Illinois Arts Council

Opportunity for Directing Residency:
/ The National Black Theatre: Institute for Action Arts
Soul Directing Residency

APPLICATION TIMELINE
Application Deadline: June 12, 2026
Panel Review Process: June 19 – July 7, 2026
Semi-Finalists Notified: July 17, 2026
Finalist Notified: July 24, 2026
Directing Residency Onboarding: Sept 8 – 11, 2026

The SOUL Directing Residency offers a demanding-yet-stimulating environment for a Black director to build exposure, establish NYC credentials, and, above all, refine technical and creative skills over the course of 18 months, with a minimum stipend of $7.5K.

Requirements:
- The I AM SOUL - DIRECTING RESIDENCY is available to Black directors, 21 years of age or older, who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
- The applicant commits to spending the 18-month residency period by participating in the National Black Theatre community.

Follow the link for more details: www.nationalblacktheatre.org/directing-residency/

The National Black Theatre is located at 2031 National Black Theatre Way, New York, NY 10035 and they are temporarily under construction.

Questions? Contact: www.nationalblacktheatre.org/contact/

Opportunity for Professional Development:
LEAD® 2026 Registration is now OPEN!
Access/VSA International Network /

The 2026 Leadership Exchange in Arts & Disability Annual Conference is taking place August 11-14, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA.

The annual LEAD® Conference brings together a passionate community dedicated to accessibility. Professionals from theaters, museums, parks, and cultural spaces come together to explore practical solutions, share effective strategies, and strengthen their commitment to accessibility. Through strategy exchange, meaningful connections, and shared experiences, LEAD® supports those working to make arts and cultural spaces more welcoming and accessible for everyone.

LEAD® offers:
- One-of-a-kind professional development. No other conference focuses on accessibility in cultural venues like LEAD®. The conference provides an intimate, rich atmosphere to engage arts professionals of all experience levels.
- Access to ideas. Attendees can tap into the collective “brain trust” of arts managers from museums, theaters, parks, zoos, libraries, and other cultural venues from around the world.
- Access to experts. We engage leading thinkers in the field to present at the conference. And after the event, attendees are invited to join an exclusive listserv to continue the conversation and ask questions.
- Practical information. Participants leave with ideas and practices that can be implemented at their organizations right away.
- Something for everyone. LEAD® has sessions and workshops for beginners and the more experienced.
- Experiential opportunities. LEAD® provides the opportunity to experience accessibility services and programs. Through pre-conference Capacity Building
- Workshops and hands-on Access Lab sessions, attendees can experience access in action.

Learn more or register today at AccessLEAD.org

Opportunity for a FREE poetry event:
Blatant Gold 2026
/ Chicago Poetry Center
Tuesday, June 9th, 6–8pm
Haymarket House, 800 W. Buena Avenue, Chicago

Every year, the Chicago Poetry Center’s summer poetry gathering, Blatant Gold, brings together the city’s literary community.

This year, the event features Mayda del Valle, Chicago Poet Laureate, and honors Musu Bangura, recipient of the Gwendolyn Brooks Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Join them for an open mic, performances by the featured poets, and a celebration of the writers, readers, and teachers of Chicago poetry.

Don't miss your chance to join! Make sure to RSVP with the link below:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blatant-gold-2026-tickets-1989120311397
or at poetrycenter.org/event/blatant-gold

The Chicago Poetry Center connects people and poetry, equitably engages poets with communities, and fosters creative literacy in the city and beyond. Learn more about our programs at www.poetrycenter.org

DEADLINE REMINDER!
Opportunity for Musicians, Artists, Performers, Food + Merch Vendors:
The Great Gathering Festival
Festival Date: August 15 -16, 2026
Festival Venue: Goekenland, 6621 Rt. 71 Yorkville, IL 60560

Applications are due June 5 by 11:59 pm!

The Great Gathering is now accepting applications for:�musicians, performers (theater, movement, circus, etc), workshop leaders, artists, food + merch vendors. Join them for two days of art, music, playfulness, camping, and connection on the farm.
Welcoming imaginative expressions and invite artists of all backgrounds — emerging and established — to help shape to place, presence, and possibility!

Apply through the link in the Great Gathering IG bio or follow the link: https://tinyurl.com/yvhv25b4

Poster by:
Photography:
Slide 2 by:

All photos feature amazing 2025 festival performers and vendors.

Opportunity for All:
IAC Creative Projects Grant Workshop
Two Rivers Arts Council /
/ / Havana Park District

Friday, June 5th at 1:00 p.m.
Havana Nature Center, 416 Max D, Havana, IL 62644

Join Program Director, Angelique Grandone, hosted by the Mason County Arts Council, Two Rivers Arts Council and the Havana Park District on June 5th, at 1:00 pm to meet and greet area grantees and potential grantees.

The Illinois Arts Council will present an informational workshop for artists, as well as municipalities, colleges, not-for-profit organizations on important upcoming grant opportunities through the agency.

This short program will include a brief overview of the agency and available grants with a focus on grants for our upcoming Creative Projects Grant application and how to apply. There will be plenty of time to answer any questions.

The workshop will take place on Friday, June 5th at the Havana Nature Center, on the North end of Riverfront Park in Havana, Illinois at 1:00 pm and will be hosted by the Mason County Arts Council, Two Rivers Arts Council and the Havana Park District.

In an effort to connect with downstate artists and organizations, the Council will present this workshop to provide important information, answer questions and guide potential grant applicants regarding two upcoming grant opportunities, the Creative Projects Grant, which opens July 1, and the Creative Accelerator Fund that opens in the Fall.

For those that may not have the opportunity to attend the afternoon workshop, Illinois Arts Council staff will be on hand for Havana’s First Friday, with a table and information at MAM Artworks Studio / Paint Havana, 120 N Plum Street, downtown Havana at 4:00pm.

Feel free to stop by and say hello and connect with the Illinois Arts Council!

Opportunity for Artists:
New American Paintings /

Announcing the launch of the inaugural NOVA Competition from New American Paintings
The deadline to apply for NOVA 1 is Sunday, June 7, 2026
Entry Fee: $30.00

NOVA is a new bi-monthly digital competition created to spotlight outstanding contemporary artists through a curated online publication featuring a selection of artists in each issue. While some editions will be open to all submissions, others will explore specific themes, concepts, or ideas. All selections are made by the New American Paintings editorial team.

Being featured by New American Paintings places your work before an international audience of collectors, curators, galleries, and art professionals. Over the years, inclusion has helped artists secure exhibition opportunities, gallery representation, acquisitions, and meaningful professional connections.

NOVA builds on that legacy in a dynamic digital format—expanding visibility, accessibility, and engagement for contemporary artists worldwide.
Each digital issue will be distributed to New American Paintings subscribers and will be available FREE online to reach the broadest possible audience.

Follow the link to learn more and to apply: www.newamericanpaintings.com/call-for-artists/nova

Questions? Email: [email protected]

Opportunity for Craft Artists:
/ Wayne Art Center
CraftForms 2026, 31st International Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Fine Craft
December 6, 2026 – January 23, 2027
$50 per application

Entry Deadline: September 9, 2026

Wayne Art Center is seeking submissions for CraftForms 2026, the 31st International Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Fine Craft, in the following mediums: basketry, ceramics, fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media, paper, wearable art, and wood. Works created utilizing CAD/CAM technologies and 3D printing tools are also eligible.
Selected works will be on display in the Davenport Gallery of Wayne Art Center in Wayne, Pennsylvania from December 6, 2026 through January 23, 2027.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
- Artists must be 18 years of age or older.
- Works submitted must be original in design. Collaborative works are accepted.
- Work must have been completed in the last two years.
- All work must be for sale.

This year’s Jurors, Dr. Robert K. Liu and Patrick Benesh-Liu of Ornament Magazine will present $12,000+ in prize awards funded by Wayne Art Center.

Follow the link to learn more and to apply: www.craftforms.org

Questions? Email: [email protected]

Opportunity for Part-time Employment:
Chicago Park District /

South Shore Cultural Center Artcraft Instructor
Chicago, IL

Do you have the skills to teach visual arts and ceramics to all ages?
Application open until Thursday, June 11, 2026

Follow the links to apply: https://fa-esjf-saasfaprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/jobs/preview/2600261/?mode=location

www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/jobs

Any additional information not covered here or within the position descriptions can be obtained by calling the Human Resources department at (312) 742-5220.

Opportunity for Employment:
Quad City Arts

Quad City Arts seeks an advocate for the arts and our impact on the region's quality of life and economic development.

The Quad City Arts Executive Director will ensure the successful planning and implementation of Quad City Arts' strategic direction and operational responsibilities to develop new programs while successfully delivering existing programming. This leadership role is expected to create a vision for the organization and implement it at the direct of the Board of Directors.

Learn more and apply at www.quadcityarts.com/ed-application OR visit Quad City Arts IG Linktree, or their page for more information.

Opportunity for Artists and Artisans:
/ Edgewater Chamber of Commerce
Vendor Applications Open!
Edgewater Music Fest 2026 - Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Aug 28-30th on Broadway in the Edgewater neighborhood in Chicago

If you're an artist, artisan, or organization looking for an amazing promotional/sampling opportunity to an audience of 30,000+ attendees, follow the link below and get those applications in soon. Slots are filling up quickly!

All 3 days of the fest they'll have a massive street market with 100+ vendors on one of Chicago's WIDEST streets (100 feet wide, seriously, we measured it). Tons of awesome local restaurants, artisan goods, souvenirs, apparel and more.

For more information, follow the link: www.edgewatermusicfest.org

QUESTIONS? Contact: www.members.edgewater.org/contact/