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   5. Chicago Public Programs
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10. Chicago
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Chicago Public Program Guidelines

The aim of the Terra Foundation for American Art's Chicago Public Programs grants is to increase the understanding and appreciation of historical American art (pre-1980) among general audiences. To achieve these goals, the foundation supports a variety of informal learning opportunities designed to make historical American art accessible and relevant to Chicago residents. The foundation welcomes proposals from a broad range of organizations, including those that may not typically have an American art focus.

Eligibility: The foundation only accepts proposals from institutions with United States 501(c)(3) status. Applicants must be based in the city of Chicago. An exception may be made only when projects for which funding is requested take place in the Chicago area and Chicago residents make up the majority of the audience served.

Grant funding is available for:

Projects and programs about historical American art and visual culture (pre-1980) that are grounded in sound scholarship and designed primarily for adult learners in Chicago who may not have specialized knowledge of American art or art history.

The foundation is especially interested in projects designed to do one or more of the following:

• Enlarge or expand audiences for historical American art (for example, by taking place at more than one venue, involving collaboration among organizations, including innovative outreach efforts, building expansion efforts over several years, or capturing program content for dissemination to larger audiences where appropriate via the internet or by other means);
• Highlight aspects of Chicago's art history along with the rich and diverse American art collections found in the city, including public art;
• Make the best in American art scholarship accessible to the public; 
• Provide opportunities for audiences to experience works of American art in person; 
• Offer possibilities for ongoing learning (for example, through a series of programs);
• Explore American art through interdisciplinary or thematic lenses; or
• Use innovative program formats to actively engage audiences.

The Terra Foundation does not accept proposals for:

• Programs focused primarily on art made after 1980
• Capital expenditures
  

Deadlines

Public Programs
Letter of Inquiry         Proposal                  Board Meeting
November 1, 2011     January 13, 2012      Spring 2012
May 1, 2012             July 20, 2012            Fall 2012

Download a copy of the Public Programs Application Form

If the foundation responds to a letter of inquiry by requesting a proposal, the organization applying for a grant will be expected to complete the attached application.

Chicago Public Program Application Form