November 15, 2024
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Unfunded Joliet Arts Commission seeks funds

Chairman makes pitch for a share of federal COVID-19 relief money

By Bob Okon
Several murals can be seen painted near Joliet Township Central High School on Tuesday, April 30, 2019, in Joliet, Ill.

One of Joliet's public murals murals can be seen painted near Joliet Central High School.

The Joliet Arts Commission is seeking its first city funding from money coming to Joliet from the American Rescue Plan.

The commission was created in 2019 to foster development of the arts in Joliet but without any funding mechanism for its activities.

Commission Chairman Erick Deshaun Dorris is asking the city to provide $150,000 annually for four years from from federal American Rescue Plan funds coming from the federal government to aid in recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There is a unique opportunity through the American Rescue Plan to invest in the arts program,” Dorris told the Joliet City Council during a presentation on Monday.


Erick Deshaun Dorris (Photo provided)

The city received $11.1 million in May from the American Rescue Plan and will get another $11.1 million in 2022.

City officials have no set plans for the money, but the City Council will meet in a special meeting on June 30 to begin setting priorities.

Council members gave no response to Dorris and asked no questions.

There are restrictions on how American Rescue Plan money can be used. Dorris made a case for using the funds to help the arts community recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, stating the arts are listed as a “priority industry” in government guidelines for the money.

“The Illinois creative industries were hit the hardest during the pandemic,” Dorris said.

He said there was a 300% increase in unemployment claims from Illinois artists during the pandemic, while the unemployment rate among artists who are black, indigenous or people of color rose to 66%.

Deteriorating mural at Van Buren Street railroad viaduct depicts Joliet Catholic High School graduate Tom Thayer who went on to play with the Chicago Bears. (Bob Okon)

Dorris told the council that possible uses for the money included investing in artists, workforce development, and addressing existing public art. The commission is in the midst of an assessment of public murals around Joliet, some of which have peeled away to the point of becoming eyesores.

The commission recently launched a project with the Joliet City Center Partnership, commissioning five works of art to be displayed downtown this summer. The $5,000 paid to artists comes from the City Center Partnership.

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