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Announcing the 2024 GIG Fund Recipients

A person with medium light skin holding a guitar sings passionately into a microphone.
Photo Credit: Photo by Alexa Cary, courtesy of Peoria Guild of Black Artists
Camryn Proctor singing at CANJE Critique Session 2: Collaborative Art Exhibition & Open Mic, hosted by Sixty Inches From Center as part of a GIG Fund funded event.

103 Midwestern organizations have received a total of $375,000 through the 2024 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. 49% 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.

  • 103

    GIG Fund Grantees received awards this cycle

  • 49%

    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, Director of Grantmaking at Arts Midwest

Explore 2024 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!
  • A view of the exterior of ArtHaus, showing a vibrant painted mural

    Arthaus Inc

    GIG Fund

    FY2024
    Iowa

    Sensory Friendly Saturdays at ArtHaus reaches an underserved population of artists who desire or need a low stimulation environment to create, without the overwhelm of music, bright lights, and a…

  • A photo of a medium dark skinned woman with a shaved head looking at the camera.

    Black Alphabet

    GIG Fund

    FY2024
    Illinois

    BA will produce and present a documentary film that follows Dianna Tyler’s (Black LGBTQ+ poet, spoken word artist, and activist) transformation into Goddess Warrior The Poet: a journey that began…

  • A photo of a full solar eclipse.

    Perceptions

    GIG Fund

    FY2024
    Indiana

    During the weekend and day of the total eclipse, April 6,7 and 8, Perceptions will be hosting a variety of community arts events. Regional artists are invited to participate in…

  • A black and white photo of an Iraqi woman with medium-light skin a and long dark hair smiling for the camera.

    Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project

    GIG Fund

    FY2024
    Minnesota

    Iraqi Canadian artist asmaa al-issa will take part in the multimedia exhibition “Today, Tomorrow”, showcasing 21 Iraqi identifying artists reclaiming historic narratives, redefining legacies, and imagining possibilities. The exhibition, co-presented…

  • An aerial shot of Eliza Howell Park featuring a stickwork by Patrick Dougherty.

    Sidewalk Detroit

    GIG Fund

    FY2024
    Michigan

    The inaugural Eco Artist Residency will seamlessly merge art and environmental education, spotlighting the Rouge River significance and advocating for community stewardship, drawing statewide attention to the park’s vital role…

  • Two women stand in front of a display of art in an indoor gallery.

    North Dakota Asian-American Arts and Cultural Initiative

    GIG Fund

    FY2024
    North Dakota

    3-4 Asian American (or of Asian descent) artists will be invited to showcase their artwork and engage community through a 1-hour panel discussion. The project involves two components – an…

  • A collage of images of people participating in a spoken word event or listening to speakers.

    Healing Broken Circles Inc

    GIG Fund

    FY2024
    Ohio

    The BackWall: Art Uncuffed is a performance series that amplifies the talents, voices, & experiences of justice-impacted artists, while shifting public perceptions and dispelling myths about individuals involved in the…

  • A promo image of a five person rock back, in black and white with blurred edges.

    Vermillion Cultural Association

    GIG Fund

    FY2024
    South Dakota

    The Vermillion Cultural Association is cohosting the inaugural South by South Dakota (SXSD) Music Festival with Vermillion’s new downtown venue, the AV Lounge. We have two goals for SXSD: spotlight…

  • A person, seen from the back, looks at a wide selection of wood blocks arranged in wooden trays.

    Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum

    GIG Fund

    FY2024
    Wisconsin

    With the BIWOC Residency at the Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum, we aim to address the underrepresentation of BIWOC artists in the museum’s collections. The residency will bring together…

See all 2024 GIG Fund Grantees

OrganizationCityStateGrant Award
Hearst Center for the ArtsCedar FallsIA $3,000
Arthaus IncDecorahIA $4,000
CMADes MoinesIA $4,000
Iowa Stage Theatre CompanyDes MoinesIA $4,000
Iowa City PoetryIowa CityIA $4,000
Public Space OneIowa CityIA $4,000
HICGSNorwalkIA $2,000
Artspace 304CarbondaleIL $3,000
Centralia Cultural SocietyCentraliaIL $4,000
Black Alphabet NfpChicagoIL $4,000
Burst Into BooksChicagoIL $3,000
ChiMOPChicagoIL $2,800
Guarneri Hall NfpChicagoIL $4,000
KPACChicagoIL $4,000
Still InspiredChicagoIL $4,000
The WasteshedChicagoIL $4,000
Catfish Jazz SocietyEast MolineIL $2,500
Evanston Symphony Orchestra AssociationEvanstonIL $2,500
UCIMCUrbanaIL $4,000
Subtext Studio TCWarrenvilleIL $4,000
LotusBloomingtonIN $4,000
Viva! Maya Culture FestivalBloomingtonIN $4,000
Columbus Area Arts CouncilColumbusIN $4,000
Fort Wayne Dance CollectiveFort WayneIN $4,000
Beachfront Dance SchoolGaryIN $3,000
Fonseca Theatre CompanyIndianapolisIN $4,000
Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra IncIndianapolisIN $4,000
IndyFringeIndianapolisIN $4,000
Lubeznik Center for the ArtsMichigan CityIN $2,500
Under the Beams Concert SeriesNew HarmonyIN $4,000
PerceptionsNorth VernonIN $4,000
The Allegan Chapter of the K’zoo Folklife OrganizationAlleganMI $4,000
Erickson Center for the ArtsCurtisMI $2,000
City Of Asylum/DetroitDetroitMI $4,000
Detroit SoundDetroitMI $4,000
People For Palmer ParkDetroitMI $4,000
Sidewalk DetroitDetroitMI $4,000
ACTGrand RapidsMI $4,000
Good Hart Artist Residency IncHarbor SpgsMI $4,000
Hessel School House – Avery Arts & Nature Learning CenterHesselMI $3,100
Friends Of The Dawn Theater Of Hillsdale MichiganHillsdaleMI $2,700
Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestras; KJSOKalamazooMI $4,000
Merze Tate ExplorersKalamazooMI $4,000
Capital City Film FestivalLansingMI $4,000
Casa de RosadoLansingMI $4,000
Mackinac Arts CouncilMackinac IslandMI $4,000
MSOMarquetteMI $4,000
Franke Center for the ArtsMarshallMI $4,000
Polynesian Arts Advocacy Council Of MichiganNoviMI $4,000
Accent Pontiac IncPontiacMI $2,500
Katha Dance TheatreCrystalMN $4,000
La Grande BandeGaylordMN $3,000
Lanesboro ArtsLanesboroMN $4,000
Twin Cities Jazz FestivalMaplewoodMN $4,000
Alliance Française Mpls/St Paul (AFMSP)MinneapolisMN $2,000
Heart of the Beast, HOBTMinneapolisMN $2,500
Iraqi and American Reconciliation ProjectMinneapolisMN $3,500
Taikoarts MidwestMinneapolisMN $4,000
Historical And Cultural Society Of Clay CountyMoorheadMN $2,200
2024 Little Africa Festival and ParadeSaint PaulMN $4,000
Ballet Co-LaboratorySaint PaulMN $4,000
St Paul Conservatory Of MusicSaint PaulMN $4,000
BrownbodyVadnais HtsMN $4,000
Frozen River Film FestivalWinonaMN $4,000
Lake Region Arts CenterDevils LakeND $4,000
ArtWiseGrand ForksND $4,000
NDAAACIMandanND $4,000
Bi-Okoto Drum & Dance TheatreCincinnatiOH $4,000
Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts CentersCincinnatiOH $4,000
DANCEClevelandClevelandOH $4,000
Julia De Burgos Cultural Arts CenterClevelandOH $4,000
WIRClevelandOH $4,000
Lake Erie Ink- A Writing Space For YouthCleveland HtsOH $4,000
Actors’ Summer Theatre CompanyColumbusOH $2,500
Art Possible OhioColumbusOH $3,200
Healing Broken Circles IncColumbusOH $4,000
Kingdom Image ArtsColumbusOH $4,000
OhiodanceColumbusOH $4,000
Cleveland Classical Guitar SocietyEuclidOH $4,000
Gahanna Area Arts CouncilGahannaOH $4,000
Legacy ArtsLimaOH $4,000
NACNorwalkOH $4,000
FVRCStewartOH $4,000
McConnell Arts CenterWorthingtonOH $2,000
Opera Western Reserve’s Emerging Artists: Educational OutreachYoungstownOH $4,000
Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant SocietyDe SmetSD $2,000
Grand River Arts CouncilLemmonSD $4,000
South Dakota Historical Society FoundationPierreSD $4,000
Vermillion Cultural AssociationVermillionSD $4,000
Folklore VillageDodgevilleWI $2,000
Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau School District Performing Arts CenterGalesvilleWI $3,000
Thrasher Opera House CorporationGreen LakeWI $4,000
Pump House Regional Arts CenterLa CrosseWI $3,000
LunART FestivalMadisonWI $4,000
Black Arts MKEMilwaukeeWI $4,000
Flutes At Dawn IncMilwaukeeWI $4,000
Mitchell Street Arts (MiSA)MilwaukeeWI $4,000
Monroe Arts Center IncMonroeWI $2,500
Li Chiao Ping DanceOregonWI $4,000
Philadelphia Community Farm IncOsceolaWI $4,000
River Arts Inc.Prairie Du SacWI $4,000
Hamilton Wood Type & Printing MuseumTwo RiversWI $4,000
Wausau Conservatory Of Music IncWausauWI $3,000

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