DCASE is responsible for renowned events like Taste of Chicago and the Chicago Blues Festival that attract locals and tourists to downtown. The department has also increasingly become a critical funding source for small and medium-sized artists, administering grants that enable many in Chicago’s creative scene to continue their work.

“This is funding that is accessible and available to all of our extraordinary cultural communities,” said Claire Rice, executive director of Arts Alliance Illinois, who has advocated for the continuation of DCASE grant programs. “It is a statement of values ​​for our city that it includes public funding in the budget. They recognize arts, culture and creativity as a true economic, civic and social boon to Chicago.

Asked by WBEZ whether this year’s proposed budget would allow DCASE to maintain its current level of work, a spokeswoman said in an email that the department would not comment on the budget until it is approved.

Arts advocacy groups are also trying to analyze what the proposed budget will mean for the city’s cultural sector, particularly as it relates to DCASE’s grant programs.

Rice, of the Arts Alliance, said his organization was “cautiously optimistic” that the same level of funding for direct DCASE grants would be available next year.

“We are optimistic that they will be able to maintain their grants even during this extraordinarily difficult year, which was our main goal,” Rice said. “We’re excited to put as much money as possible into the hands of the city’s arts and culture creators.”

DCASE leaders said during Friday’s hearing that maintaining grant programs is a priority.

“We hope that with this increase we will be able to maintain the number of grants we have received over the last two years and not experience a decrease,” said Meida McNeal, deputy commissioner for grants and grants. cultural resources of DCASE, to aldermen. “This is how we will continue to support both individual artists and arts organizations. »

In 2024, DCASE awarded just over $1 million through its Individual Artist Program, a significant increase from the $496,300 awarded through the same initiative in 2019. hearing, Hedspeth said more than half of the recipients were first-time applicants and 60 percent lived in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods.

In total, the department awarded approximately $8 million in grants in 2024 to approximately 500 recipients.

At Friday’s hearing, council members said they want to see DCASE raise more money for the city through means such as permits for special events and the film industry.

“We have to find a way to make sure we get the money back from these big events,” said Ald. Pat Dowell, 3rd Ward. “I think you could contribute more to the company’s budget, and that’s something we really need to focus on.”

Hedspeth said the department is looking at ways to generate more revenue, including a 10 percent increase in rental space at the downtown cultural center, run by DCASE. DCASE also wants to make the city a filming destination.