Chicago Sinfonietta one of 15 arts and culture and arts-centered organizations to receive a MacArthur Foundation 2025 Culture, Equity, and the Arts Grant

Members of Chicago Sinfonietta performing at a community event at First Aid Comics in Chicago.
Members of Chicago Sinfonietta performing at a community event at First Aid Comics in Chicago.

Chicago Sinfonietta one of 15  arts and culture and arts-centered organizations to receive a MacArthur Foundation 2025 Culture, Equity, and the Arts Grant


Chicago Sinfonietta is honored to receive a significant grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation over the next three years as one of 15 organizations “that help enrich communities in Chicago”.


“We are thrilled to be a member of the very creative and strong cohort of the 2025 MacArthur Foundation Culture, Equity, and the Arts Grantees,” stated Interim CEO Wendy Lewis. "We are extremely grateful to have the support of the John D. and Catherin T. MacArthur Foundation, and thankful for the Foundation’s recognition of our commitment to serving the communities of Chicago, particularly our work in education and community programming and our commitment to creating and sharing dynamic and relevant art stories that are accessible to all.


"This grant provides invaluable help to the continuation of our 37-year-old organization's work in and with the Chicago community, presenting accessible, creative, and exceptional music-making, compelling and informative community and education programs, positively contributing to the communities of which we are a part and proudly serve."

One of only two professional orchestras selected by the participatory grantmaking panel, Chicago Sinfonietta is proud to be included amongst the esteemed group of Chicago organizations selected to receive a grant that includes Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Build, Inc., Forward Momentum Chicago, Marwan, DuSable Black History Museum, and more.


John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

The MacArthur Foundation boldly invests in creative solutions to urgent challenges, sparking hope for our future. We work on a few big bets that strive toward transformative change in areas of profound concern, including the existential threats of climate change, the challenges of criminal justice reform, revitalizing local news in the U.S., and corruption in Nigeria.


In addition, we maintain enduring commitments in our hometown Chicago, where we invest in people, places, and partnerships to build a more inclusive Chicago and in journalism and media, where we invest in more just and inclusive news and narratives.


We also make awards to extraordinarily creative individuals through the MacArthur Fellows program and for solutions to critical problems of our time through 100&Change.” www.macfound.org


Chicago Sinfonietta

A tenured orchestra and acclaimed cultural leader that champions diversity, equity, and inclusion by creating community through curated symphonic experiences, Chicago Sinfonietta is a source of community through music, as well as ensuring and inspiring a continued investment in diversity and inclusivity in the genre of classical music to promote fairness and equity. Recognized as groundbreaking, dynamic and daring, with core values built around being culturally responsive and advocates of inclusivity in all aspects of the 37-year-old organization’s work, Chicago Sinfonietta’s unrelenting commitment to being at the forefront of innovation drives its high standard of symphonic experiences. CS takes pride in leading by example with immersive audience engagement activities, impactful career development, education, and extensive community outreach programs. https://chicagosinfonietta.org

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