• Applications for Envisioning Justice Artist Commissions will be accepted September 18 – December 16 (5 PM Central). Applicants will be notified by February 1, 2021.
• Commissioned artistic projects and affiliated instructional prompts should be completed by the end of August 2021. Please bear this in mind when creating your proposal.
• Work samples are a significant portion of this application process. When possible, select samples that are relevant to the proposed project.
• Artist Commissions are $6,000. Funds should go toward all necessary materials, supplies, rentals, collaborator fees, and all other costs affiliated with producing the proposed work. Illinois Humanities also requests that artists retain a portion of the funds to pay themselves.
• Illinois Humanities will not provide technical support or production support for projects, but will offer up to three virtual studio visits or consultations. Additionally, all Commissioned Artists will be required to attend three virtual convenings over the course of the project: an orientation, a mid-point check-in with other Commissioned Artists, and a culminating public event to share/display work.
• Illinois Humanities asks that all Commissioned Artists keep in regular contact with us about their work (so that we can help to promote it), and that they document their work through text, photography, audio, video, or other media so that we might be able to feature it on our website and in social media.

• Individual artists of any discipline or genre are eligible to apply. While these opportunities are available to all practicing artists and humanists throughout the state, priority will be given to those living and working in seven communities where Envisioning Justice activity is focused: the Bloomington-Normal Metro Area, Carbondale, Chicago, Decatur, East St. Louis, Galesburg, and Urbana-Champaign (and vicinities).
• Commissions are intended for individuals. However, if artists would like to apply with a small, previously established collective or partnership, these will be considered. For-profit businesses are not eligible.

The application deadline is 5 PM (Central) on December 16, 2020.

Preview application as a PDF. This PDF is for preview purposes only, please apply using the application link below.

Apply HERE.

• Applications for Envisioning Justice Humanist Commissions will be accepted September 18 – December 16 (5 PM Central). Applicants will be notified by February 1, 2021.
• Commissioned projects and affiliated instructional prompts should be completed by the end of August 2021. Please bear this in mind when creating your proposal.
• Work samples are a significant portion of this application process. When possible, select samples that are relevant to the proposed project.
• Humanist Commissions are $6,000. Funds should go toward all necessary materials, supplies, collaborator fees, and all other costs affiliated with producing the proposed work. Illinois Humanities also requests that humanists retain a portion of the funds to pay themselves.
• Illinois Humanities will not provide technical support or production support for projects, but will offer up to three virtual visits or consultations. Additionally, all Commissioned Humanists will be required to attend three virtual convenings over the course of the project: an orientation, a mid-point check-in with other Commissioned Humanists, and a culminating public event to share/display work.
• Illinois Humanities asks that all Commissioned Humanists keep in regular contact with us about their work (so that we can help to promote it), and that they document their work through text, photography, audio, video, or other media so that we might be able to feature it on our website and in social media.

The application deadline is 5 PM (Central) on December 16, 2020.

Preview application as a PDF. This PDF is for preview purposes only, please apply using the application link below.

Apply HERE.

• 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.

• 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.

• The application deadline is 5 PM (Central) on October 15.
• Preview application as a PDF. This PDF is for preview purposes only, please apply using the application link below.
• Apply HERE.

• Applications for Envisioning Justice Justice Dialogue Grants will be accepted May 29 – October 15 (5 PM Central). Applicants will be notified within 4 weeks (proposed events should not take place until 1 month after deadline).
• Non-profit organizations can apply for grants up to $500 for a single dialogue or $1000 for a series of two dialogues. No matching funds are required.
• Funds can go toward venue costs, flyers and other outreach, speaker’s honoraria, a facilitator, or other event-related expenses.
• Dialogues can use archival material, photography, a film, storytelling, or other materials to help spark or tee-up conversation, however, a community-based discussion needs to be at the center of the program. We’d love to see creative ideas!
• Accessibility Fund: Applicants also can choose to request an additional stipend of $100 for features such as American Sign Language interpretation or captioning to help make events more accessible to everyone.

• 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.
• Applicants for this category include, but are not limited to, humanities, arts, and cultural organizations, libraries, schools, 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.
• All selected grantees will be asked to let Illinois Humanities 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.

• The application deadline is 5 PM (Central) on October 15.
• Preview application as a PDF. This PDF is for preview purposes only, please apply using the application link below.
• Apply HERE.

• 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.

• 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.

• The application deadline is 5 PM (Central) on August 15.
• Preview application as a PDF. This PDF is for preview purposes only, please apply using the application link below.
• Apply HERE.

The process is relatively straightforward. Simply submit an application using the form for the Envisioning Justice grant category you are interested in applying for. You will be asked to describes who you are, what you plan to do, how you plan to carry it out, and how support from Illinois Humanities would help make it possible. We encourage you to contact us with questions or ideas well before the stated grant deadlines.

Submit an application that describes who you are, what you plan to do, how you plan to to carry it out, and how support from Illinois Humanities would help make it possible. Additionally, submit relevant work samples and other requested materials.

Illinois Humanities is flexible about this. In general, Illinois Humanities grants are paid out in one payment, and are active for one year. However, for the Envisioning Justice Action Grants and Place-Based Grants we are happy to discuss possibilities with you if an extension is required.

For the Envisioning Justice Artist and Humanist Commission, projects and affiliated instructional prompts should be completed by the end of August 2021. Please bear this in mind as you create your proposal.

These are one-time grants. Illinois Humanities intends to offer Envisioning Justice grants again in 2021, and applicants are welcome to submit additional or repeat proposals again at that time.

Yes, you can apply to more than one category, however, you will only be awarded one grant. Also, please be sure to pay attention to the geographic requirements for the Envisioning Justice Place-Based Grants and Justice Dialogue Grants. However, organizations from the specific communities for these grants are encouraged to apply for Envisioning Justice Action Grants for larger projects requiring more than $2,500 in funding support.

Illinois Humanities is overseeing this grants program and commissions, and an advisory committee consisting of staff and outside advisors from across Illinois has been assembled to assess applications.

Commissioned works will be shared on the Illinois Humanities/Envisioning Justice websites and other IH/EJ platforms, including a digital “Activation Kit” designed to spark reflection, conversation, and action around the injustices and impacts of mass incarceration. Each commissioned work will be accompanied by an instructional prompt that viewers can carry out in order to engage critically and creatively with the conversation around ending mass incarceration. Additionally, commissioned works may be displayed in physical locations throughout Illinois in 2022.

The Envisioning Justice Activation Kit, which will be curated and compiled by Illinois Humanities, will be composed of “prompts” created by artists, humanists, and organizers based off of their own projects and practices. Viewers will select a prompt and follow its instructions in order to spark dialogue, reflection, or action around the impacts of mass incarceration and visions of true justice in their own communities.  Once completed, participants can upload the results of their experience back to the digital platform so that viewers can see the ripple effect of each instructional prompt.

A portion of funds should directly support the Commissioned Artist or Humanist.  Remaining funds can support materials, equipment, rentals, collaborator fees, and/or fabrication costs.

The humanities are the examination of what it means to be human through the interpretation and discussion of all forms of thought, interest and expression. While we value traditional humanities disciplines, such as art history, literature, languages, law, history, and philosophy, our emphasis is on the public humanities, which means that we look at the humanities as more than an academic discipline.

For us, the public humanities are a mode of inquiry and conversation that aims to engage, support, or challenge the ideals, beliefs, tensions, and prejudices of the communities in which we live. We believe that important thought can happen outside of the academy – in neighborhood institutions, schools, churches, and at kitchen tables across the country. We are especially interested in instances of the public humanities that promote civic engagement – in raising critical issues facing everyday people and conducted with the hope of increasing their desire for staying engaged. Rather than being defined by rigid disciplinary boundaries, it is the humanistic lens, which emphasizes curiosity, questioning, and dialogue, that matters most to us.

By this definition, the term “humanist” refers to applicants with a background in humanities disciplines, whether through professional experience or formal/academic training. More specifically, we are looking for those whose work utilizes humanistic methods of inquiry to address questions related to the injustices of mass incarceration. At Illinois Humanities we say that while a scientist is charged with asking, “Is this scientific advancement possible?” a humanist’s task is to ask, “Is it a wise pursuit for humankind?” Similarly, Envisioning Justice seeks applicants who see the potential in the public humanities as a forum for exploration, conversation, and active engagement toward a just society, and whose work to date demonstrates a commitment to the humanities as an important component in this pursuit.