Illinois Humanities Awards $8,000 in Microgrants to Nine Individuals and Small Organizations
Features
Illinois Humanities
Read Time 4 minutes
October 25, 2024
Activate History Microgrants invite the public to experience varied collections about local and regional history. By design, these grants take a wide approach to defining what an archive might consist of, such as text, stories, photography, music, and more. Activate History Microgrants allow small organizations and individuals with important and diverse local archives or collections to engage the community around their content.
The September 2024 Activate History Microgrant cycle produced nine awards, totaling $8,000. This cohort of projects features diverse collections, ranging from the heroes of paleontology to the history of tap dance. Learn more about the projects and our newest grantee partners below.
Meet the Grantees
OUTSIDE OF COOK COUNTY
- Anderson Taylor (Cambridge, IL in Henry County) for “The Lives and Discoveries of Famous Paleontologists,” a presentation highlighting the life and work of the following paleontologists: Barnum Brown, William Hammer, Dean Lomax, and Robert Tully. Join nine-year-old student of paleontology, Anderson Taylor, at the Cambridge Natural History Museum on Saturday, January 11, 2025, as he walks you through their life’s work. ($700)
- Maroa-Forsyth School Archives (Maroa, IL in Macon County) for “School Museum Days,” an exhibit that showcases the history of the Maroa-Forsyth School District, the city of Maroa, and the surrounding rural areas. Local community members under the guidance of the Maroa-Forsyth School Archives archivist, Tina Horve, will share their stories and expertise at various locations throughout the exhibition. ($750)
- New Salem Baptist District Association (O’Fallon, IL in St. Clair County) for “One Hundred Years: Creating, Growing, Maintaining, Sustaining,” a pictorial review of the events, speakers, and choirs; reenactments of sermons from some of the legendary Black Baptist Pastors in St. Clair and Madison County, Illinois; gospel songs performed by the Marjorie Olive Choir; and recorded interviews from senior pastors and laity remembering related history. This emotional, powerful view of the differences Black Baptist Churches make in communities offers an introduction to and historical journey of the oldest Black Baptist Faith-based organizations in Illinois. ($1,000)
Anderson Taylor (right) at the new Cambridge Natural History Museum.
COOK COUNTY
- About Face Theatre Collective (Chicago) for “30 Years of LGBTQ+ Theatre and Activism,” a discussion and story circle celebrating About Face Theatre’s (AFT) 30-year history of advancing LGBTQ+ equity through community building, education, and theatre. Audiences are invited to unpack some of the artifacts from the About Face Theatre collection, learn about, and share stories from three decades of art and activism. ($1,000)
- Annie Share and Sivan Spector (Chicago) for “Steppenwolf LookOut Performance Series Presents Switchboard,” a partnership with Steppenwolf to engage a larger audience, making them more aware of the SS Eastland disaster. SWITCHBOARD is about the themes drawn from the SS Eastland disaster: missed calls and connections, losing, and forgetting. ($1,000)
- Chicago Black Artist Union (Chicago) for “The Story of 400 Years,” a multidisciplinary production originally composed by musician Isaiah Collier showcasing the 400-year lineage of Black American music and the impact that sound and movement have had on our collective American conscience and memory. ($1,000)
- Jefferson Mok (Chicago) for “Rising Uptown: 60 Years of Organizing and Urban History,” a gallery opening displaying photos juxtaposing 60 years of Uptown history and pointing towards a new era of generational change. After the opening event, the photos will be displayed at local organizations and businesses such as the Southeast Asia Center, Q Ideas, Michael James' Front Porch Gallery, and First Sip Cafe. ($850)
- Patric Gregory McCoy (Chicago) for “Artist Salons with the Patric McCoy Legacy Project,” a salon series celebrating local artists Arthur Wright, Juarez Hawkins, Malika Jackson, and Julian Williams whose work is represented in McCoy’s multimedia collection of more than 1,500 pieces of fine art, 90% produced by Chicago-based artists. Framed as a conversation between artist and collector, the salons will produce oral histories that will be integrated as educational materials to accompany the Patric McCoy Legacy Trust and a subsequent physical and digital archive to be hosted by Diasporal Rhythms. ($850)
Patric Gregory McCoy with pieces from his collection
- The World Music Foundation (Chicago) Reggio “The Hoofer” McLaughlin Tap Dance Historical Archive,” a lecture and demonstration on the history of tap dance, including a PowerPoint of photos and historical video footage. A curated selection of artifacts from Reggio "The Hoofer" McLaughlin’s Tap Dance Historical Archive will be on display. ($850)
Together with our grantee partners, we support vibrant cultural work statewide and increase Illinoisans' access to the transformative power of the public humanities. Learn more about the grants we offer, including Activate History Microgrants here.
Contact
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Chicago, IL 60603
312.422.5580 312.374.6787
600 Troy Road
N4, Room 207
Edwardsville, IL 62025
618.468.5580
Illinois Humanities is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Illinois General Assembly [through the Illinois Arts Council], as well as by contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations.
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