Arts Funding In Illinois

Thanks to your calls and messages, both the Illinois House and Senate passed separate budget proposals last week that restore important funding for the Illinois Arts Council's budget for the new fiscal year that begins July 1, 2008.

On May 21, the Illinois House passed HB6429, a budget plan that would restore all of the $4.5 million cut from the Arts Council's FY2008 budget and allocate an addition $2.6 million.

A few days later, on May 23, the Illinois Senate passed SB1130, a measure that would restore $3.5 million of $4.5 million cut from the Arts Council's FY2008 budget.

With your help, we have worked hard to protect our state's cultural resources. Now, with only a few days left before the May 31 adjournment deadline, we need your help once again to get House and Senate budgeteers to agree on a final budget proposal that includes full funding for the arts.

Click here to take action now in support of of the arts.

If your state senator voted YEA on SB1130, you will be prompted to thank your state senator for that vote and urge him or her to support full funding for the arts in FY2009.

If your state senator voted NEA on SB1130, you will be prompted to urge him or her to fully restore arts funding in FY2009.

Just enter your address and the appropriate, tailored message will appear. All it takes is one minute to make your voice heard!

Please visit the IAA website or read past editions of Arts Advocacy News for background on the Illinois Arts Council and our campaign to restore full funding for the arts in Illinois.