Questions Regarding Arts Funding In 2021

WDCB’s Gary Zidek catches up with Arts Alliance executive director Claire Rice to talk about the state of arts funding as we start 2021.

LISTEN

WDCB's Gary Zidek talks to Arts Alliance Illinois executive director Claire Rice about arts funding in 2021.

“It is clear that we have seen seismic, even more extended damage to the sector than we initially expected. When we first started that impact study back in March, we thought this might be a 6 month process for us all to get back to work within the creative sector, obviously folks are now planning on a full year to 18 month time horizon.” - Arts Alliance Illinois executive director Claire Rice talking about the ongoing impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the cultural landscape.

Arts Alliance executive director Claire Rice

The conversation regarding arts funding has taken on a different tone over the past 10 months as the COVID-19 pandemic decimated parts of the local cultural landscape. Performing arts venues, movie theaters and cultural institutions were among the first to close back in mid March of 2020 and will likely be the last to fully re-open whenever its deemed safe.

The region’s most creative residents have adapted and innovated finding new ways to engage with audiences and patrons. A number of local funding efforts have provided relief to some organizations and individual artists and makers. But more help is needed.

There is good news, about two weeks ago, a $900 billion federal COVID-19 relief bill was signed into law. Of particular interest is the $15 billion of that package that’s been designated for the Save Our Stages Act. Now all eyes will be on how those funds are allocated and what’s next.

You can keep track of everything Arts Alliance Illinois is working on by visiting the organization’s website at artsalliance.org