The Illinois Arts Council is a government agency of the state of Illinois formed to encourage development of the arts throughout Illinois. Founded in 1965 by the Illinois General Assembly, the Illinois Arts Council provides financial and technical assistance to artists, arts organizations, and community organizations with arts programming.
The Illinois Arts Council is governed by up to 21 members appointed by the Governor of Illinois who serve four-year terms. They meet three times a year. Assisted by volunteer advisory panels, they distribute grants and oversee arts programs and services.
Many arts organizations in Illinois rely on funding from the IAC each year. Governor Rod Blagojevich drastically cut the budget in 2007 in what many saw as a political move against his chief rival, Michael Madigan, whose wife is the head of the IAC.
Artist FellowshipsArts-in-Education ResidencyArts-in-Education ArtsResource Grants for Schools and School DistrictsArts-in-Literacy GrantsArts Service Organization GrantsArtstour GrantsCommunity Arts Access (Regranting)CORE Music FoundationEthnic and Folk Arts Master/ApprenticeshipsGovernor's International Arts Exchange (Illinois)|Governor's International Arts ExchangeLiterary AwardsPartners in ExcellenceProgram GrantsProject QuickStart for Schools and School DistrictsShort Term Artists ResidencySpecial Assistance GrantsYouth Employment in the ArtsApplication WorkshopsArtists' Registry, a mailing list to link Illinois artists with professional opportunitiesArtslinks, sites through Illinois with coordinators and Illinois Arts Council publicationsAwareness MeetingsDirectory of Illinois Performing Arts PresentersDirectory of Local Arts AgenciesGovernor's Awards for the Arts (Illinois)|Governor's Awards for the ArtsHeARTland, a resources publicationIllinois Art Fair Directory, an annual publicationTechnical AssistanceIn 2006, Illinois Arts Council members included:
Shirley R. Madigan, ChairmanAndy Van Meter, SecretaryRhoda A. Pierce, Vice Chairman