Arts Midwest GIG Fund Grant

The Arts Midwest GIG Fund offers grants ranging from $2,000 to $4,000 to support creative projects and educational events across the Midwest. This funding is available for nonprofit organizations with budgets of $1 million or less, focusing on the arts. Eligible applicants include arts organizations and tribal entities located in specific states. The fund prioritizes those who have not received a grant in the last two years, ensuring diverse cultural engagement and access.

NOTE: The launch of the FY26 GIG Fund cycle is currently on hold.
About GIG Fund
The GIG Fund is a grant of $2,000-4,000 that supports creative projects and educational events in the Midwest. These funds help organizations present artists in their community by supporting programming and touring costs.
The GIG Fund provides flexible grants for nonprofit organizations to support programs and activities featuring professional artists. GIG Fund grants help cover fees for touring or local artists. Funds may also be used for project costs such as accessibility accommodations and marketing. We work with a panel to help us review applications and distribute grants annually.

Eligibility

Who should apply?501c3 non-profit organizations and tribal organizations with a budget of $1 million or less.Organizations located in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, or Wisconsin, and the Native Nations that share this geography.Arts and cultural organizations in any arts discipline (literature, performing arts, visual arts, traditional arts, multidisciplinary arts, etc.) or nonprofit organizations that provide arts programming (social service agencies, etc.)Priority will be given to applicants who have not received a GIG Fund grant in the past two years.Organizations will need to have a UEI number from SAM.gov in order to receive grant funds. You may apply to GIG Fund even if you do not have a UEI number yet. Apply for a UEI at SAM.gov.Organizations applying for GIG Fund grants should not have any overdue reports or funding moratoria with Arts Midwest.Examples of eligible applicants include:Nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)3, U.S. organizationsNonprofit colleges and universitiesFederally recognized tribal governmentsUnits of state or local governmentProject RequirementsContract with a professional artist/ensemble of high artistic, educational, or cultural value as understood by the target community.A portion of the grant award must be used to pay the artist(s).The artist/ensemble may be from anywhere in the world, including the applicant’s own community.The artist(s) must be a least 18 years of age and not be a full-time student.Offer at least two activities featuring the artist(s) in an accessible facility/space.Activities should feature an educational component that allows direct interaction between an audience and the artist(s) or art form. Examples of activities include masterclasses and workshops; lectures, demonstrations, and panel discussions; meet-and-greets; discussions/talkbacks; etc.Activities must include at least one performance or exhibition that is open to the general public.Activities may be in-person and/or virtual.The activities must take place in an accessible facility or on an accessible online streaming platform.At least one activity must reach an underserved audience.Underserved refers to groups whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited relative to geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability. Audiences could include, but are not limited to, communities of color, people with disabilities, older adults, rural areas, reservations, lower income communities, LGBTQ+ communities, veterans, and justice-impacted citizens.

Ineligibility

Ineligible Applicants:Organizations applying with a fiscal sponsorFor-profit business or organizationsArtists, ensembles, and artist’s agentsThis fund does not support the following types of projects:Dance/theater companies or independent artists seeking funding for their own self-produced material. (e.g., funding to help underwrite an annual company production of A Christmas Carol.)Independent artists seeking funding for their own self-produced material.Projects that feature mostly student performers.Artist fellowships/scholarshipsProjects that are not arts focused (e.g., food festivals, fireworks displays, conference keynote speeches, etc.)Projects that are part of a benefit or fundraiser.Projects that are funded by another Arts Midwest program.Projects funded by another federal source.