Office for Arts Integration Small Grants 2026

Office for Arts Integration Small Grants 2026 is sponsored by University of Illinois. Offers funding to support collaborative and cross-disciplinary work where art and the work of artists are integral to critical inquiry, practice, and outcomes.

Office of the Chancellor Office for Arts Integration Mission, Vision & Methods Faculty Release Time Award (RTA) Student Event Tickets (SETs) The Office for Arts Integration (OAI) offers funding to support collaborative and cross disciplinary work where art and the work of artists is integral to critical inquiry, practice and outcomes.

A project of the Chancellor’s Office, OAI seeks to amplify the value of art, artists and creative practice to advance the university’s mission of enhancing the lives of (Illinois, national and global) citizens through world class education and community engagement.

Projects, Processes, and/or Presentations May include materials, space or equipment costs Cross Disciplinary Course and Curriculum Experiments in scope or unconventional course development May include travel costs, artist fees, space or equipment rental, and/or supplies Student Experiences and/or Community Engagement May include artist engagement and research, or that which otherwise falls outside customary parameters Learn who qualifies, what sorts of creative practices qualify, and which target audiences qualify.

Creative practice must be an equal element in the project and not “in service to” another discipline. Projects must include creative practice as a visible and critical element. Projects must be cross-disciplinary in some aspect (we can support performance, in its broadest sense, IF it is a component of a larger cross-disciplinary/conceptual approach.)

Projects must have a clearly articulated plan for the support requested. Projects must present a novel or experiment driven approach. The project’s audience and collective experience must be clearly stated.

Projects must serve communities within a 50-mile radius of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. They may venture elsewhere but must have a local component for our campus and external community to engage/witness/participate.

If projects bridge divides among the university and surrounding communities (in language, country of origin, social class, racial makeup, etc.), please explain how your proposal builds on existing partnerships or relationships. Applicants must articulate their markers for project success. Learn who qualifies, what sorts of creative practices qualify, and which target audiences qualify.

Creative practice must be an equal element in the project and not “in service to” another discipline. Projects must include creative practice as a visible and critical element. Projects must be cross-disciplinary in some aspect (we can support performance, in its broadest sense, IF it is a component of a larger cross-disciplinary/conceptual approach.)

Projects must have a clearly articulated plan for the support requested. Projects must present a novel or experiment driven approach. The project’s audience and collective experience must be clearly stated.

Projects must serve communities within a 50mile radius of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. They may venture elsewhere but must have a local component for our campus and external community to engage/witness/participate.

If projects bridge divides among the university and surrounding communities (in language, country of origin, social class, racial makeup, etc.), please explain how your proposal builds on existing partnerships or relationships. Applicants must articulate their markers for project success. Learn who qualifies, what sorts of creative practices qualify, and which target audiences qualify.

Creative practice must be an equal element in the project and not “in service to” another discipline. Projects must include creative practice as a visible and critical element. Projects must be cross-disciplinary in some aspect (we can support performance, in its broadest sense, IF it is a component of a larger cross-disciplinary/conceptual approach.)

Projects must have a clearly articulated plan for the support requested. Projects must present a novel or experiment driven approach. The project’s audience and collective experience must be clearly stated.

Projects must serve communities within a 50-mile radius of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. They may venture elsewhere but must have a local component for our campus and external community to engage/witness/participate.

If projects bridge divides among the university and surrounding communities (in language, country of origin, social class, racial makeup, etc.), please explain how your proposal builds on existing partnerships or relationships. Applicants must articulate their markers for project success.

Tenured, tenure track, specialized, academic professionals, and/or staff of the University of Illinois Cultural Houses & Resource Centers Experiments in scope or unconventional course development Living in Urbana-Champaign and working with faculty, academic professionals, staff, or cultural houses/resource centers affiliated with the University of Illinois Projects Within 50mi of UIUC Living in Urbana-Champaign and working with faculty, academic professionals, staff, or cultural houses/resource centers affiliated with the University of Illinois Salaries, Fees, Research Position Support Unless directly related to an applicant project To conferences, meetings, and symposia unless directly related to the funded project; to principal sabbatical leave destinations, For graduate students that is not directly related to proposed activities Experiments in scope or unconventional course development Living in Urbana-Champaign and working with faculty, academic professionals, staff, or cultural houses/resource centers affiliated with the University of Illinois Living in Urbana-Champaign and working with faculty, academic professionals, staff, or cultural houses/resource centers affiliated with the University of Illinois How many times may I apply?

You may apply as many times as you like. (However, if feedback from a previous declined application remains unaddressed, the likelihood of success is diminished). Once a project is awarded, that specific award must complete the reporting cycle and cannot be applied for again until 18 months have passed and a final report has been submitted.

May I apply for more than one program at a time? An applicant may apply and be awarded more than one award from the OAI at a time. In other words, someone can hold a small grant and a teaching release simultaneously.

Teaching releases require an EO signed approval form. [See the link in the application portal]. Another example might include co-PIs in two separate projects.

One award does not preclude an awardee from being granted others. Are collaborations or collectives allowed to apply? Yes.

However, each collaborative project may be represented by only one application. Please note: if a collaborator applies for another independent project, their application will compete against the collaborative application. We encourage such projects to apply in separate rounds.

What is the application timeline? It is rolling, by month, during the academic year. The Small Grants Program is designed this way to accommodate the creative/artistic/innovation process, which is not always linear or on What stage of a project should I apply?

How soon after a successful application can one expect the funding to come through? Once all paperwork is signed, the funds will be transferred to the unit or checks will be Can grant money be used to fund projects that are already funded? If there is more funding needed, explain the need for this support.

Should I list my full budget for a project or only that which I need support? Yes. Please provide a budget for the ENTIRE project and include existing funding/sources.

However, make clear the line item for which OAI Small Grant Funding is needed. Click the button below to view a sample budget. Who reviews the applications/proposals?

Can I make edits to my application once submitted? What documentation is required? There is space for requested materials within the application.

If applicants have additional materials – e.g., video, print, documentation photographs – for the application, you may attach them in the dedicated area for additional materials. In addition, a record of the project with photographs, reviews, online materials, scholarly writings, etc. will be required at the Whom can I contact with questions? The OAI Team at artsintegration@illinois.

edu Are there opportunities for feedback on an unsuccessful application? Yes. Project determination letters will include brief feedback.

When will I hear back from the OAI with a determination? Our office will respond to your application within four to six (4-6) weeks. Please plan accordingly.

We will not consider RUSH applications with needs sooner than 4-6 weeks. If I receive any type of monetary or other support, will I need to credit the Office for Arts Integration on my project media and promotional materials? Yes.

If the OAI supports your work in any way – via networking to offer connections to individuals and/or organizations, generative discussions, brainstorming sessions, grant writing support, or direct funding – please consider amplifying the work and value of the arts by crediting as follows: “This project has been supported by the Office for Arts If awarded grant money, will I need to report how the funding was utilized? Yes.

End of project reports are due at the 18-month marker, post award. (i.e. if you are awarded in September 2025, your report will be due March 2027). Unused funds must be returned to the OAI at the end of the reporting period.

Reports are to include (in two single-spaced pages, or less): ▪ How the project met the aims of the proposal. ▪ How the project changed over the course of the award period/why. ▪ The impact upon the project’s intended (and unintended) participants and others.

▪ The future of the project, at the conclusion of the award period. ▪ Lessons learned and what the grantees would do differently were they to undertake this project (or something like it) again.

All projects must provide documentation of the project at the conclusion of the granting period, i.e. photographs, sound recordings, video shorts, links to press materials, etc. The OAI reserves the right to use submitted media to advance the work of the OAI, artists and All projects must provide documentation of the project at the conclusion of the granting period, please double check your links.

If you have a preference as to how your visuals are described, please submit those to us. Otherwise, we will provide visual, or image descriptions should your submitted media be selected. The OAI reserves the right to use submitted media to advance the work of the OAI, artists and arts on campus.

Office for Arts Integration 614 E. Daniel Street, Suite 303, MC 311 Email: artsintegration@illinois. edu