Lollapalooza Announces $1.7 Million Grant to Chicago Public Schools Arts Education Curriculum

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Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and officials from the world-renowned music festival, Lollapalooza, today announced a $1.7 million grant through 2031 to expand arts education opportunities for the city's young artists. One of the largest gifts CPS has ever received for arts programming, the gift brings the festival's total support for CPS arts to $3.9 million since 2021.

Working with CPS community partners Ingenuity and Children First Fund, the Chicago Public Schools Foundation, the $1.7 million donation advances two major initiatives: a new $634,000 investment in All-City Performing Arts, an initiative that offers after-school music, dance, and theater ensembles for students across Chicago, and a $1.1 million renewal of the Lollapalooza Arts Education Fund, which provides grants to CPS schools to expand in-school arts programs across artistic disciplines. Together, the programs create a comprehensive approach to arts access, strengthening visual arts, music, dance, and theater programs during the school day while expanding extracurricular opportunities for students to practice and perform. The combined investment reflects Lollapalooza's long-term commitment to equitable arts education and opportunity for students in every Chicago neighborhood.

"Every young person deserves the chance to explore and develop their creative potential," said C3 Presents Partner Charlie Walker, also a Lollapalooza promoter. "Investing in arts programs for Chicago Public Schools students remains one of the most impactful ways we can help shape Chicago's future. With this contribution, our goal is to create real impact in the classroom and provide students new opportunities outside of school to learn, perform, and share their talents."

Lollapalooza's support for All-City Performing Arts helps secure the future of the 63-year-old program at a critical moment, ensuring students across the city continue to access premier music, theater, and dance ensembles. Founded in 1963, the program serves students in grades 3-12, giving them the opportunity to learn, practice, and perform alongside peers from across CPS. Students rehearse every Saturday during the fall and spring semesters with instruction from CPS arts educators. Administered by the Children First Fund, the support includes a $134,000 Instrument Lending Library to expand access to practice tools for music students along with $500,000 to support rehearsal space, transportation, supplies, and performances. Reimagined as Lollapalooza Presents: All-City Performing Arts, the partnership expands pathways for advanced artistic development and ensemble participation.

"When students have access to instruments and rehearsal time outside of school, they're empowered to practice consistently, grow their skills, and fully benefit from their performing arts program," said Chicago Public Schools CEO/Superintendent Dr. Macquline King. "All-City Performing Arts allows our students to take their talents to the next level, and Lollapalooza's support allows CPS to maintain and expand our reach, ensuring that a student's zip code does not define their access to high-quality artistic training and performance opportunities."

The reimagined Lollapalooza Presents: All-City Performing Arts will launch in fall 2026 alongside the renewed Lollapalooza Arts Education Fund, established in 2021 through a $2.2 million donation to program administrator, Ingenuity, and recently extended with an additional $1.1 million investment through School Year 2028-29. The Lollapalooza Arts Education Fund supports in-school arts instruction, teaching artists, and creative space improvements in schools with the greatest needs. To date, the Fund has awarded 234 grants to 117 schools across 43 Chicago wards, reaching more than 80,000 students.

"Lollapalooza's support has been absolutely critical in expanding access to high-quality arts education in Chicago schools that need it most," said Ingenuity Executive Director, Nicole Upton. "By renewing this commitment, Lollapalooza is ensuring that essential resources continue to reach classrooms across the city, strengthening programs, supporting educators, and creating meaningful opportunities for thousands of young people."

Ingenuity and the CPS Department of Arts Education anticipate that Lollapalooza's investments across the Lollapalooza Arts Education Fund and All-City Performing Arts will reach more than 40,000 students in 150-plus CPS' schools and more than 40 Chicago wards over the next five years. Together, the two programs will increase access to arts education across CPS, expanding in-school arts instruction and broadening opportunities for students to rehearse, perform, and grow as artists beyond the classroom.

"Every CPS student deserves access to high-quality arts programming, and Lollapalooza is setting a powerful example of how corporate partners can help us make that a reality," said Rebecca Clarkin, Executive Director of Children First Fund. "By supporting public education through collaborative investment, this world-class festival is delivering sustainable, measurable, and deeply meaningful impacts for our students. When organizations step up to prioritize equity in the arts like this, everyone wins."