The Artist-in-Residence Grant program brings noted professional artists, authors and musicians into District 204 classrooms to work with students in their areas of expertise. Some of the visiting artists are sponsored in cooperation with the Illinois Arts Council.

To date (through 2009-10), the Foundation has funded 151 artist-in-residence grants totaling about $224,000. The grants have covered everything from students learning how to make an Australian didjeridoo to painting with water colors and designing computer graphic interpretations of student poetry.

Since these grants were established in 1988, the artist-in-residence budget has been $20,000 per year. Each application may request a grant of up to $1,500.