Philadelphia’s individual artists, small and mid-size nonprofit arts organizations, and small creative enterprises are invited to apply through September 13, 11:59 p.m.
PHILADELPHIA. – Creative Philadelphia (formerly the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy) and the Illuminate the Arts Grant (ITAG) Committee today launched the $1.5 million 2024 Illuminate the Arts Grant. The online application will remain open through Friday, September 13, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.
The 2024 Illuminate the Arts Grant is a means to help strengthen and financially uplift Philadelphia’s creative sector, particularly in Philadelphia’s Black and Brown communities, and those that do not have access to most traditional sources of arts funding.
A total of $1.5M will be distributed to Philadelphia’s individual artists, small and mid-size arts organizations, and small creative enterprises to support and acknowledge their creative practice and impact on Philadelphia’s disadvantaged and most underserved and poorest communities.
“Although the Illuminate the Arts Grant originated as Covid-19 relief, it continues to address an important need as a funding opportunity serving individual artists and enterprises, as well as non-profits,” said Chief Cultural Officer Val Gay. “We want to dispel the narrative of the ‘starving artist.’ Accessible funding opportunities like this one help strengthen our creative sector and enrich the quality of life for so many creatives in Philadelphia.”
Applicant Eligibility
The 2024 Illuminate the Arts Grant application process and eligibility requirements are uniquely geared to meet the needs of the local arts and culture community while providing funds quickly and efficiently. Applicants must be based in Philadelphia County. The 2024 grants will support:
- Individual artists with a 2023 total annual income of $55,800 or less can apply for a grant of $1,500-$2,000. Individual artists who claim dependents are eligible for higher maximum income limits and should visit the application to determine eligibility.
- Small nonprofit arts organizations with 2023 operating budgets of $100,000 or less can apply for grants ranging from $3,000-$5,000.
- Mid-size nonprofit arts organizations with 2023 operating budgets between $100,000-$500,000 can apply for grants ranging from $5,000-$7,000.
- Small creative enterprises with 2023 operating budgets less than $500,000 can apply for grants ranging from $5,000-$7,000.
This will be a competitive grant with more eligible applicants than the $1.5M Illuminate the Arts Grant will be able to support. Applicants can submit only one request to the 2024 Illuminate the Arts Grant but are encouraged to apply for support through other funding available from local, state, and national levels. A list of other resources is available at creativephl.org/opportunities.
Application Q&A Sessions
Creative Philadelphia compiled Frequently Asked Questions for the 2024 Illuminate the Arts Grant. Creative Philadelphia will also host two virtual question and answer sessions for applicants who need more information about completing the online application through Submittable. The virtual sessions are open to the public.
- Tuesday, August 27 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. – Register Here
- Thursday, August 29 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. – Register Here
Eligible applicants can apply online by visiting creativephl.org/illuminatethearts for more information.
For assistance in completing the application through the online form, please email creativephl@gmail.com or call 215-906-5873. Language access support is available by request. Si no puede completar la solicitud a través del formulario en línea o necesita ayuda en español, envíe un correo electrónico a creativephl@gmail.com.
Creative Philadelphia (formerly the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy) provides creative and economic opportunities for all Philadelphians to thrive through the arts. We advance public access to arts and culture, collaborate with local creative communities, and celebrate the city’s cultural assets, contributing to a safer, cleaner, and greener city. For more information, visit CreativePHL.org and follow @CreativePHL on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
The Illuminate the Arts Grant (ITAG) was created by Philadelphia City Council in 2021 to assist in the financial recovery of the creative sector after the devasting impact of the COVID pandemic. This is the third round of funding since 2021. In its inaugural year, 645 of Philadelphia’s individual artists, small and mid-size nonprofit arts organizations, and small creative enterprises received $1,002,400 in relief funding through the inaugural Illuminate the Arts Grant. During the second funding cycle, 934 of Philadelphia’s individual artists, small and mid-size nonprofit arts organizations, and small creative enterprises received a total of $1,500,000 through the Illuminate the Arts Grant, a 45 percent increase in awardees from 2021. More information and impact reports are available online.
