Illinois Arts Council Gets Shafted In 2010 Budget

By Julienne Bilker in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 7, 2009 6:40PM

In craptastic but unsurprising news, the Illinois Arts Council (IAC) got kicked in the proverbial balls by the 2010 Illinois budget. Its $7.8 million allocation is 51% less than that in the 2008 budget, which, thanks to Blago’s veto of the General Assembly’s approved $23.1 million appropriation, was $15.2 million. For a good explanation of that mess, check out this Gaper’s Block interview with Illinois Arts Alliance Executive Director Ra Joy from last spring.

In an article posted on performink.com yesterday, both Joy and IAC Executive Director Terry Scrogum note that the 2010 budget is not necessarily final. Depending on revenue projections, or the addition of other revenue sources, the IAC’s allocation could go up or down. While Joy and Scrogum encourage “everyone who values the arts and culture to make their voices heard” by contacting his/her state legislator, they also acknowledge that the recession means cuts are necessary. Unfortunately, grant-making organizations like the IAC take harder hits.

The IAC is very blunt about the gravity of the situation - in a letter sent to recent grant applicants on July 29, IAC Chairman Shirley R. Madigan stated, “I have been privileged to be a member of the Illinois Arts Council for many years and I have never seen our situation so dire. Without additional state revenues, we may well have further cuts in the months ahead, and next year will be worse.”

We realize this is a massive understatement, but: BOO!