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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
Tomás Gueglio is an Argentine composer and guitarist currently teaching at DePaul University's School of Music in Chicago. He earned a PhD from the University of Chicago in 2016, a master’s from Syracuse in 2010, and a bachelor’s from Universidad Católica Argentina in 2007. Known for his innovative approach to sound and texture, his compositions have garnered attention from prestigious organizations such as the Library of Congress and the Americas Society. Tomás has collaborated with celebrated ensembles and soloists, including Ensemble Dal Niente, Quince Ensemble, Ekmeles and Departure Duo.
IAC's Creative Accelerator Fund has helped support his latest album, Ciclo Lamarque, due to be released in the fall of 2026. The work draws inspiration from the mid-twentieth-century Argentine tango melodrama "Cita en la Frontera,' starring the iconic tango performer Libertad Lamarque. This project involves composing, recording, and releasing new works that reflect the essence of tango, bridging traditional influences with contemporary techniques. Highlighting the vital role of funding in bringing his artistic vision to life, Tomas shares, "Recording and releasing an album is a costly affair. I will use the resources from the Creative Accelerator Fund to underwrite artists' fees and studio costs for the recording of the two works remaining to complete the album." Follow the link below to learn more about Tomás and hear his latest works.
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