Governor recommends $18.6 million Arts Council budget

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. - Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today proposed a Fiscal Year 2004 General Revenue budget of $17.9 million for the Illinois Arts Council (IAC), down $1.1 million from its FY03 budget of $19 million.

The savings will be realized through proportional reductions in all IAC grant programs and cuts in operating costs.

In FY04, the IAC will expand its Mississippi River Valley Project to include more diverse arts education activities, a touring show of Mississippi River artists works, a youth mentoring program, a regional artist fellowship program and added artist residencies in the region. These programs are partially supported by a major federal Challenge America grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

During the coming fiscal year, the IAC will continue to forge public/private partnerships to stimulate cultural tourism by establishing stronger ties between the tourism industry and arts programming organizations.

Also in FY 04, the council will implement the Partners in Excellence program to more effectively distribute funds to significant arts organizations throughout the state. The program recognizes the diversity of quality art production that occurs in all regions of Illinois.

The mission of the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, is to cultivate the arts in the lives of all Illinoisans through responsive service to the states diverse people and communities.