ArtsPartners of Central Illinois Awards $27,500 in Arts Dollars Grants to 11 Regional Arts Projects

PEORIA, IL, October 28, 2026 — ArtsPartners of Central Illinois is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026 Arts Dollars grant program, awarding $27,500 to 11 schools and nonprofit organizations across Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford counties. Made possible through funding from the Illinois Arts Council and the Community Foundation of Central Illinois, the grants support arts initiatives that expand access to creative experiences, strengthen arts education, and provide paid opportunities for local artists.

This year’s funded projects reflect the breadth of creativity across the region, from bilingual opera performances and youth theater to school murals, sensory-inclusive art experiences, and mentorship opportunities for emerging artists. The grants support projects that engage communities through the arts, particularly those with limited access to arts programming.

“Arts Dollars represents one of the most meaningful ways we can invest directly in the creative life of our region,” said Dr. Mae Gilliland, Executive Director of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois. “These projects demonstrate the extraordinary work happening in our schools, arts organizations, and communities. I can’t wait to see what comes from this year’s recipients.”

The 2026 Arts Dollars recipients are:

• Alma Rocío Jiménez – La Ópera Goes to Our Barrio ($1,900): Soprano Alma Rocío Jiménez will bring opera into community spaces through a recital at the Contemporary Art Center and three free, costumed pop-up performances. Featuring music in English and Spanish, the project will introduce new audiences to classical singing and Latin American art song.
• Illini Bluffs CUSD 327 – Tiger Brush Bash ($3,000): Students and families will participate in a community painting event led by teaching artist Misty Barnes, providing hands-on arts education and opportunities for creative expression.
• Metamora Grade School – Ceramic Relief Tile Mosaic ($850): Students will work with artist and educator Erin Foster to create a permanent, textured ceramic mosaic designed to be accessible to blind, low-vision, and sensory-seeking students.
• Chillicothe Players Theatre – Summer Youth Theatre ($1,200): Children ages 6–15 will develop skills in acting, singing, and dancing through a production of Madagascar Jr., with funding supporting artistic instruction and production expenses.
• Lowpoint-Washburn CUSD 21 – School Mural Project ($1,800): Local muralist Megan Couri will collaborate with K–12 students to design and paint a school mural, expanding arts education opportunities in a rural community.
• Multicultural Dual Language Academy – Beyond the Books: Creating an Arts-Filled Library at MDLA ($3,000): Artist Blair Clark will lead creative activities and help transform the school’s library into an immersive woodland environment, combining literacy, visual art, and family engagement for 140 elementary students.
• Oak Grove School District 68 – School Murals ($3,500): Students will collaborate with a professional artist and their art teacher to design and create murals throughout their school, learning large-scale painting techniques and contributing lasting artwork to their educational environment.
• Peoria Art Guild – Mentor Arts Program ($3,500): High school students from across 10 Central Illinois counties will receive 16 weeks of instruction and mentorship from professional teaching artists, culminating in a public exhibition of their work.
• Valeska Hinton Early Childhood Education Center – Art Knows No Bounds ($3,500): This inclusive arts initiative will provide sensory-safe creative experiences, movement instruction, family activities, and staff training to support preschool students with diverse developmental and communication needs.
• Arc Light Productions – Bringing Plays to Arc Light Productions ($1,750): Arc Light Productions will expand its summer 2027 programming with a non-musical play, creating additional opportunities for local actors and production artists in the Bartonville and Glasford area.
• Central Illinois Youth Symphony – Pictures at an Exhibition ($3,500): Young musicians will explore the relationship between music and visual art through a performance of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, accompanied by an exhibition of student artwork inspired by the composition.

Recipients were selected through a community review process that evaluated artistic merit, community involvement, and administrative ability. The Arts Dollars Review Committee included Chris Kaergard and Brittany Personett, Co-Chairs; Kelly Brown; Bridget Burke; Dr. Taunya Jenkins; Shelly Kerker; and Nana Sarfo.

Arts Dollars is administered by ArtsPartners of Central Illinois as part of its work to strengthen the region’s cultural landscape. The program supports arts projects and educational opportunities that encourage community participation, expand access to the arts, and provide compensation for local artists.