United States Artists (USA), one of the country’s largest grant-making and advocacy organizations, is moving to Chicago. The announcement was made today by the city’s department of cultural affairs and special events commissioner Michelle Boone and USA CEO Carolina Garcia Jayaram.

Previously based in Los Angeles, USA supports artists in eight disciplines: architecture and design, craft and traditional arts, dance, literature, music, theater arts, and visual arts. 

Since 2006, the organization has awarded unrestricted $50,000 grants to 371 artists for a total of $19 million. Recipients in the visual arts include Glenn Ligon, Catherine Opie, and Kara Walker, as well as Theaster Gates and Nick Cave, both of whom are based in Chicago. 

In a press release, Jayaram called Chicago “an epicenter for creative activity” that is “currently experiencing an artistic renaissance.” She went on to describe the city as “ideal place for USA to grow as we enter the next phase of our development.”

USA’s next class of fellows will be announced in Chicago in late 2014.