The Rockford Area Arts Council annually administers grants programs which support artists and arts organizations and benefit the community. The source of funds for Arts Council grants is the City of Rockford, Illinois Arts Council, and individual and corporate Arts Council members. 

         Congratulations to the 2012 Community Arts Access Grant Recipients

Artists' Ensemble Theater 
AET will produce Gee's Bend as a community outreach program - $750

Boone County Arts Council
"5th Grade Arts Festival" exposing students to various art mediums - $800

Careers, Etc.
First Brigade Band Concert & Living History Veterans Day Event - $750

Carpenter's Place
"We the People" community mural project for homeless guests - $1,250

Circles of Learning
"Through the Eyes of a Child-A Continuation" introducing photography to 2nd -5th grade low income children - $500

Festival of Fantasy

Children's Halloween parade and costume contest - $500

Hip Hop Congress of Rockford, IL
Street art and performance festival showcasing local urban art forms - $1,000

Kantorei, The Singing Boys of Rockford
"This Land is Your Land-A Tapestry of a Song" collaboration with Rock Valley Children's Choir & RSO for 4th & 5th grade students - $1,000

Kishwaukee College Family Literacy Program
"Hola" Folk Art of Mexico" Families will create Mexican life and symbols in clay sculpture and bark (Amate) painting - $800

Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center
"Songs of the World" public concert and workshops for students by Donald Fraser- $1,000

Midway Village Museum
"Old River Tales" a play bringing historical and cultural roots to underserved children and audiences - $500

Milestone, Inc.
"Unlocking the Artist" project to expose the arts to children at Milestone - $500

Natural Land Institute
"Art in Nature" collaboration with Klehm Arboretum & Tinker Cottage Museum to present an after school program - $800

Rockford Art Museum
"Into the Light: Illinois Glass" four-month exhibition - $1,200     

Rockford Dance Company
"Dance 4 Hope" collaboration with Barbara Olson Center of Hope to develop a dance therapy program for BOCOH individuals - $1,700  

Rockford Lutheran Schools
"Hometown History Rockford" musical presented to RPS205 3rd grade students - $750    

Rockford Park District
"Sounds of Summer" free music concert series - $600

Rockford Rescue Mission
"Art for Recovery" introducing women at RRM to hands-on art projects - $750

Rockford Symphony Orchestra
RSO Youth Concert and matinee performance of "Beethoven Live!" - $1,250

Rockford Wind Ensemble
"Tenth Annual Youth Honors Band" workshop and performance - $1,275

The Music Academy Foundation
"Let Music Soar: The Emotion Connection" winter workshop - $1,000

Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum
"Dia de los Muertos" connecting Tinker to the Hispanic community through culturally relevant celebration - $800

TOTAL 2012 Community Arts Access Grants - $19,475

Community Arts Access Grants
Grants not to exceed $2,500, available to artists and community non-profit organizations for projects which increase access to the arts for underserved people in Boone, DeKalb, Ogle, and Winnebago counties.  Grants not to exceed $2,500 available to artists and community non-profit organizations for projects which increase the visibility of the arts and/or make the arts accessible to youth, in Boone, DeKalb, Ogle, and Winnebago Counties. Grant deadline is November 18, 2011

City Arts Action Grants
Grants not to exceed $350 for arts projects needing immediate funding in small amounts, available to artists and arts organizations in Winnebago County. Applications accepted throughout the year or until funding is depleted.