Creative Schools Fund Invests $1.8 Million to Enrich Arts Education in 130 Chicago Public Schools

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 distributing $1.8 million in Arts Partnerships (Residency) grants to 130 Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Designed by teachers, these programs are essential in delivering high-quality, immediate arts education to students across the city. The funding extends across all CPS Networks, impacting students of all grade levels and encompassing a wide range of artistic disciplines.

This funding cycle sustains multi-semester schools initially awarded in the 2022-23 school year, ensuring consistent arts education through Spring 2026. Since 2013, CSF has invested over $23 million directly into CPS schools, enhancing arts partnerships and broadening arts access across the district. This year’s portfolio of grantees includes 19 schools that have never received prior Creative Schools Fund support and 73% of student populations served are economically disadvantaged.

“Arts education isn’t a luxury – it’s a cornerstone of student development,” said Nicole Upton, Executive Director at Ingenuity. “These grants provide the resources schools need to bring vibrant, engaging arts experiences to classrooms that might otherwise go without.”

A standout multi-semester initiative supported through the Creative Schools Fund is a partnership between George Westinghouse College Prep in Humboldt Park/Garfield Park and Porchlight Music Theatre, which was the first theatre program of its kind at this school. Porchlight provided a teaching artist who helped facilitate lessons and theatre technology support, and students have been able to put on two annual productions complete with sets, costumes, lights, and sound each year.  Additionally, the school was able to get stock in costumes, set pieces, props, and more, ensuring that this school will have a theatre program in the future.

“Our communities consistently express the need for more arts opportunities in our schools,” said César Toruella, CPS Arts Executive Director. “These grants are a direct response – expanding access to transformative arts experiences that foster student growth and expression.”

For the Spring 2025 awards, an external 19-member grant review panel evaluated applications from schools across CPS, ensuring funding reached schools with the greatest need. The panel is composed of arts practitioners, educators, CPS teachers and teaching artists, among others. Grantees were selected based on detailed evaluation criteria used to assess program merit alongside criteria designed to ensure that funds address gaps in arts access, support a diversity of programs, and prioritize schools with student bodies that experience the least systemic arts access based on data collected through Creative Schools surveys, artlook®, and other CPS sources.

A critical component of multi-semester funding is the Lollapalooza Arts Education Fund (LAEF), launched in 2021 with a $2.2 million five-year commitment. Focused on schools with the most significant arts education gaps, LAEF is supporting 29 schools in the 2024-25 school year. You can learn more about the Lollapalooza Arts Education Fund here.

The Creative Schools Fund is a one-of-a-kind program dedicated to advancing arts education across Chicago Public Schools. By prioritizing equitable access and fostering innovative teacher-led initiatives, CSF ensures that students in every neighborhood experience the transformative power of the arts. With continued support from community partners and initiatives like the Lollapalooza Arts Education Fund, CSF remains committed to empowering educators and inspiring the next generation of artists and creative thinkers.

About Ingenuity

Ingenuity is dedicated to guiding and uniting our city to improve access, quality, and equity in arts education for all CPS students. Strong arts programs boost engagement, attendance, test scores, and overall academic success, improving social interactions.

Through our initiatives, we’ve enabled 82,000 more CPS students to engage with the arts. However, 83,000 students in CPS still lack access to quality arts programs. Help us ensure every student can benefit from the arts. Empower students to create, flourish, and embrace the arts’ transformative power. Support us today at ingenuity.givecloud.co/give.