Application Due Date: Fri., Sept. 8th
Starting Block Grants will provide up to $100,000 over two years to small organizations looking to build internal capacity and develop their infrastructure to promote organizational health, growth and sustainability. The grant opportunity is open to community-based organizations in diverse sectors, including Arts and Culture, Community and Economic Development, Education, Health and Human Services, and Violence Prevention.
Calling all creatives!
Thanks to advocacy efforts by a statewide coalition led by Arts Alliance Illinois, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) will distribute a historic $50 million in grant money to assist businesses, nonprofit organizations, and sole proprietors in the creative sector that have struggled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The DCEO Illinois Creative Recovery Grant application portal opens on Wednesday, April 5. If you operate in the creative space, we encourage you to visit https://dceo.illinois.gov/smallbizassistance/b2b.html for details on eligibility guidelines and more information on how to apply.
Arts Alliance Illinois is your go-to resource for support and tools you need for a successful grant application, including a help desk launching next Monday, 3/27, webinars, and more. Visit their website and stay tuned for more information.
Chicago Cultural Alliance Job Announcement
Operations Specialist (Full-Time/Hybrid)
Position: Operations Specialist
Salary range: $45,000 to $50,000/year + benefits
Reports to: Executive Director
Type: Full-time, 40 hrs/week. *Note: This is a hybrid position (2 days/week in-office; 3 days/week remote).
How to apply: If interested, please send a cover letter and resume to info@chicagoculturalalliance.org with “Operations Specialist” as the subject. Only complete applications will be considered. Applications can be addressed to Mónica Félix (Executive Director).
Process: We will accept applications until the position is filled. 1st interview: 30-min Zoom call; 2nd interview: in person in office.
About Us
The Chicago Cultural Alliance’s mission is to connect, promote, and support centers of cultural heritage for a more inclusive Chicago. We are an active consortium of over 40 cultural heritage museums, centers, and historical societies that span 28 neighborhoods and 7 suburbs in the Chicagoland area and represent over 30 different cultures from around the world. Our programs include the annual Activating Heritage conference, World Dumpling Fest, Journey Chicago, knowledge sharing opportunities, and support services. Learn more about our mission, programs, and members at https://www.chicagoculturalalliance.org/
About the Position
The Chicago Cultural Alliance (CCA) is seeking a full-time Operations Specialist. This role is essential to ensuring that the CCA team is meeting project deadlines while enforcing practices that reinforce organization and efficiency standards. The ideal candidate is someone with an eye for detail and the ability to adapt to the various needs of a nonprofit environment. We are seeking applicants who will embrace operations and administration with an understanding that this role is central to our organization’s ability to support centers of cultural heritage efficiently and with the greatest impact.
The ideal candidate should expect to commit a minimum of 3 years to this role. This role is not a good fit for anyone preparing to transition to graduate school or transition to another professional role. We encourage applications from serious candidates looking to join a team of dedicated nonprofit professionals who are passionate about advocating for Chicago’s cultural institutions and fostering a deeper sense of cross-cultural understanding through our work.
Click to read the full job announcement and instructions on how to apply:
Guest Speakers: Rebecca Husk, Luci Creative, Project Coordinator and Rachel Strack, Luci Creative, Marketing Manager
Luci Creative is a full-service design studio that creates immersive environments for museums, corporate environments, and children’s interactive spaces. Working on large and small projects alike, the team at Luci expertly grow exhibit ideas from concept to completion. Guest speakers Rebecca Husk and Rachel Strack will highlight some of Luci’s recent exhibit project and discuss ways a professional exhibit design firm can partner with libraries and archives on projects.
RSVP by Friday, October 21st. Organizers will send registrants Zoom information shortly before the program.
Register here: http://www.chicagoarchivists.org/event-4995269
Many of you may remember that the Chicago Cultural Alliance and our Members were invited to provide input on the city’s We Will Chicago plan, a comprehensive citywide plan to encourage economic growth, address systemic inequality, and increase neighborhood livability over the next ten years. It is the first citywide plan since 1966. After gathering input from community leaders like all of you, the City has now released a draft of the plan for community feedback before they finalize the plan.
You can read a draft of the plan here. Our input is especially important for the Arts & Culture Pillar, which is the first section (after the introduction).
Then you can provide input at this survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ArtsCultureWWC. (You can also go right to this survey if you’d like! It summarizes the Arts & Culture Pillar’s goals.) The city has asked for feedback from the community before November 1.
You also have the option to attend one of four We Will Chicago Informational Zoom Meetings coming up:
The Peace School invites all our Members to attend or participate on Monday, September 19th at 11:45 for Peace Day, an uplifting intercultural celebration to build peace in Chicago and the World!
Resource Table form. https://forms.gle/vJ97214hCZyMQjkn7Please complete this form if you want to have Resource Table space for your organization. Deadline is September 12th. Feel free to share this form with peacebuilding/community service/cultural organizations that might be interested. Flag Bearer form. https://forms.gle/nQ1dgdD5njyk5PeR7For anyone interested in carrying a flag in the World Peace Flag Ceremony.