State of Illinois
02/23/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/23/2026 11:42
2026.02.23 Reminder: LEAD Scholarship Deadline is March 5, 2026
This is a reminder that the Illinois Arts Council (IAC) is currently accepting applications for our scholarship opportunity to attend the 2026 Leadership Exchange in Arts & Disability (LEAD) Conference . We encourage eligible individuals from Illinois not-for-profit arts organizations, government units, and institutions of higher education to apply for these funds, which can offer up to $1,500 to cover registration, travel, and hotel expenses for the conference taking place in Philadelphia, PA, from August 11 to August 14, 2026.
The deadline for submitting IAC scholarship applications is Thursday, March 5, 2026, by 11:59 PM . The application must be submitted via IAC's Salesforce grant portal .
Applications will be accepted from staff of eligible Illinois not-for-profit arts organizations, units of government, and institutions of higher education that are directly responsible for making cultural arts programs and facilities accessible for people with disabilities. Priority will be given to IAC grantees that are first-time attendees and those from rural, high-poverty, BIPOC, and disability communities. Please note this scholarship is taxable to the individual attending the conference.
The LEAD Conference provides an opportunity for professionals in the field to develop best practices and resources, engage in conversations with colleagues and experts from around the world, and learn practical methods for designing inclusive arts experiences and environments. The LEAD Conference not only introduces those new to the field to cultural accessibility solutions but also provides ongoing learning, support, camaraderie, and motivation-necessary fuel for anyone working to change the status quo.
LEAD Conference registration and hotel information is available online at https://web.cvent.com/event/17bdd852-b76e-4a4c-bf53-1f67fa1ee7b1/summary
Follow this LINK to IAC's website for application details. For more information, please contact your Regional Program Director .
State of Illinois published this content on February 23, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on February 23, 2026 at 17:42 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]