We’re excited to announce the expansion of the Foundation’s signature awards program with new Artist-centered, Statewide model and new funding opportunities in 2026 and 2027, administered by United States Artists.
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The Foundation believes that art and culture are key to well-being and quality of life for people in the Great Lakes region, helping to create healthy, vibrant, and equitable communities. The Foundation also believes that arts ecosystems should serve the full diversity of the region’s cities and thus focuses on supporting historically underrepresented artists and organizations – including organizations led by and serving communities of color – so that they have resources to build sustainability and thrive.
With a focus on Chicago, the mission of the Culture Program is to support the development, growth, and visibility of underrepresented artists and arts organizations, which may advance racial equity, inspire creativity, and foster more culturally vibrant, diverse, and sustainable communities.
**Please note that because the Foundation is committed to making long-term investments, we award a very limited number of new grants each year.
Creative Organizations & Creative Individuals
Arts organizations and artists are vital to strong communities and contribute to a vibrant arts ecosystem in Chicago and the Great Lakes region. They can act as important community anchors and economic drivers, support diverse artistic expressions and traditions, and nurture the voices, careers, and visibility of artists who have been historically underfunded.
The Culture program aims to support the growth and sustainability of these arts organizations and the artists they present and serve by providing multi-year general operating grants and project grants. Organizations funded by our work demonstrate many of the following characteristics. They:
Our funding also includes professional development grants for artistic residencies, fellowships, awards, and programs supporting early and mid-career underrepresented artists, including artists of color, to advance their careers, strengthen professional networks, and raise visibility for their work. In addition, we provide a limited number of grants to support the development and presentation of new, innovative, and large-scale artistic commissions, exhibitions, and performances, including our annual Joyce Awards.
The Joyce Foundation Expands Signature Program with New Artist-centered, Statewide Model in Six States and issues a call for 2026 Artist Self-Nominations through May 4.
Sixty artists and 57 organizations are recognized for their contributions to the Great Lakes region
In mourning the tragic loss of Rep. Melissa Hortman, we honor her leadership on climate and gun violence prevention work. A longtime partner of Joyce and our grantees, she championed evidence-based policy to advance equity and safety for all Minnesotans.
Q&A with 2014 honoree Lynn Nottage, whose Tony-nominated show Clyde's started as a Joyce Awards-winning commission with the Guthrie Theater called Floyd's.
2024 Joyce Awards: La Distancia – an outdoor sculptural installation and immersive gallery exhibition exploring themes of displacement, diasporic identity, and memory through place-based interventions.
