American Sign Language version of the 2020 Propeller Impact Fund announcement is available below

For 2020, Propeller Fund is adapting its annual project-based re-granting program to now focus on providing short-term financial support to artists who are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Open to artists in the *Chicagoland area with a practice grounded in the visual arts, Propeller Impact Fund will distribute $500 unrestricted, one-time grants over four rounds of applications. The $500 grants are disbursed the month following each application deadline. A total amount of $56,000 will be disbursed over the four rounds. 

Funded through the generosity of The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and co-administered by Threewalls and Gallery 400, Propeller Impact Fund welcomes all eligible artists to apply, with priority consideration for communities that are impacted disproportionately including: ALAANA artists (African descendent, Latinx, Arab, Asian, Native American), d/Deaf and disabled artists, LGBTQ2SIA+ artists, and gender non-conforming and non-binary artists. For general questions and feedback, email the Propeller Fund Associate at lauren@three-walls.org. 

GRANT DETAILS 

-Unrestricted grants will be offered in the amount of $500. 

-Potential applicants should be aware that due to limited funding and the potential high demand, only a small percentage of those who apply will receive the grant.

-Selection process will be done via lottery, with priority considerations taken into account. 

2020 PROPELLER IMPACT FUND APPLICATION TIMELINE

Round One: April 22 at 9am, CDT – April 25 at 5pm, CDT

Round Two: June 22 at 9am, CDT – June 25 at 5pm, CDT

Round Three: August 24 at 9am, CDT – August 27 at 5pm, CDT

Round Four: October 26 at 9am, CDT – October 29 at 5pm, CDT

WHO CAN APPLY 

-Applicants must be individual artists grounded in the visual arts. 

-Applicants must be able to demonstrate activity in their artistic discipline over the past three years. 

-Applicants must be residents of the *Illinois counties — Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, LaPorte, McHenry & Will. 

-Applicants will need to express how they have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Those not eligible to apply include: 

-Students enrolled in any degree program. 

-Artists who have retained full-time jobs. 

-Propeller Fund grantees awarded in November 2019. 

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants will fill out a brief Google Form. Please keep your answers as simple and concise as possible. To ensure that Propeller Impact Fund practices equitable funding, you will be asked to share certain demographic information, in order to identify those who may fall within the priority consideration. All information shared by applicants is confidential. The application for the Propeller Impact Fund will be available on the first day of Round Three – Monday, August 24th at 9:00 am, CST. 

ACCESSIBILITY

For d/Deaf and disabled artists: if you have any issues completing the application form, you may apply by phone or video. To complete the application by phone or video, please contact Barak adé Soleil, Threewalls’ Director of Programs at 347.385.0986 (text or call) between Tuesday – Saturday 11:00 am – 4:00 pm or email Barak@three-walls.org.

This is an American Sign Language interpretation of the 2020 Propeller Impact Fund Announcement. Signed and captioned by Deaf interpreter Erin Sanders-Sigmon

REGRANTING NETWORK

Launched in 2010, Propeller Fund is jointly administered by Gallery 400 and Threewalls, and funded through the generosity of the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. The Andy Warhol Foundation has invested in the creation of a growing national network of regional re-granting programs, which currently exist in sixteen cities: Albuquerque, Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Portland (ME), Portland (OR), Saint Louis, San Francisco, and Washington DC. The Warhol Foundation has authorized these re-granting partners to re-allocate their $100,000 grants to create and administer COVID-19 emergency relief funds in their communities.

Lighthouses On The Mag Mile: A public art display celebrating access & inclusion for people with disabilities
On display: June 19th-August 11
The Patternbase Lighthouse is located at 555 N. Michigan Ave.
A full map of all lighthouse locations can be seen here.

Come out this summer and view Lighthouses on The Mag Mile, a citywide free public art display celebrating the call to action of access and inclusion for people with disabilities.  This will take place along Chicago’s North Michigan Avenue from June 19-August 11. This event will feature 51 six-foot lighthouse sculptures, created by national and local Chicago artists, many with disabilities. Learn more about the project at www.lighthousesonmagmile.com