UCIMC Co-sponsorship Application

The UCIMC will begin a new co-sponsorship process in 2026! There will be two applications, one for events from March 1st to August 31st, 2026, and the second for events from September 1st, 2026, to February 28th, 2027. The first round of applications will begin on January 14th, 2026. The Programming Committee, a committee of the UCIMC Board, will review the applications. They will decide which events will receive a co-sponsorship. 

 

Apply HERE! 

Spring/Summer Application 

Application begins: January 14th 

Application closes: February 11th 

Decisions announced: February 27th 

 

What is a co-sponsored event, and why should you propose an event for co-sponsorship at UCIMC? 

UCIMC Co-sponsorships are an opportunity for UCIMC members to apply for financial and marketing support from UCIMC. You must be a UCIMC Member to apply for a co-sponsored event. You can find more information HERE regarding our memberships. Are you unsure about the status of your membership? You can contact our Program Coordinator at [email protected]. It is important for us to support our local creators of events of all kinds. It is crucial that our community has access to affordable venue spaces to keep their voices present. 

 

UCIMC Co-sponsorship Requirement 

  • You must be a UCIMC Member 

  • The event must be free and open to the public

  • The event must align with the UCIMC mission & values 

  • You must be a Champaign County resident

 

With a UCIMC co-sponsorship, you will receive: 

  • Subsidized venue costs. The subsidy only includes the cost of the venue, which includes tables, chairs, a Bluetooth speaker, one hour for set-up, and one hour for clean-up. It does not include the cost of a projector set-up, a simple sound set-up, or a sound engineer. A projector set-up is a $25 fee. A simple sound setup is $25 and is for presentations, discussion, or a single live performer who is providing their own amp. A sound engineer is $20 per hour and is for small to large bands. For large bands, a sound engineer requires two hours before the event for load-in and band sound checks.
  • Publicity support through our newsletter, social media, website, and outreach to our community networks. 
  • A  pre-event meeting and post-event meeting with the Program Coordinator. 

If you are writing grants, we ask that you put our standard rates for rental into the grant. You can find our rates here: www.ucimc.org/faq. Non-grant-funded events will be prioritized.

 

What kind of event can I propose for co-sponsorship? 

You can apply for a variety of events, such as forums, live music performances, spoken word shows, dance performances, script readings, art workshops, local film showings, and more! We will prioritize events that align with the UCIMC mission statement and values. 

The Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center’s mission is to foster the creation and distribution of media and art that emphasize underrepresented voices and perspectives, and to promote empowerment and expression through media and arts education.

UCIMC Values: Equity - Inclusion - Accessibility - Kindness 

 

What am I responsible for if my event is selected for co-sponsorship?

Host must take responsibility for:

  • Creating all publicity materials, including social media and print materials

  • Including the UCIMC logo and IL Arts Council Logo on any promotional materials. You can find logos HERE. Flyers must be submitted and approved by the Program Coordinator before they are shared with the public.

  • Announcing the co-sponsorship at the event with one of the following statements or something similar:

    • "This event is cosponsored by the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center, a grassroots organization committed to media, arts, and technology for social change. The UCIMC is supported in part by the Illinois Arts Council and by our membership. Please consider supporting the IMC by becoming a member or giving a donation." 

    • "This event is co-sponsored by the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center. The UCIMC acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency."

  • Setting up for their event and cleaning up the space afterwards. 

  • Returning the space to the condition in which you found it, including taking out the garbage, recycling, and sweeping or mopping the floor as needed. An Event Staff Member will be on staff for questions regarding set-up and clean-up. 

  • Upon request, submit a security plan, particularly for events with over 75 people. You can find a security form template HERE.