2026 Arts Dollars Winners
2026 Arts Dollars Recipients
Alma Rocío Jiménez
La Ópera Goes to Our Barrio
Soprano Alma Rocío Jiménez’s La Ópera Goes to Our Barrio will bring live classical singing to the Peoria area through a full recital at the Contemporary Art Center and three free, costumed pop-up performances in everyday community spaces. Featuring guest vocalists and pianist John Orfe, the program will blend operatic arias, Latin American art song, and popular songs reimagined for operatic voice in English and Spanish. The project aims to make opera more accessible and welcoming, especially for those who face barriers related to cost, language, or traditional concert settings.
Illini Bluffs CUSD 327
Tiger Brush Bash
Illini Bluffs’ Tiger Brush Bash will bring students and their families together for a painting night led by teaching artist and former art teacher Misty Barnes. Participants will learn painting techniques, explore creative expression, and create original artwork. The event will expand access to hands-on arts learning while strengthening connections among students, families, and the school community.
Metamora Grade School
Ceramic Relief Tile Mosaic
Led by artist and art teacher Erin Foster, Metamora Grade School students will create a textured ceramic tile mosaic that transforms a school sign into a permanent, touch-accessible landmark. Students in kindergarten through fourth grade, along with participants in the school’s Skill Builders and Rise programs, will build, decorate, and glaze the tiles. The project combines hands-on ceramics instruction with inclusive public art, helping blind, low-vision, and sensory-seeking students explore and connect with their school environment.
Chillicothe Players Theatre
Summer Youth Theatre
Chillicothe Players Theatre’s Summer Youth Theatre will welcome children ages 6–15 to participate in a production of Madagascar Jr. Through rehearsals and performances, participants will develop acting, singing, and dancing skills while building confidence, friendships, and teamwork. Arts Dollars funding will help support production expenses and artistic instruction, keeping the program accessible and welcoming to children with varied levels of theater experience.
Lowpoint-Washburn CUSD 21
School Mural Project
Lowpoint-Washburn’s School Mural Project will connect students with local muralist Megan Couri to create artwork for their K–12 school. Students will help select mural designs and paint the artwork with guidance from Couri and support from school volunteers. Building on a successful previous collaboration, the project will expand access to arts experiences in a rural community while strengthening student connections and school pride.
Multicultural Dual Academy
Beyond the Books: Creating an Arts-Filled Library at MDLA
Multicultural Dual Language Academy’s Beyond the Books will serve 140 students in kindergarten through fourth grade through weekly artist-led readings and hands-on creative activities. Artist and library clerk Blair Clark will guide the transformation of the school’s new library into an immersive woodland space inspired by its coati mascot. Take-home literary kits will extend arts exploration and family participation beyond the library, supporting the school’s emphasis on language, culture, and creative expression.
Oak Grove School District 68
School Murals
Oak Grove School’s Mural Project will engage students in designing and creating murals to be displayed throughout the school building. Students will learn about mural design, large-scale painting techniques, and collaboration while working alongside a paid professional artist and their school art teacher. Students will submit original designs, with one winning design selected for each grade, and then work together to bring the chosen designs to life. The project aims to expand students’ access to hands-on arts education, provide exposure to a working artist, and create lasting artwork that enhances the school environment. The initiative also supports the district’s mission of providing meaningful educational opportunities to all students, regardless of socioeconomic background.
Peoria Art Guild
Mentor Arts Program
Website | Facebook | Instagram
The Peoria Art Guild’s Mentor Arts Program connects high school students from across 10 central Illinois counties with professional teaching artists for 16 weeks of hands-on instruction in a variety of artistic media. Students then work with mentors to develop independent projects and artist statements, culminating in a public exhibition at the Guild’s gallery. Arts Dollars funding will support teaching artist stipends, helping students build skills and confidence for college and creative careers while compensating local artists for their expertise.
Valeska Hinton Early Childhood Education Center
Art Knows No Bounds
Valeska Hinton’s Art Knows No Bounds will provide inclusive, sensory-safe art experiences for preschool students, families, and staff through classroom activities, family art events, and staff training. Led by Mary Keltner-King and Megan Nugen, the project will also feature creative movement instruction from Kelleen Nitsch of Nitsch Theatre Arts. The program encourages creative exploration while supporting children with diverse developmental, sensory, and communication needs.
Arc Light Productions
Bringing Plays to Arc Light Productions
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Arc Light Productions will expand its summer 2027 season with a non-musical play, building on the success of its first play in July 2026. The project will create opportunities for local actors and production artists in the Bartonville and Glasford area to participate in theater beyond musicals. Arts Dollars support will help cover production costs and artist stipends as Arc Light works to establish an annual play.
Central Illinois Youth Symphony
Pictures at an Exhibition
Central Illinois Youth Symphony’s Pictures at an Exhibition will pair a performance of Mussorgsky’s work with an exhibition of student artwork inspired by the music. Students from all CIYS ensembles will be invited to contribute paintings, drawings, or sculptures for audiences to enjoy before and after the concert. Local artists will provide feedback and judge entries by age group, encouraging students to explore connections between music and visual art.
Central Illinois Youth Symphony
CIYS Masterclass Series
Central Illinois Youth Symphony invites young musicians to free, public masterclasses led by professional artists throughout the year. Students perform works-in-progress and receive real-time coaching on technique, interpretation, and stage presence, plus special sessions on composition and healthy playing. The series builds confidence, accelerates growth, and opens high-level learning to the broader community.
Peoria Fashion Week Academy
HAUS of Runway
Peoria Fashion Week Academy offers youth and adults an opportunity to explore fashion and performance through immersive runway, styling, and confidence-building workshops. Participants collaborate with industry professionals and showcase their skills during Peoria Fashion Week. By combining creativity, mentorship, and career development, the program empowers participants to express themselves and pursue opportunities in the arts.
Harmonize Peoria
Garage Band Open Stage
Harmonize Peoria creates a free summer series where more than 100 young musicians perform, learn live-sound basics, and receive mentorship from professional bands. Held in a welcoming neighborhood space, the weekly open stage removes barriers to participation and builds confidence, collaboration, and real-world experience. Many participants go on to form bands, record music, and stay active in Peoria’s growing music community.
Elmwood Center for the Humanities
Prairie Tales
Elmwood Center for the Humanities unearths the untold rural side of Peoria’s “Whiskey City” story, linking grain fields, barrel makers, and country roads to a defining chapter of local history. Premiering at the Palace Theater, the film invites residents to see their towns and families reflected on the big screen, building pride and belonging across the county. Afterward it lives online as a free learning resource, sparking classroom lessons, community conversations, and renewed interest in preserving rural heritage.
