Announcing the Arts for Illinois Relief Fund
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PRESS RELEASE
On Wednesday, April 1, 2020, Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot, supported by the philanthropic community, announced Arts for Illinois Relief Fund, which will support individual artists and artisans – including stage and production members and part-time cultural workers – as well as art organizations with one-time grants of $1,500 for individuals and $6,000 to $30,000 awards for organizations.
The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation is proud to be an initial funder to this Fund, which as of launch had raised $4 million. We encourage others to join us in helping the creative community through this challenging time. At this time we have contributed $200,000 to the Arts Work Fund, which is managing the fund for organizations and of which we are a founding and long-term funder.
In a statewide survey by Arts Alliance Illinois assessing the financial impact of COVID-related closures, 320 respondents estimated that their organizations will lose more than $84 M in revenue due to a suspension of public-facing programs or exhibitions until the end of April. This closure impacts 24,124 individual events or performances, 3,563 full-time jobs, 13,144 part-time/contract jobs, and nearly 2.5 million audience members or participants including young people and children.
Arts for Illinois also launched an online platform that features talented artists – performers, singers, poets, painters, writers, and other creatives from across Illinois – who have generously made their works available for the public’s enjoyment while at home during these challenging times.
Visit www.artsforillinois.org to explore a wide-range of art experiences, as well as learn more about the Arts for Illinois Relief Fund. Share your art using #ArtsforIllinois.
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