Luminarts Fellowship Program Luminarts Cultural Foundation

Summary

The Luminarts Fellowship Program includes core awards in Visual Arts, Creative Writing, Classical Music, and Jazz Improvisation. Core Fellowships include an unrestricted monetary award of $10,000-$15,000 depending on the discipline. Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 30 and live or reside within 150 miles of the Chicago Loop. Once an artist is awarded a Luminarts Fellowship, they are eligible to apply for additional opportunities for a period of 10 years.

These opportunities include project grants, workshops, mentorship, and facilitated conversations that provide valuable insights into building a successful career in the arts.

• Applications open on October 1, 2025 and close on February 1, 2026. It is beneficial to submit your application before the deadline, if possible.
• Poetry applicants will be given the option to submit an audio recording of their submitted work(s) along with text documents (which will still be required).
• All finalists who do not receive a Fellowship and remain eligible for the program in 2027 will be supplied with written feedback from the final judging panel.
• All awarded 2026 Luminarts Fellows must list the award in their artist bio for at least 5 years.

Feb. 1, 2026

To be eligible, you must be able to answer “yes” to both of the following criteria:

• I am between the ages of 18 and 30 years old on the day I submit my application
• I live or reside within 150 miles of the Chicago Loop on the day I submit my application

$10,000–$15,000 award

Founded in 1949 as the Union League Civic & Arts Foundation (CAF), Luminarts Cultural Foundation was created by members of the Union League Club of Chicago as a separate, not-for-profit organization. Deeply rooted in the Union League Club of Chicago, Luminarts strengthens the cultural community of Chicago by upholding the club’s century-long tradition of advocating for the arts.