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Celebrating 60 Years

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FY26 CPG Application Opens July 1
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IAC Turns 60!
Learn How to Celebrate With Us in 2025

SMU DataArts Names Illinois Sixth Most Vibrant Arts State

Find the full analysis on the SMU DataArts website

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)

Read Bios

Illinois Artist Spotlight

Allison Lacher, FY25 Creative Accelerator Grant Recipient

Allison Lacher is a visual artist based in Springfield. Her sculptures and installations feature a blend of metallic surfaces, vibrant colors, architectural forms, and familiar domestic objects. Her work has been exhibited nationally across museums, galleries, and artist-run spaces. She has received multiple honors, including two Illinois Arts Council Artist Fellowship Awards, and has participated in numerous prestigious residencies. Allison currently serves as director of the Visual Arts Gallery at the University of Illinois Springfield and co-director of STNDRD Exhibitions, a curatorial platform dedicated to site-responsive contemporary art. 

 

In 2025, Allison was awarded an IAC Creative Accelerator Fund grant, enabling her to embark on a Curator-in-Residence position at the Pedantic Arts Residency in Pittsburgh. Pedantic offers a four-week immersive experience for three creatives in visual art, curating, and writing. The program fosters cross-disciplinary dialogue through weekly events, emphasizing education and collaboration without the pressure of a final deliverable.

 

Reflecting on her experience, Allison shared, “The freedom to focus on research and conversation, without a project deadline, feels luxurious. Pittsburgh’s creative community is generous, and I’m eager to explore how new relationships here can inform or direct the work I develop back home in Springfield and throughout Illinois.”

 

Allison's work is currently featured at the Illinois State Museum's Here, There: New Perspectives from the Collection, a guest-curated exhibition, now through September 14.

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arts.illinois.gov

Illinois Arts Council
115 S LaSalle St., Suite 2202
Chicago, IL 60603-3804 (map)
Office: (312) 814-6750
Toll-free: (800) 237-6994
TTY: 888-261-7957
Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

Para información en Español llame al Illinois Arts Council al (312) 814-4993

iac.info@illinois.gov

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