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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)
Illinois Artist Spotlight
Nejla Yatkin, a Chicago-based choreographer acclaimed by The New York Times as "a magician" and celebrated as one of Dance Magazine’s 25 To Watch, is known for her innovative dance-theatre works that resonate around the globe. A recipient of multiple prestigious awards, including the 2023 Guggenheim Fellowship and a 2023 National Dance Project Award, Nejla weaves diverse cultural influences into her choreography. Her recent solo work, The Other Witch, reimagines Mary Wigman’s Hexentanz, delving into themes of feminine power and personal transformation. With performances having taken place in various countries and with plans for international tours, Nejla continues to inspire empathic connections between people and their environments.
Reflecting on her recent accomplishments, Nejla expressed, “With the generous support of the Illinois Arts Council’s Creative Catalyst Grant, I brought my solo dance-theatre work, The Other Witch, to life at the Ruth Page Arts Center in Chicago. The Creative Catalyst Grant made it possible to present this work in its full dimension, supporting everything from theater rental to technical infrastructure. The sold-out evening confirmed how deeply this work resonates, and I look forward to taking The Other Witch internationally in 2026. This journey would not have been possible without local investment, proving that support can spark global ripples.”
Nejla will be performing an excerpt from The Other Witch as part of the Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival at the Ruth Page Center September 26-27.
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