Who is eligible for the grant opportunity? This grant is intended for independent live venue operators, performing or presenting arts organizations, arts education organizations, museums, or cultural heritage organizations that have:
● Experienced business interruption or adverse conditions due to COVID-19
● Been in operation in Illinois as of March 12, 2020, and remains in operation
Organizations, businesses, sole proprietors / freelancers (who can furnish a Form 1040-Schedule C tax forms for 2019, 2020, and 2021) must be operating in one of the following industries (detailed definitions can be found in the “Detailed Eligible Industry Definitions” section of the Eligibility Guidelines document):
Independent live venue operators – a destination for live entertainment consumers where artistic programming is a main driver of attendance. Please note that grants are not going to a facility, building, or physical venue itself as this grant is intended for venue operators.
Performing or presenting arts – artistic disciplines under this category include dance, film, literary arts, media arts, music, theater, and visual arts.
Arts education – businesses, including sole proprietors, where a dedicated portion of business operations are focused on providing arts education, or organizations where the primary mission or integral to the primary mission is the provision of arts learning.
Museum – in service to the public, dedicated to the procurement, care, study, and display of objects, archival materials, ephemera, or live specimens, of lasting interest or value.
Cultural Heritage Organization – a business or organization that meets at least one of the following: community cultural and arts center, an ethnic and cultural awareness organization, or a festival focused on promoting and preserving ethnic, cultural, racial, regional, linguistic, or religious traditions.
Previous applicants and/or recipients of past B2B grant programs may still be eligible to apply for Illinois Creative Recovery Program funds, provided they meet eligibility criteria for the creative arts sector as defined by DCEO's Illinois Creative Recovery Grant Program Criteria. Final decisions on eligibility and award amounts will be determined by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) once the 5-week application period has concluded.
DCEO's Illinois Creative Recovery (B2B Arts) Eligibility Criteria
DCEO's Frequently Asked Questions
Register for Arts Alliance's informational webinar on March 31 at 12pm here
Register for DCEO's informational webinar on April 6 at 2pm here
Do you have a more specific eligibility question? The Arts Alliance Help Desk team is here to assist! Submit a ticket with your question to receive individualized support from one of our Help Desk Agents.
Arts Alliance Illinois is serving as a Community Navigator for the Illinois Creative Recovery grant opportunity to share information about the grant and provide potential applicants with technical assistance. Arts Alliance Illinois cannot make final determinations regarding eligibility and will not play a role in determining grant awards. For more information about the Illinois Creative Recovery grants, visit the DCEO website at illinois.gov/b2b
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