Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Arts Council announced they awarded $16.2 million in grants to support artists across Illinois, including those in the Wabash Valley.
In the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, four grant programs distributed funds to artists and organizations statewide. The Creative Accelerator Fund gave $1 million to 100 artists across Illinois, with each receiving a $10,000 taxable award. Among the recipients were Samantha Tableriou of Charleston and Jennifer Holtschlag of Olney.
The General Operating Support program with the Youth Employment in the Arts component awarded $14.6 million to 1,023 organizations across the state. This initiative focuses on sustaining arts programming and funds organizations to hire artists aged 14 to 22 to help develop their skills in the arts sector.
The Regional Arts Partner Grants provided $575,000 to allow partner organizations to run their own grantmaking processes tailored to local community needs.
Governor Pritzker said the arts enrich lives, communities, and culture. He added that with key arts funding under attack at the federal level, Illinois is proud to invest in its talented artists, encourage young people to pursue their passions in the arts, and expand community access to arts initiatives.
Since 2019, Pritzker’s administration has awarded more than $196 million in Illinois Arts Council grants, significantly boosting funding for the state’s creative sector. For a detailed breakdown of the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 by region and program, visit the Illinois Arts Council website.
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