Envisioning Justice Grants

2020 Envisioning Justice Grants Program

Please note: New guidelines and applications will be released on June 15, 2021.

Background:

In 2017, Illinois Humanities launched “Envisioning Justice” to amplify the voices of people most adversely affected by mass incarceration by centering the voices and perspectives of system-impacted people and communities in a citywide conversation on criminal legal issues through arts and humanities programming. The underlying assumption behind Envisioning Justice is that the arts, humanities, and civic dialogue in concert play a pivotal role in helping us re-examine issues, policies, and practices in fresh ways, while also enabling us to create strategies and pathways to a just and equitable society.

To date, this ambitious initiative has included multiyear partnerships with seven Chicago community-based groups to provide arts and humanities programming that responds to mass incarceration and imagines possibilities beyond it, commissioned artwork, and a grants program. Illinois Humanities presented a culminating citywide exhibition in August 2019 that attracted nearly 12,000 visitors. In 2020, Illinois Humanities is expanding Envisioning Justice throughout Illinois.

Program Description:

Over the next three years (2020-2022), Illinois Humanities will commission local artists and humanists to create new work that responds to and grapples with mass incarceration in impacted communities and will develop an interactive digital tool that people throughout the state can use to spark conversation, exploration, and action within their own communities.

Grantmaking is a critical component of Envisioning Justice. Through the Envisioning Justice grants program, Illinois Humanities plans to partner with groups throughout the state to use the arts and humanities to spark statewide conversations about the impact of mass incarceration as well as to envision a truly just society.

The three grant categories support work happening at the local, grassroots level in the arts, humanities, and related areas, as well as by policy and other groups that harness the arts and humanities to explore fresh ideas. We look forward to seeing proposals from organizations of any size.

Additionally, Illinois Humanities will commission eight (8) Illinois artists and twelve (12) Illinois humanists to make new work that: sparks dialogue about the impacts of mass incarceration on Illinois communities; portrays or otherwise renders visions of a world without prisons; is driven by a particular focus on the experiences and points of view of system-impacted individuals and communities; aims to shift the narrative around mass incarceration by connecting the arts and humanities with public policy; or aids in network-building and partnerships amongst groups and individuals working to envision and actualize a truly just society.

If you are interested in learning more about the grants categories, the type of work that will be funded, and completing an application, please visit envisioningjustice.org/envisioning-justice-grants2020 or reach out to Tyreece Williams, Project Manager, Envisioning Justice, at tyreece.williams@ilhumanities.org.

Please sign-up for the Envisioning Justice Digest and the Illinois Humanities newsletter to get the latest updates about Envisioning Justice and our other programs and grant opportunities.

Envisioning Justice Place-Based Grants

Deadline: New guidelines and applications will be released on June 15, 2021. The deadline will be September 1, 2021.

Amount: $2,500 – $5,000 for non-profit organizations

The Envisioning Justice Place-Based Grants support the creation or expansion of projects in specific communities across Illinois that respond to the impacts of mass incarceration and work to envision a society that is restorative, healing, and just for all. The grants will only be awarded to organizations from or working with communities from the following areas: East St. Louis, Decatur, Carbondale, Galesburg, Urbana-Champaign, and the Bloomington-Normal Metro Area. If you are not located in or around one of these six areas, please apply for an Envisioning Justice Action Grant.

The Envisioning Justice Place-Based Grants support a) humanities- and arts-based projects involving currently or formerly incarcerated people, b) humanities-, arts- and cultural-based organizations working to increase interest, awareness, and concern around the current criminal legal system or to imagine a world without prisons, and/or c) legal, policy and support-services groups that serve the needs of those most impacted by the criminal legal system who want to engage with the arts and humanities to create change.

Guidelines

Applications for Envisioning Justice Place-Based Grants will be accepted May 29 – October 15 (5 PM Central). Applicants will be notified within 6 weeks.
Non-profit organizations can apply for grants up to $5,000. No matching funds are required.
Accessibility Fund: Applicants also can choose to request an additional stipend of $100 for services such as American Sign Language interpretation or captioning to help make events more accessible to everyone.

Eligibility

The grants will be only be awarded to organizations from or working with communities from the following areas: East St. Louis, Decatur, Carbondale, Pontiac, Galesburg, Urbana-Champaign, and the Bloomington-Normal Metro Area.
Applicants for this category include, but are not limited to, humanities, arts, and cultural organizations, community-based organizations, social-service agencies, support-service providers who work with currently and formerly incarcerated individuals, youth media groups, and others.
Organizations must be a non-profit organization with either 501(c)3 status or designated by the State of Illinois. Individuals and for-profit groups are not eligible to apply.
Illinois Humanities asks that all grantees let us know event dates in advance (so that we can help promote them), and document their work through text, photography, audio, video, or other media so that we can feature your work on our website and in social media.

Envisioning Justice Action Grants

Deadline: New guidelines and applications will be released on June 15, 2021. The deadline will be September 1, 2021.

Amount: Up to $15,000 for non-profit organizations and up to $5,000 for individuals

The Envisioning Justice Action Grants will support the creation or expansion of projects across Illinois that respond to the impacts of mass incarceration and work to envision a society that is restorative, healing, and just for all. These grants specifically support: a) humanists and artists working to increase interest, awareness, and concern regarding the current system and/or working to envision a truly just society; b) legal, policy and support-services groups that serve the needs of those most impacted by the criminal legal system and who want to engage with the arts and humanities to create change; and c) coalition-building at the citywide, regional, or statewide levels among the above groups. Examples of eligible coalition building and/or network projects include those focused on a) using the arts and humanities to respond to the impacts of mass incarceration or to imagine a more just world, b) making the arts and humanities available to those currently or formerly incarcerated, or c) working to shift the narratives around mass incarceration. Projects can involve convening a number of organizations, hosting a conference or symposium, inviting speakers.

Guidelines

Applications for Envisioning Justice Action Grants will be accepted May 29 – August 15 (5 PM Central). Applicants will be notified within 6 weeks.
Non-profit organizations can apply for grants up to $15,000. Individuals can apply for grants up to $5,000. No matching funds are required.
Accessibility Fund: Applicants also can choose to request an additional stipend of $100 for services such as American Sign Language interpretation or captioning to help make events more accessible to everyone.

Eligibility

Applicants for this category include, but are not limited to, humanists, artists, humanities or arts organizations, policymakers, organizers, journalists, social-service agencies, support-service providers who work with currently and formerly incarcerated individuals, youth media groups, and others.
Organizations must be a non-profit organization with either 501(c)3 status or designated by the State of Illinois. Individuals are also eligible to apply. For-profit groups are not eligible.
Priority will be given to: Initiatives that are regional or statewide in scope, or that focus on communities that are a) the site of a prison or jail, b) include communities that are experiencing significant incarceration, and/or c) that have experienced significant demographic change as a result of the criminal justice system.
All selected grantees will be asked to report to Illinois Humanities on grant-funded activities; provide text, photos, audio, and/or video reporting; let Illinois Humanities know of grant-funded events at least a week in advance; be willing to participate in a survey during the grant period; and to work with Illinois Humanities on evaluation, if requested.

IL Humanities