OLNEY, Ill. (WTWO/WAWV)— Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Arts Council (IAC) announced that they have given out $16.2 million in grants to support artists across the state, including in the Wabash Valley.
There have been four different grant programs funded just in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026. The first of those programs was the Creative Accelerator Fund, which distributed $1,000,000 to 100 artists across Illinois. Each artist received a $10,000 taxable award, including two individuals in the Wabash Valley. Both Samantha Tableriou of Charleston and Jennifer Holtschlag of Olney were awarded grants.
The second grant program was the General Operating Support with the component of Youth Employment in the Arts (YEA). Over $14.6 million was awarded to 1,023 organizations across Illinois. According to the news release, this was done to emphasize the importance of sustainable arts programming. The YEA component of the program specifically supports organizations in hiring artists between the ages of 14 and 22 to help foster their development in the arts sector.
Lastly, the Regional Arts partner Grants were created with an allotted $575,000. These grants enable partner organizations to work on their own grantmaking processes based on the needs of their communities.
“The arts enrich our lives, our communities, and our culture,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “With key arts funding under attack at the federal level, I’m proud that Illinois is continuously investing in our state’s talented artists, encouraging young people to pursue their passions in the arts sector, and enhancing communitywide access to arts initiatives.”
Since Governor Pritzker’s Administration committed itself to the arts in 2019, IAC grants have provided over $196,000,000. According to the news release, this is a significant increase in funding for the Illinois creative sector. For a more comprehensive breakdown of the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, you can visit the IAC’s website for a summary by region and program.
