The Luminarts Fellowship Program is the Luminarts Cultural Foundation’s yearly award for young artists rooted in the Chicago area. Professional jurors choose fellows in visual arts, creative writing, classical music (piano, strings, winds, voice) and jazz improvisation.
Applicants send work samples online; finalists then audition or exhibit live in Chicago, and creative writing winners read at a Chicago showcase.
Benefits & funding
- $10,000 unrestricted award per fellow.
- Finalists receive a $300 Honorable Mention (select finalists in creative writing); eligible finalists get written jury feedback.
- For 10 years, fellows may seek project grants (up to 50% of costs, max $5,000), workshops, mentorship and Ragdale residencies.
- Architecture, Fashion and Dance fellowships ($5,000) are chosen with partner bodies, outside this call.
Eligibility
- Aged 18–30 on the day you submit.
- Legally able to receive taxable US income (a Social Security number); citizenship status itself is no bar.
- Live within 150 miles of the Chicago Loop when applying, or spent 4–6 consecutive formative years there and consider yourself a Chicago artist.
- The award is won once; a fellow cannot win in another discipline. Several disciplines a year are allowed, one entry each.
- Finalists who cannot attend their discipline’s live final, exhibition or reading in Chicago are not considered.
- Work must be entirely your own, with no AI use.
Application process
- 1Pick a discipline and read its guidelines on Submittable.
- 2Prepare work samples, a 250–500-word artist statement, a CV and one reference’s details (not contacted).
- 3If you live outside the Chicago area, add a 250–500-word regional impact statement.
- 4Submit by January 15, 2027, 11:59 PM CST; no extensions.
Program timeline
Info webinars
Nov 12, 2026 and Jan 9, 2027
Application deadline
Jan 15, 2027 (11:59 PM CST)
Finalist and winner notices, by discipline
Feb 15–Apr 20, 2027
Live finals, exhibition and showcase in Chicago
Mar 12–May 20, 2027