The Creative Schools Fund (CSF), a public-private grant program owned and managed by Ingenuity and supported by Chicago Public Schools and the City of Chicago, is awarding $1.7M million in Arts Partnerships (Residency) grants to 125 Chicago Public Schools (CPS) for the 2025-26 school year.
Designed by teachers to meet the specific needs of their students, the funded programs deliver high-quality, in-school arts education across CPS. Programs span every grade level and a wide range of artistic disciplines, expanding meaningful arts learning opportunities throughout the city.
This funding cycle includes sustained multi-semester school partnerships first awarded during the 2022-23 school year, ensuring continuity of arts programming through the end of this school year. Since its launch in 2013, the Creative Schools Fund has invested more than $26 million directly in Chicago Public Schools, strengthening arts partnerships and expanding access to arts education districtwide.
This year’s Creative Schools Fund application cycle saw an 11% increase in submissions, reflecting continued engagement from schools and arts partners across Chicago. The majority of funded schools and programs are located on the city’s South and West Sides, accounting for 87% of awards. Program design emphasizes depth and continuity, with most residencies extending 10 weeks or more and supporting schools with higher levels of identified need. These investments reflect CSF’s ongoing commitment to equitable access and sustained arts learning opportunities.
A key source of support for partnerships is the Lollapalooza Arts Education Fund (LAEF), launched in 2021 with a $2.2 million, five-year commitment to expand arts education in schools with the greatest need. Through this investment, LAEF continues to support sustained arts programming across Chicago Public Schools, including 39 schools in the 2025–26 school year.
Grant awards were selected through a competitive review process conducted by an external panel of arts practitioners, educators, CPS teachers, and teaching artists. Applications were evaluated using detailed criteria focused on program quality and the need to address gaps in arts access, drawing on data from Creative Schools surveys, artlook®, and additional CPS sources.
The Creative Schools Fund is a citywide initiative dedicated to advancing equitable, high-quality arts education throughout Chicago Public Schools. By prioritizing teacher-led program design, sustained partnerships, and data-informed decision-making, CSF ensures that students across Chicago have consistent access to meaningful arts learning experiences.
