Illinois Arts Council Offers Program Grant Application Workshops

Assistance for Organizations Seeking Fiscal 2009 Program Grants

[February 11, 2008]  CHICAGO -- Illinois Arts Council staff, in cooperation with local arts agencies, will offer free, 90-minute application workshops at various sites throughout Illinois to assist applicants in completing proposals for fiscal 2009 program grants. Program grants are available to arts organizations and not-for-profit organizations that present arts programming. Grants are awarded for general operating and project support and are available in 11 different areas of arts programming. The application deadline is March 15.

The workshops are designed to provide specific information on the application procedures for the program grants as well as about programs and services offered by the Illinois Arts Council.

A list of workshop locations, dates and times is below.

Copies of the grant guidelines and application form will be available at the workshop. Guidelines, application materials and a full Illinois Arts Council staff list may also be obtained by calling 1-800-237-6994 or from www.state.il.us/agency/iac.

For further information, travel directions or to receive information about cancellations due to inclement weather, please call or e-mail the appropriate contact listed with the workshop information. Individuals requiring accessibility accommodations, such as a sign language interpreter, should make the request known to the listed contact person before the scheduled workshop date in order to allow time for appropriate arrangements to be made.

Illinois Arts Council staff members are also available for telephone consultations or for scheduled appointments at the council's Chicago office. To ensure this assistance, contact the staff well in advance of the application deadline.

[Text from Illinois Arts Council file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]

Illinois Arts Council -- "Building a strong, creative, and connected Illinois through the engagement of all Illinoisans in the pursuit of, participation in, and enjoyment of the arts."

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Workshops

Date	Location	Contact
Wednesday, Feb. 13, 3 p.m.	Elmhurst Art Museum 150 Cottage Hill Ave. Elmhurst	Stephanie Grow, assistant director Elmhurst Art Museum 630-834-0202 [e-mail]
Tuesday, Feb. 19, noon	Illinois Arts Council Chicago Offices** James R. Thompson Center 100 W. Randolph 10th floor, Suite 500 Chicago	LaNora Diaz, administrative assistance--programs Illinois Arts Council 312-814-6899 [e-mail]
Thursday, Feb. 21, 3 p.m.	Quad City Arts 1715 Second Ave. Rock Island	Teresa LaBella Quad City Arts 309-793-1213, ext. 114 [e-mail]
Wednesday, Feb. 27, 5:30 p.m.	Mendelssohn Club      415 N. Church St. Rockford	Bridget Fraser  Mendelssohn Club    815-964-9713 [e-mail]
Thursday, March 5, 4:30 p.m.	Illinois Arts Council Chicago Offices** James R. Thompson Center 100 W. Randolph 10th Floor, Suite 500 Chicago	LaNora Diaz, administrative assistance/programs Illinois Arts Council 312-814-6899 [e-mail]

**New security measures at the James R. Thompson Center: All visitors to state government offices, including the Illinois Arts Council in the James R. Thompson Center, will be required to submit to a security screening before being allowed access to the elevators. Visitors will be required to show a valid government-issued picture ID and pass through metal detectors. In addition, all bags and items carried by visitors will be searched by the Illinois State Police Protective Service Unit. If you are planning to attend a scheduled meeting or workshop at the James R. Thompson Center, it is highly recommended that you allow extra time for the screening process.