Youth Employment in the Arts (YEA) Grants
Forecasted
The Illinois Arts Council’s Youth Employment in the Arts (YEA) Grants fund paid, supervised arts-related jobs for Illinois youth ages 14–22 in both administrative and artistic roles.
Funder: Illinois Arts Council
Due Dates (Anticipated): March 2027 (application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Up to $4,500 per organization; supports up to four youth employees (ages 14–22); one-year grant term.
Summary: Supports Illinois arts organizations in providing paid, supervised work experiences for youth ages 14–22 in administrative and artistic roles.
Key Information: This is a supplemental grant only for current General Operating Support (GOS) recipients; colleges, universities, and K-12 schools are not eligible.
Description
The Youth Employment in the Arts (YEA) Grants, administered by the Illinois Arts Council, provide supplemental funding to eligible arts organizations to support paid employment opportunities for youth ages 14 to 22. The program aims to foster meaningful, supervised work experiences in both administrative and artistic roles, helping young people develop professional skills and explore careers in the arts. YEA grants are available only as an add-on to the Council’s General Operating Support (GOS) program; they are not a standalone funding stream.
