stipends.
This national event invites high school students to engage with American poetry through recitation, offering a platform to refine their public speaking skills and deepen their engagement with literary history. As we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States, this year's competition will highlight poems that celebrate our nation's diverse cultural and historical landscape, featuring works from the public domain included in the official Poetry Out Loud Anthology.
Should you have questions, please reach out to Susan Dickson, IAC Program Director, at [email protected] or Sheila Walk, Education Director, Springfield Area Arts Council, at [email protected]. We look forward to your participation!
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Celebrating the Nation's 250th Birthday with Music from U.S. Military Bands
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Celebrating the Nation's 250th Birthday with Music from U.S. Military Bands is a new grant program of the National Endowment for the Arts. The program recognizes the role military bands have played throughout American history, celebrating the nation's spirit through a wide range of musical styles and genres. Eligible organizations are invited to apply for a grant ranging from $10,000 up to $20,000 each (no cost share required) for arts projects that feature performances and/or educational programming with a U.S. military band to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence. Applications are due on February 23, 2026. Please note: confirmation of participation from a U.S. military band is required at the time of application. Eligible organizations include nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations, units of government, and federally recognized tribal communities-state arts agencies and regional organizations are not included in the eligibility for this funding.
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Webinars for Internationally Touring Artists
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Mid Atlantic Artsis hosting a free webinar series designed for emerging to mid-career, U.S.-based artists who are building or expanding their international touring practice.
All webinars will be recorded and made available after the fact on YouTube, and captions are provided in English and in Spanish. Follow the Learn More link below for details on these and all previously recorded webinars.
Making the Most of Your Grant: Tax Tips for Artists
Wednesday, January 21, 4:00-5:30 PM ET
Register
Partnering with U.S. Embassies for International Touring Success
Thursday, January 22, 1:00-2:30 PM ET
Register
Stories and Strategies for Touring Musicians
Friday, January 23, 1:30-2:45 PM ET
Register
Navigating International Festivals, Performing Arts Markets, Seasons, and Touring Models
Friday, January 30, 1:00-2:15 PM ET
Register
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Illinois Humanities is now accepting submissions for its 10th annual Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards.Encourage your K-12 student to share their creativity and join a statewide celebration of poetry. Winners will be announced in August. Stay tuned for the date, time, and location of the awards ceremony.
Celebrate the legacy of Gwendolyn Brooks and the creativity of K-12 writers in Illinois. These annual awards are a platform for the next generation of poets to share their voices and develop their craft. The submission deadline is May 1, 2026.
The Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards honor the legacy of Illinois' own Gwendolyn Brooks: renowned poet, author, and the first Black Pulitzer Prize winner. Each and every one of the young poets who take part in this competition is a part of that legacy. Brooks summed up the contest best in a note in 1977: "All the children who entered the contest are winners… They worked hard. They created. And that is what is important."
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Featured Illinois Arts Organization
Music Institute of Chicago, FY26 General Operating Support
Grant Recipient
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Dance Center Evanston pictured at the Music Institute of Chicago's 2025 Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration Concert
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Celebrating its 95th anniversary in 2025, the Music Institute of Chicago (MIC) stands as one of the nation's most esteemed community music schools. Serving over 1,900 students ranging from ages 7 to 92 across 133 Illinois zip codes, MIC is dedicated to fostering connections through lifelong engagement with music. Its mission is to educate, inspire, and build a thriving, inclusive community by offering exceptional instruction, inspiring performances, and community-focused programs. The joy and discipline of music are at the heart of MIC's efforts to enrich lives and unite individuals from diverse backgrounds.
A key highlight of MIC's winter season is the 23rd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration Concert. Scheduled for Sunday, January 18, at 3 p.m., the event will be held at Nichols Concert Hall in downtown Evanston. This free concert is a tribute to Dr. King's enduring legacy, blending music, reflection, and dialogue to honor his contributions. The celebration will feature a keynote address by Dr. Jonathan Bailey Holland, Dean of Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music. Attendees will also be treated to a world premiere by Abisola Toukourou, commissioned by MIC and performed by Chroma, Hearing in Color'snew professional chamber ensemble of performers with marginalized identities. Additional collaborators include Evanston Children's Choir, Dance Center Evanston, Reach Teach Play, Chicago Musical Pathways, and the Evanston Art Center.
Jennifer Bienemann, Vice President and Chief Development Officer at MIC, expressed gratitude for the support offered by the Illinois Arts Council. "Support from the Illinois Arts Council helps make it possible for MIC to present programming that reflects our community, elevates new voices, and brings people together through music," she emphasized.
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Other Opportunities You May Have Missed
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The Muse, the Illinois Arts Council Newsletter, is published weekly. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the IAC is strictly prohibited. The Muse is distributed free of charge.
Do you have an arts story you think Illinois needs to hear about? We want to hear from you! Submissions should focus on artist/organizational opportunities or on the impact of the arts on communities, the people creating art, or those experiencing art. Share your story with our Director of Communications at [email protected]. The IAC reserves the right to edit or reject any material.
This week's banner features the Center for Native Futures. Located in the Marquette Building at 56 W Adams St. in Chicago. The center presents exhibitions, artist residencies, and year-round community events celebrating Native creativity, culture, and innovation. Photo credit: Center for Native Futures.
arts.illinois.gov
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