Arts Funding

Posted by Heidi on June 8, 2009

We at Barrel of Monkeys get funding from a lot of sources so that we can continue to work with schools that have the greatest need for our programs. You can see a list of our major funders here, and as you know we also rely on the generous support of some of our individual fans.

One of our largest funders is the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.  Funding for the arts in Illinois was already drastically cut by former Governor Blagojevich and now it looks like in addition to sustaining those cuts the IAC will endure a further, even more drastic, budget cut. The proposed IAC budget will leave the agency—one of the largest and broadest supporters of the arts and arts education in this state—with a budget equivalent to less than 50cents per citizen of Illinois. This is nearly a national per capita low.

If you support Barrel of Monkeys—and since you are reading this, I imagine you do—please take a few seconds to contact your elected officials to urge them to reconsider. The Illinois Arts Alliance has created an easy template for this, with some suggested facts for you to use and plenty of room for customization so that you can write a letter or email that comes from the heart. Their website will also automatically send your email to the appropriate officials, if you so choose. So please, visit their website and urge support for the arts in Illinois.

While we do not yet know what the specific impact of this budget cut would be on Barrel of Monkeys, we can only assume that cuts this deep would effect the IAC’s ability to fund us. A substantial cut to our grant from the IAC could have an effect on our ability to sustain our program goaks, and we strongly urge you to take less than the time it took to read this post to express your support for the arts.