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Announcing 99 New GIG Fund Recipients

Two Indigenous performers in full regalia dancing with a band in the background.
Photo Credit: Nicholas Worden
Joe Reilly Band & All Nations Dancers perform at the Palmer Park Art Fair on June 1, 2024, presented by 2024 GIG Fund grantee People for Palmer Park.

99 Midwestern organizations have received a total of $380,000 through the 2024-25 GIG Fund, a grant program from Arts Midwest. These awards will help organizations present artists and educational events in their community.


The GIG Fund provides $2,000-$4,000 grants to support the arts throughout the Midwest. The fund supports small to mid-sized nonprofit organizations located in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin and the Native nations that share this geography.

The GIG Fund provides flexible grants to support activities featuring professional artists. The selected artists must take part in at least two public events as part of their GIG Fund project. Funds may also be used for project costs such as accessibility accommodations and marketing.

The GIG Fund prioritizes organizations that are led by or engage artists from historically underrepresented or marginalized communities, rural communities, and under-funded areas. 53% of this round’s organizations have never been funded by Arts Midwest in the past. 25% of the organizations are from rural areas, according to the National Endowment for the Arts definition. All funded organizations this round had organizational budgets below $1 million.

We work with a panel to help us review applications and distribute grants annually. With limited funding, Arts Midwest was not able to award all projects.

  • 99

    GIG Fund Grantees received awards this cycle

  • 53%

    Have never been funded by Arts Midwest in the past

  • 25%

    Are organizations from rural areas

“Arts Midwest is thrilled to support these organizations as they bring diverse programming featuring talented artists to so many Midwestern communities.”

JOSHUA FEIST, GRANTS OFFICER AT ARTS MIDWEST

Explore 2024-25 GIG Fund Projects

Learn more about the organizations funded in this round and see if this opportunity might be a fit for your community in the future!
  • An audience in a speakeasy-decorated space watching two musicians perform on a small stage.

    Western Illinois Museum

    GIG Fund

    FY2025
    Illinois

    In October 2024, the Museum will host The Blind Swine Speakeasy, featuring two nights of music and cultural activities tied to local Prohibition-era history. The grant supports bluegrass singer EmiSunshine…

  • Six people standing on an outdoor stage with two people dancing in the center.

    Indianapolis Shakespeare Co

    GIG Fund

    FY2025
    Indiana

    Indy Shakes presents trans artist Will Wilhelm performing their one-person show GENDER PLAY OR WHAT YOU WILL by Will Wilhelm and Erin Murray. Will and Erin passionately take the play…

  • Six youth holding guitars and drumsticks posing outdoors.

    Eastern Iowa Arts Academy

    GIG Fund

    FY2025
    Iowa

    People with disabilities will have the opportunity to attend multiple sessions of songwriting and recording workshops at TalkBack Studios, gaining studio experience alongside professional, performing artist Evan Stock. Also, participants…

  • A cowboy hat in a circle with a superimposed desert scene featuring a cactus.

    Adrian Symphony Orchestra

    GIG Fund

    FY2025
    Michigan

    Funding supports the artist fees associated with the Oct 2024 concert and events featuring piano soloist Henry Kramer and composer Jennifer Higdon. Pulitzer Prize and three-time Grammy-winning composer Higdon will…

  • A pot pouring red-hot molten metal into a stone mold.

    Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center

    GIG Fund

    FY2025
    Minnesota

    Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center (CAFAC) will host workshops with visiting Danish blacksmith, Lars Mørch, in September 2024, focused on traditional blacksmithing techniques and knife-making. Workshops are open to beginners…

  • A circle of ballerinas wearing fairy wings kneel down on a stage decorated to look like a forest.

    Western Plains Opera

    GIG Fund

    FY2025
    North Dakota

    The Western Plains Opera brings Puccini’s beloved opera, La Boheme, to the Ann Nicole Nelson stage on the campus of Minot State University. The production on September 6th & 7th,…

  • A group of youth and dancers in front of a stage, learning a dance.

    ORMACO

    GIG Fund

    FY2025
    Ohio

    Highlighting music of the Caribbean, ORMACO’s fall 2024 World Tour of Music Residency will provide hands-on experience for incarcerated youth, concerts in rural schools and community homes, and culminate in…

  • A group of youth building a tipi frame.

    Lakota Youth Development

    GIG Fund

    FY2025
    South Dakota

    Lakota Youth Development plans a transformative storytelling workshop, for youth and adults to preserve our rich Lakota cultural heritage. Guided by Lakota Authors and storytellers, participants immerse themselves in profound…

  • Performance shot featuring actors with arms raised

    Black Arts MKE

    GIG Fund

    FY2025
    Wisconsin

    Black Arts MKE’s Black Nativity celebrates the timeless work of Langston Hughes story of the Nativity retold through a combination of poetry, dance & song from an African American perspective,…

See all 2024 GIG Fund Grantees

OrganizationCityStateGrant Award
Civic Music Association (CMA)Des MoinesIA$4,000
Eastern Iowa Arts AcademyCedar RapidsIA$4,000
Red Cedar Chamber MusicMarionIA$4,000
Southeast Iowa Symphony OrchestraMt PleasantIA$4,000
Supporters of the Fairfield Arts & Convention CenterFairfieldIA$4,000
Wieting TheatreToledoIA$4,000
Windsor Theatre Development CorporationHamptonIA$2,000
Altepee en ChicagoChicagoIL$4,000
ARTSIE INCEvanstonIL$4,000
Chicago Art DepartmentChicagoIL$4,000
Joel Hall Dancers & CenterChicagoIL$4,000
Chicago Heights Drama GroupChicago HeightsIL$4,000
Chicago Latino Theater AllianceChicagoIL$4,000
Chicago Tap TheatreChicagoIL$4,000
CampanellaWheelingIL$4,000
D-ComposedChicagoIL$4,000
DuPage Symphony OrchestraNapervilleIL$4,000
Global Girls, Inc.ChicagoIL$4,000
Hyde Park Jazz FestivalChicagoIL$4,000
The Midwest Writing CenterRock IslandIL$4,000
Chicago Danztheatre EnsembleChicagoIL$4,000
Railroad Tracks Music AcademyChicagoIL$4,000
South Asia InstituteChicagoIL$4,000
Third Coast International Audio FestivalChicagoIL$4,000
Western Illinois MuseumMacombIL$2,000
Still Waters Adult Day CenterIndianapolisIN$2,500
FAMEFort WayneIN$4,000
Indianapolis Jazz FoundationIndianapolisIN$4,000
Indianapolis Shakespeare CoIndianapolisIN$4,000
Lotus Education and Arts FoundationBloomingtonIN$4,000
Miller Beach Arts & Creative DistrictGaryIN$3,000
Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis, Inc.IndianapolisIN$3,000
Southern Indiana Taiko IncColumbusIN$4,000
SPACE: Supporting Playwrights and Creative ExpressionKimmellIN$4,000
Lubeznik Center for the ArtsMichigan CityIN$2,000
The Point TheaterCarmelIN$4,000
Accent PontiacPontiacMI$4,000
APG AUDIO VISUAL MENTORING INC.AdrianMI$4,000
Artists Creating Together (ACT)Grand RapidsMI$4,000
Erickson Center for the ArtsCurtisMI$4,000
The GhostLight TheatreBenton HarborMI$4,000
Great Lakes Chamber OrchestraPetoskeyMI$4,000
Heritage WorksDetroitMI$4,000
Adrian Symphony OrchestraAdrianMI$4,000
Mackinac Arts CouncilMackinac IslandMI$4,000
Michigan Festival of Sacred MusicKalamazooMI$3,160
People for Palmer ParkDetroitMI$4,000
Play House LaboratoriesDetroitMI$4,000
Polynesian Arts Advocacy Council of MichiganNoviMI$4,000
Pure WindsLansingMI$4,000
Que Blackout Media Arts Youth TheaterDetroitMI$4,000
Temate InstituteDetroitMI$4,000
the Poetics LabOssinekeMI$4,000
Vista CenterFlintMI$3,500
Miikanan Gallery at Watermark Art CenterBemidjiMN$4,000
Chicago Avenue Fire Arts CenterMinneapolisMN$3,695
Department of Public TransformationGranite FallsMN$4,000
Exposed Brick TheatreSt PaulMN$4,000
Foci Minnesota Center for Glass ArtsMinneapolisMN$4,000
Friends of the Fergus Falls Public LibraryFergus FallsMN$2,544
Frozen River Film FestivalWinonaMN$3,725
MiznaSaint PaulMN$4,000
Open Eye TheatreMinneapolisMN$4,000
eMartin DanceMinneapolisMN$4,000
Kori ArtGrand ForksND$4,000
North Dakota Asian-American Arts and Cultural Initiative or NDAAACIMandanND$4,000
Northern Valley Youth OrchestrasGrand ForksND$4,000
Western Plains OperaMinotND$4,000
ArtSpace/LimaLimaOH$4,000
Belmont Eastmont Hearthstone Community CouncilDaytonOH$4,000
Black Swamp Arts FestivalBowling GreenOH$4,000
Brite WinterClevelandOH$4,000
Buckeye Book FairWoosterOH$4,000
Cincinnati Youth ChoirCincinnatiOH$4,000
Summermusik (Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra)CincinnatiOH$4,000
Cleveland Classical Guitar SocietyClevelandOH$4,000
Federal Valley Resource Center (FVRC)StewartOH$4,000
Literary ClevelandClevelandOH$4,000
The Movement ProjectFairview ParkOH$4,000
OhioDanceColumbusOH$4,000
ORMACOHomervilleOH$4,000
Passion WorksAthensOH$4,000
The Dancing Wheels Company & SchoolClevelandOH$4,000
The Youngstown PlayhouseYoungstownOH$4,000
Aberdeen Area Arts CouncilAberdeenSD$3,000
Lakota Youth DevelopmentHerrickSD$4,000
Mitchell Area Council of the ArtsMitchellSD$1,000
The Premiere PlayhouseSioux FallsSD$4,000
The Matthews Opera House and Arts Center (MOHAC)SpearfishSD$4,000
ARTS for ALL WisconsinMadisonWI$4,000
Ashland Chamber Music Society (ACMS)AshlandWI$2,290.68
Black Arts MKEMilwaukeeWI$4,000
Campanile Center for the ArtsMinocquaWI$4,000
Cultural Connections, Inc.MadisonWI$4,000
Early Music NowMilwaukeeWI$4,000
Kanopy DanceMadisonWI$4,000
Ko-Thi Dance CompanyMilwaukeeWI$4,000
Pump House Regional Arts CenterLa CrosseWI$4,000
(W)here in the World Dance FestivalMilwaukeeWI$4,000

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