Governor Announces Illinois Arts Council

CHICAGO -- Governor George H. Ryan today announced that the Illinois Arts Council (IAC) has awarded grants totaling more than $13.9 million to 1105 individual artists and not-for-profit organizations doing public arts programming around the state of Illinois.

"The state's arts agency is doing an outstanding job of ensuring that a wide-range of programs is being made accessible to communities statewide," Ryan said. "These grants to Illinois' artists and diverse organizations provide many opportunities for our citizens and visitors to enjoy the many artistic and cultural benefits Illinois has to offer."

IAC Chairman Shirley R. Madigan added, "These grants will help to fulfill this agency's commitment to bring quality arts programming to all Illinois citizens through support of outstanding artists and not-for-profit organizations."

Forty-four of the awards go to the IAC's Established Regional Arts Institutions. "Initiated in fiscal 1997, this program highlights significant cultural institutions in six regions throughout Illinois," said IAC Executive Director Rhoda A. Pierce.

Other funding provides general operating support or arts development support for not-for-profit organizations presenting arts programming in the areas of literature, media arts, ethnic and folk arts, arts-in-education, and multidisciplinary performing and visual arts.

Grants also support the programs and projects of local arts agencies, presenters, and arts service organizations, as well as arts-in-education artists' residencies and short-term artists' residencies. Further funding will support Illinois schools' development of sequential arts curricula, performances by Illinois artists, projects supporting the goals of the Secretary of State/Illinois State Library's Family Literacy Programs, the work of Illinois' small presses and authors whose work they published, technical assistance, and special projects. Also supported are the new Governor's International Arts Exchange Program, public television and radio, and community arts access, as well as opportunities for youth to engage in summer internships to further their experience working in the arts.

The mission of the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, is to serve the diverse people and communities of Illinois with quality, accessible arts programming, by engaging in active support and development of Illinois artists, arts organizations, educational institutions, and communities.

The funding for the grants is derived from an annual appropriation from the Illinois General Assembly and supplemented with support from the National Endowment for the Arts. For information on specific grants, please contact Sandra Kinder at 312-814-6775.