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Celebrating 60 Years
SMU DataArts Names Illinois Sixth Most Vibrant Arts State
Arts Impact in Illinois
$37.39B
of our state's gross domestic product was contributed by arts and culture in 2023 - Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Dept of Commerce
226,407
Illinois jobs were in arts and culture (2023)
- Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce
22
grants totaling $862,855 were directed to Illinois school districts in developing arts and foreign language curricula in partnership with the Illinois State Board of Education (FY2024)
$478M
in revenues to state and local government were delivered by Illinois arts nonprofits in 2024 - Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6)
29
local arts councils partnered with IAC through its Local Arts Network to support statewide arts programming (FY2024)
100%
of all legislative districts throughout Illinois receive free access to local and regional news, public affairs and arts programming through IAC support for Illinois Public Radio and Television (FY2025)
Featured Illinois Arts Organization
Ensemble Español, FY26 General Operating Support Recipient
Ensemble Español - photo credit, Carla Carrasco
Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater, founded in 1975 by the visionary Dame Libby Komaiko, has become a cornerstone of cultural expression in the United States. Under the current leadership of Executive Director Jorge Perez and Artistic Director Irma Suárez Ruiz, the organization is dedicated to the preservation, presentation, and promotion of Spanish dance and culture. With a mission that explores the rich tapestry of Spain’s history and its influence on Latin American art, Ensemble Español has captivated audiences with its dynamic performances across various styles, including flamenco, folklore, and classical dance. The Ensemble serves 30,000 school children annually with its arts education outreach programs as part of its ongoing mission.
This year, Ensemble Español celebrates its 50th anniversary with a two-day event at the historic Auditorium Theatre in Chicago on November 14 and 15, 2025. The celebration kicks off with "Tales of Spain," an educational multimedia concert designed for students, showcasing the vibrant rhythms and movements of Spanish dance. The following evening, the full company will perform a stunning concert featuring guest Flamenco musicians, highlighting selections from the company's extensive 50-year repertoire. This milestone event promises to be a memorable celebration of dance, culture, and community.
Said Jorge Perez, "As one of Chicago's cultural treasures, it's an honor to share with all of our communities the legacy of our beloved founder, Dame Libby Komaiko, alongside our artistic director, Irma Suárez Ruiz, the beauty, passion and elegance of the art form of Spanish dance, music, and culture. The Ensemble has been representing a mosaic of world cultures since its inception 5 decades ago exemplifying our mission and vision where art has no boundaries locally, nationally and internationally. Here's to honoring our past, celebrating our present and securing our future for generations to come at our in resident home Northeastern Illinois University. Ole!"
Illinois Artist Spotlight
Jim Kanas is a jazz guitarist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist whose work fuses jazz, world music, and Americana influences into original compositions and improvisations. With over 50 years of experience playing both jazz and bluegrass, Jim's unique style resonates as both a soloist and collaborator. Recently, he was awarded a Special Projects Grant from the IAC to support the second phase of a trilogy of recordings that highlight Illinois artists, studios, and venues.
Jim shares, “This project combines a lifetime of musical influences dating back to the 1960s and for the first time incorporates my own Greek-American heritage into some of that music. The recording includes mostly original compositions that I’ve arranged, combining Americana, jazz, and related styles with Greek influences and instrumentation not conventionally associated with American music. Guitar is my primary instrument, though on this recording, I perform a variety of traditional and folk instruments, including mandolin, banjo, pedal steel guitar, bouzouki, and lauto (Cretan lute). 'An Americana Suite,' 'Hey Wes, Meet Bill,' 'Mountains of Illinois,' and 'Dad’s Song' are selected compositions for this recording and will be featured in a public performance at the DeKalb History Center, along with radio and internet media exposure. I would like to thank the Illinois Arts Council for its support for this project and others that foster the value of diversity and the intrinsic value of art in any form.”
Known for his residency program on the development of American folk music, Jim has been featured on WTTW 11 PBS "Arts Across Illinois" and on Sessions from Studio A, WNIJ, DeKalb, IL, in 2018 and 2020. He earned the "Outstanding Guitarist Award" at the Oak Lawn Jazz Fest for two consecutive years and has collaborated with notable musicians such as Johnny Frigo, Darol Anger, and Muriel Anderson. Jim will be featured on Northern Public Radio, February 3, 2026, at Studio A Cafe, WNIJ/WNIU/NIRIS, to perform and talk about this project. The live culminating event will be at the DeKalb County Historical Center; details are TBA.
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