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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
Mary Berry, an artist from Jerseyville, Illinois, has been making a name for herself in the world of scratchboard art. With a background in both traditional and non-traditional art forms, Mary received an FY26 IAC Creative Projects Grant to attend a professional development course at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Art Institute to refine her scratchboard skills professionally with the purpose of sharing the medium with other artists and youth in her community.
Said Mary, “This grant will allow me to deepen my practice in scratchboard art—an art form that, despite its simplicity in tools, holds incredible power in its ability to convey emotion and story. You start with a blank canvas—a thought, a feeling, a spark of inspiration. Scratchboard reminds us that creation is an act of trust. You start with darkness, carve away what you don’t need, and let the light emerge. One motion changes everything—a shimmer becomes a shadow, a mistake becomes meaning. You never truly know what will emerge until it does…and perhaps that’s the art of living, too. Receiving this grant from the Illinois Arts Council has been one of the most unexpected and exciting gifts—one I deeply appreciate and do not take lightly. This grant isn't just an investment in my work—it's an investment in the people I hope to reach and uplift through that work. So, thank you. Thank you for believing in artists like me and for doing the behind-the-scenes work that makes all of this possible."
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