On Wednesday, Governor Pritzker proposed his FY25 state budget calling for $52.7B in spending, increasing spending by $2B from last year’s budget and keeping almost equal to last year’s projected revenue.
Illinois Arts Council (IAC)
Governor Pritzker’s proposed FY25 budget for the Illinois Arts Council (IAC) brings important and exciting news: a 65% increase from last year’s budget ($15.5M to $25.58M).
This proposed increase for the IAC will move Illinois from 25th to 11th in the nation in per capita support amongst state arts agencies.¹ This increase also supports the IAC’s new strategic direction involving changes to the grant and funding process to “enhance equal access to public arts funding throughout the state.”
The total amount allocated to the IAC for FY25, including federal funding, is $26.9M.
General Funds (State) – $25.58M
Federal Funds – $1.3M
This year’s budget includes $10M in general revenue funds to expand the IAC’s grant programs, including:
- $2.5M increase for grants and financial assistance for arts organizations;
- $2.8M for grants and financial assistance for underserved constituencies;
- $2.3M increase for grants and financial assistance for arts education;
- $2.4M increase for grant expenses associated with programs supporting the visual arts, performing arts, languages, and related activities; and
- Maintains level funding for the Arts and Foreign Language grant program.
This is great news for the creative economy sector, and the Alliance is grateful to the Governor for supporting the creative sector with this historic appropriation of $25.6M dollars. We must remember that this budget is only proposed. It still needs a final vote by the General Assembly. Over the next few months, legislators will negotiate and special interest groups will advocate for changes.
We must remain vigilant and continue relaying how critical these dollars are to the well-being of our creative sector and the state’s larger economic engine.
What’s Next
- Sign up for our newsletter to say tuned about upcoming opportunities to add your voice to our advocacy work.
- Watch your inbox and our social media channels for arts-related news from Springfield.
- Members: Join us at our Membership Meeting on March 7 to discuss this and other legislative updates. Click here to register.
- Come join us in expressing our gratitude to the Governor and to Nora Daley, Chair of the Illinois Arts Council, in person at our Annual Benefit on Monday, May 13 at the Ramova Theatre in Chicago. Stay tuned for more information soon!
¹“Raise Your Ranking.” NASAA, nasaa-arts.org/nasaa_research/raise-your-ranking/. Accessed 23 Feb. 2024.
