Special Programs

The Office for Arts Integration (OAI) offers funding to support collaborative and cross disciplinary work where art and the work of artists is integral to critical inquiry, practice and outcomes. A project of the Chancellor’s Office, OAI seeks to amplify the value of art, artists and creative practice to advance the university’s mission of enhancing the lives of (Illinois, national and global) citizens through world class education and community engagement.

The Office for Arts Integration invites projects centering artistic inquiry that expands research through the creative, conceptual, and unique approaches to ideas and collaborations with and amongst intellectual peers and students across the institution and our various communities.

The OAI small grants range from $500 - $15,000 with a process and /or performance period of 12-18 months.

These grants aim to assist in initiating a process, boosting projects already in-process with a demonstrated need, or support projects needing funds to bring the work to a satisfactory close. Because the OAI supports projects from its inception to completion, any one project can be funded up to 3 times within 5 years.

We welcome individuals and groups investigating new ideas for:

• Cross disciplinary course and curriculum (experiments in scope/ unconventional course development)
• Projects, processes and/or presentations (may include materials, space/equipment costs)
• Performance support (may include travel costs, artist fees, space/equipment rental, supplies)
• Student experiences and /or community engagement that may experiment with artist engagement and research, or that which otherwise falls outside customary parameters.

Criteria:

• Projects must include creative practice as a visible and critical element
• Projects must be cross disciplinary in some aspect (we can support performance, in its broadest sense, IF it is a component of a larger cross-disciplinary / conceptual approach)
• Creative practice must be an equal element in the project and not “in service to” another discipline
• Projects must present a novel or experiment driven approach
• Projects must have a clearly articulated plan for the support requested
• Applicants must articulate their markers for project success
• Projects must have a thoughtful and well justified budget for the support requested
• The project’s audience and collective experience must be clearly stated
• Projects must serve communities within a 50-mile radius of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. They may venture elsewhere but must have a local component for our campus and external community to engage/witness/participate.
• If projects bridge divides among the university and surrounding communities (in language, country of origin, social class, racial makeup, etc), please explain how your proposal builds on existing partnerships or relationships.

Eligibility

Applicants must fall into one of these categories:

• Faculty (tenured, tenure track, specialized), Academic Professional, and/or Staff of the University of Illinois
• Cultural Houses / Resource Centers
• Community member of U-C working with Faculty, Academic Professional, Staff, or Cultural House/Resource Center affiliated with the University of Illinois
• Applicant collaborators must demonstrate experience in working within the proposed area
• Projects must be located in communities within a 50mile radius of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Applicant Requirements

• Must work with their unit’s Business/Budget Officers on the award budget.
• In all announcements and publicity for your project, please amplify the work and value of the Arts by crediting as follows: “This project has been supported by the Office for Arts Integration at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign.”
• Awardees will be required to submit a Final Report at the 18-month marker, post-award.