Sign the Letter to Governor Pritzker

“As an Illinois Arts Council grantee, I can attest that these funds are a lifeline for the arts sector, fueling recovery and growth across Illinois. These funds sustain the livelihoods of artists, stabilize arts organizations, and enhance cultural vibrancy statewide.”

We are a group of Illinois’ arts and culture leaders writing on behalf of the creative sector in Illinois to express our hopes for your support of the arts community in this budget cycle. We understand that the current budget season poses significant challenges, and we commend your dedication to ensuring the well-being of our entire state. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Illinois Arts Council. We do not want to celebrate that anniversary by cutting critical funding and rolling back progress you have led for a sector that is a significant economic driver in Illinois and is still financially recovering from the pandemic. 

According to the recently released State of the Arts: Arts Vibrancy Rankings from SMU Data Arts, which analyzes measurements of arts vibrancy for all 50 states using a comprehensive, data-driven approach, Illinois ranks 13th for state arts funding. Before your administration, Illinois was ranked at an utterly embarrassing 44th. This past year, thanks to your support in the proposed budget, the collaborative advocacy of the field, and the support of legislators, we secured a historic 53.5% increase to the Illinois Arts Council’s budget, including a crucial 75% increase in direct grants to artists. As you stated at the Arts Alliance benefit last year: “Our arts community is one of the most storied and diverse in the nation — their work reflects who we are as Illinoisans. I’m proud to see the changes the Illinois Arts Council is making to ensure the arts in our state will only grow stronger.” We cannot backtrack on this significant progress. The strides we’ve made throughout your tenure would not have been possible without your support and the strong leadership of your appointee, Nora Daley, as Chair of the Illinois Arts Council.  

The average estimated annual earnings for the Illinois artist labor force is $54,189, lower than the U.S. average (Arts Impact Initiative, June 2022). Artists also faced significantly higher unemployment rates during the pandemic, which our sector still struggles to recover from (Arts Impact Initiative, February 2022). Despite this, the arts and culture sector is a key economic driver in Illinois, contributing over $36 billion annually to our state’s economy and 216,227 jobs (NASAA, US Bureau of Economic Analysis).

Illinois Arts Council’s direct grantmaking programs, including the General Operating Support and Youth Employment in the Arts funding for organizations and the Creative Accelerator Fund for individual artists, serve as the primary driver of state support to the creative sector and are a lifeline for arts organizations and artists, especially those operating outside of Chicago. IAC’s newest program, the Creative Catalyst Grant, offers support to Illinois artists and nonprofit organizations for specific arts-related projects, programming, events, or professional development, which is critical for helping the sector expand and thrive as part of Illinois’ economy.

These grantmaking dollars are felt in our theaters, galleries, and studios. They are also felt in our shared work—and your key priorities—of violence prevention, education, public health, and community building.

The City of Chicago’s 36% decrease ($13.4 million to $8.5 million) in direct grant dollars to our sector in FY24 has been challenging for an already fragile ecosystem. In contrast, given the meaningful increase to grantmaking at the state level in FY24, to immediately cut that progress in FY25 would be devastating to the arts community. This makes the Illinois Arts Council’s investment even more crucial for our sector as we continue to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic without the support of relief and recovery dollars. 

We urge you to prioritize a healthy budget for the arts sector by maintaining existing funding levels for direct grantmaking through the Illinois Arts Council. By allocating essential resources to support arts organizations, artists, and cultural initiatives, you can advance the vibrancy and resilience of our creative community.  

[NUMBER INSERTED] creative sector leaders have signed on to this letter to demonstrate the widespread support for this plea. 

Investing in the arts is an investment in Illinois’ future. We thank you for your attention to this important issue; your continued support is crucial in sustaining our state’s cultural vitality and economic prosperity.

We appreciate our ongoing partnership with the Illinois Arts Council and look forward to continuing to work together to ensure a thriving arts sector in Illinois.