Victories in Springfield and the Road Ahead
Last weekend, in an incredibly difficult budget year with many cuts across the board, the Illinois General Assembly passed a state budget that maintained funding for the arts in FY26, protecting $24.4M in funding for the Illinois Arts Council. That budget is now on its way to the Governor for his signature.
This was not guaranteed, and it didn’t happen by accident. More than 2,200 individuals and organizations took action to protect the state’s arts budget from cuts. Signing letters, sending emails, showing up in Springfield… your presence and voice made all the difference. Thank you.
This is the power of what we at the Alliance call the “Big Tent”: the coalition of nonprofits, for-profit businesses, individual artists, and creative entrepreneurs, working together across disciplines and geographies from Chicago to East St. Louis and Rockford to Cairo, asking for what we need not only from the government but also from foundations and corporate leaders.
The big tent gets big results. Despite the challenges facing our state and its budget, together, we ensured funding held strong in a year of cuts.
What Level Funding Means Right Now
In a year when many state programs faced cuts, maintaining flat funding for the arts is a meaningful win—especially following last year’s historic increase in funding. It reflects continued recognition that creativity is essential to Illinois’ way of life, and it gives us a foundation to keep building towards greater investment in our communities’ future.
The final passed budget matches the budget proposed by the Governor in February. You can read our analysis of the proposed state budget here.
Creative Caucus
This year also saw the formation of the first-ever Creative Caucus: a bipartisan, bicameral group of legislative champions dedicated to advancing Illinois’ arts and creative sector. Co-chaired by Senators Mike Simmons, David Koehler, and Jil Tracy and Representatives Barbara Hernandez, Sharon Chung, and Norine K Hammond, the caucus reflects growing recognition of the arts as a statewide priority.
When advocates brought this idea to Springfield in April, 38 lawmakers from across the state and the political spectrum stepped up to join. As the caucus grows, this ongoing engagement is a testament to the power of the breadth and strength of our coalition.
What Comes Next
While we held the line in Illinois, federal and local battles are ahead. The White House’s FY26 Budget Request calls for the elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). These agencies deliver tens of millions of dollars annually to artists and cultural organizations in Illinois alone. Cuts to programs that support creative education, teacher training, after-school enrichment, and equity-focused workforce development are also on the table.
Proposed Federal Eliminations and Consolidations
UP FOR ELIMINATION: $207M in federal funds for the National Endowment for the Arts,
Approximately $6M annually in funding to Illinois
UP FOR ELIMINATION: $207M in federal funds for the National Endowment for the Humanities
Approximately $4M annually in funding to Illinois
UP FOR ELIMINATION: $295M in federal funds for the Institute of Museum & Library Services
Approximately $10.8M annually in funding to Illinois
UP FOR CONSOLIDATION: $36.5M for the Arts in Education program
Folded into a new K–12 block grant with no dedicated arts funding or accountability
UP FOR CONSOLIDATION: $1.38B for Title IV-A (Student Support and Academic Enrichment)
Includes support for well-rounded education, including arts and music
UP FOR CONSOLIDATION: $1.32B for 21st Century Community Learning Centers
Supports after-school and summer programs that often include the arts
UP FOR CONSOLIDATION: $2.19B for Title II (Supporting Effective Instruction)
Helps prepare, train, and retain high-quality teachers, including arts educators
AT RISK: Targeted use of federal education dollars
Proposal collapses 18 programs into a single $2B “K–12 Simplified Funding Program”, removing dedicated funding for key equity and enrichment initiatives
ZEROED OUT: $70M for Teacher Quality Partnership grants and $15M for Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence
Both support educator preparation programs focused on equity and inclusion
Take Action
- Level funding for the arts in Illinois is a big win in the current budget environment. Please take a moment to thank your state lawmakers!
- Visit our Action Center to contact your representatives about protecting arts and culture at the federal level.
- Another big action right now: advocating for the weighted arts indicator to remain in the Illinois State Board of Education’s School Report Card. Read more and take action here.
Learn More
- Our Federal Rapid Response Webpage contains resources like a social media outreach toolkit, helpful infographics, news articles, talking points, and more.
- We hosted a webinar last week about the impacts of federal action on arts education in Illinois. Watch it here.
