Neighborhood Access Program (NAP)

The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) will begin accepting Idea Submissions for its Neighborhood Access Program in April.

The goal of this program is to support the cultural vitality of every Chicago neighborhood via grant programs and partnerships designed to be responsive to the complex needs of individual communities. This program will offer direct grants for all types of place-based arts and culture activities.

Submissions closed for 2022. View the NAP 2022 grantees (PDF)

Download the 2022 Program Guidelines (PDF)

There’s three ways that you can share your idea with us. You can either:
1) Narrative: Provide a brief written description of your idea.
2) Recording: Provide a 5-minute video or audio recording describing your idea. (Video does not need to be highly edited. iPhone videos are fine!)
3) PDF/JPEG file upload: Provide a PowerPoint or other presentation with images and text describing your idea.

We want to hear about:

•  Why you want to do this project
•  What you hope to accomplish
•  Who will be involved
•  When and where it might take place

If you need assistance in another language, and/or if you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to apply please contact culturalgrantmaking@cityofchicago.org for assistance.

2022 NAP Program Virtual Info Sessions

The DCASE Cultural Grants team is excited to offer virtual info sessions for anyone interested in submitting an idea. The info sessions will give an overview of the NAP program, review what is needed to apply (not a lot) and give a brief introduction to the online application system.

Webinar recorded April 27, 2022 - https://youtu.be/2GB_MViu6RI

Eligibility Criteria

Projects must have these elements:

•  Projects must have a primary goal to serve residents of a specific neighborhood or community.

•  Projects must engage neighborhood residents as participants or audiences between October 1, 2022 and December 31, 2023.

•  Lead applicant’s primary residence/address must be in the neighborhood where this engagement will take place.

The following entities may apply for a Neighborhood Access Program grant:

•  Any nonprofit organization, Special Service Area (SSAs) or Chamber of Commerce with 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) status, including religious institutions that provide significant services to the community that are non-religious in nature.

•  National nonprofit organizations with a Chicago branch.

•  Individual artists, cultural producers or curators.

•  Individuals/collectives applying with a nonprofit fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) status.

** Finalists will be invited to virtual seminars to assist them in gathering the required documents. Additional sessions will be scheduled for first-time grant writers.