Governor recommends $18.5 million Arts Council budget

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today proposed a Fiscal Year 2005 budget of $18.5 million for the Illinois Arts Council (IAC). The introduced General Revenue budget of $17.8 million represents a $100,000 decrease from the FY04 General Revenue budget of $19.7 million. The savings will be realized through reductions in operating costs. IAC's budget also includes $741,000 in spending authority for federal funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, a $66,000 increase over the FY04 level.

"Illinois has long been recognized for its distinguished contributions to the arts," said Acting Director Richard Carlson. " As a vital component of life-long learning, the arts are central to the vitality and productivity of our society. I applaud the Governor for his commitment to ensuring that, through quality arts programming, the arts are accessible to all citizens of Illinois."

In FY05 the IAC will expand the Illinois Mississippi River Valley Project to encourage increased opportunities for artist residencies in schools and community-based organizations and will facilitate partnerships with local convention and visitors' bureaus along the Mississippi and the Illinois Bureau of Tourism.

FY05 funds will enable the IAC to forge public/private partnerships through continued participation in Team Illinois, a priority initiative that focuses on revitalizing selected underserved communities with a partnership between state government, private-sector businesses, local residents, elected officials and other key stakeholders in the communities.