10-12-07
Illinois Budget Show: Act Two
Chicago’s theatre community did not take the recent budget cuts by Governor Rod Blagojovich lying down. They turned out in force for the recent House budget hearings held throughout the area.
Lyle Allen, acting director of the League of Chicago Theatres, attended the hearing held at Loyola University on Thursday, Sept. 27 and estimated that 15-20 percent of those in attendance represented Chicago arts organizations such as A Red Orchid, the Old Town School of Folk Music, and the arts advocacy group, the Illinois Arts Alliance. Allen called the turnout incredible, saying, “Loyola was packed. It speaks to the dedication of our community.”
Alan Chambers, director of theatre services at Theatre Building Chicago noted, though, that they were preaching to the choir. “Those legislators up there were supporters. They’re our friends up there.” He added that by so many different organizations—not just the arts, but social service organizations and community centers as well—showing up and making their voices heard, our elected leaders seem more moved to go back and fight for us.
“I’m a huge supporter of the arts community and I was really surprised that [IAC funding] was reduced,” said Illinois Representative Ken Dunkin, whose district includes IAC grantees the Goodman, Steppenwolf, A Red Orchid, the League of Chicago Theatres Foundation and Urban Gateways. “I’m going to do what I can to see that the base level of funding is at least restored. I’ve always thought it was not adequately funded compared to what value it adds to our great state.”
In discussing organizations like Urban Gateways and the League, Dunkin noted that now there is a “sense of urgency to do the right thing for organizations that really make a difference.” As Chambers pointed out, it’s not just the arts that are in trouble, but organizations such as Cease Fire, which has helped eliminate gun violence in certain neighborhoods, have had their state funding cut by as much as 50 percent.
Dunkin asked, “Can you imagine life on this planet without the arts? Can you imagine a major metropolitan area without the arts? People would go probably through the roof with insanity, chaos and negative activity as relates to us not being engaged with works of art and expression.”
Unfortunately, it is not the Illinois House that is the problem; it is the Senate and Senate president Emil Jones’ refusal (as of press time) to allow the Senate to vote to override the governor’s vetoes.
Ra Joy, executive director of the Illinois Arts Alliance, confirmed that more than 10,000 messages have been sent by arts supporters to the Illinois Senate. However, by the time this article goes to print, that will be neither here nor there, as the last day of the Illinois state government’s veto session is Oct. 12—the date of this publication.
Rather than dwell on what might or might not be, we have asked area theatres what they plan to do whether or not the budget cuts stick. While this is truly a unique situation—thinly veiled personal vendettas masquerading as fiscal responsibility—it seems public funding for the arts is significantly threatened in on way or another every few years.
What makes the cuts to the IAC particularly troublesome is the long grant cycle for government money means that organizations that have been planning on this funding for months are finding the rug being pulled out from beneath their budgets.
Mercedes Rohlfs, director of development for American Theatre Company, said that they had applied for their IAC grant back in March. “So it’s not like we’ll be short $15,000 next year. We’ll be $15,000 short in December.” The government simply left no time for these organizations to plan ahead.
Whether funding for the IAC is restored or not, this latest crisis points out a significant weak link in funding for the arts in our state. General operating grants are considered by most to be the Holy Grail of arts funding. It is often easier to get a grant for an obscure project than it is to keep the lights on and the rent paid. It is important that Chicago’s arts community takes steps to insure themselves against a similar budget crisis in the future.
“Democracy is a verb,” said Joy. “It is not something we have; it is something we do. Individuals should communicate with their elected leaders not just in times of crisis, but when there is good news as well.” He recommended inviting your local leaders to performances and adding them to your mailing list to keep them informed of the good work you are doing.
He also said that state support of the arts should be viewed as an investment. The IAA’s study Arts & Economic Prosperity III showed “Chicago nonprofit arts and cultural organizations and their audiences generate $1.09 billion in local economic activity.” This study also said that arts organizations support more than 30,000 full-time equivalent jobs, generate more than $600 million in household income and deliver $103.1 million in local and state government revenue.
This article contains additional research by Caroline O’Hare.