We support the creation of, participation in, and appreciation of professional art, via the following two strategies:

• Support and promote artistic vitality by

– creating excellent and innovative art

– developing new professional-level talent

– nurturing professional arts, and

– developing new audiences

  (In the Chicago region, grants in this strategy are intended to support professional, small, fully-independent arts organizations. In that spirit, we do not accept proposals from amateur, community arts groups; organizations having annual expenses greater than $1 million; or groups that are legally, financially, or operationally part of a larger institution.)

• Increase lasting public access to significant collections that illuminate the region’s artistic, cultural and historic vitality for area audiences, by

– preserving collections in sustainable and accessible condition, or

– mining, reinterpreting and creatively presenting collections