Chicago arts economy generates $50B, report finds
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A new report from Illinois' arts advocacy finds that the arts generate more than $50 billion for Chicago's economy.
Why it matters: Chicago, and increasingly other parts of the state, promote the arts and culture sector to attract tourism, new businesses and residents. The Arts Alliance Illinois report validates their argument and puts hard numbers on investment in the arts as an overall win for the economy.
What they're saying: "When people talk about the Chicago and Illinois economies, they talk about manufacturing, health care, agriculture, and other key industries. Starting today, the creative sector belongs in that conversation," Arts Alliance Illinois executive director Claire Rice said this week after releasing the report.
State of play: "The Creative Economy of Chicago & Illinois: Impact and Assets" breaks down the arts economy into 12 categories, including arts education, design services, performing arts centers, festivals, books and publishing.
By the numbers: The arts generate $148 billion and support more than 730,000 jobs in Illinois, according to the report.
- That employment includes musicians, designers and performers, but also roles in IT, marketing, legal and finance that support artistic endeavors.
- In Chicago, the creative sector is the third-largest industry, generating $50 billion in economic activity, including $5.7 billion in tax revenue, and supporting more than 210,000 jobs.
Reality check: Artists, primarily in theater, music and visual arts, earn well below the state's $50,796 living wage baseline, driving home the importance of improving wages for the workers who contribute billions to the state's economy.
Zoom out: Gov. JB Pritzker's 2027 budget includes $27.9 million in arts funding, essentially the same as the year before, while Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's 2026 budget for the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) was $62 million, down from $72 million in 2025.
The bottom line: The intangible effects of the arts, from exposure to new ideas, outlets for expression and sources of entertainment, often dominate the conversation.
- But like all industries, it's also a money game and this report arms artists and organizations with the tools to demonstrate their influence and need to grow.
What's next: Arts Alliance Illinois plans to release local reports about the suburbs and Chicago's South Side. It also intends to host community meetings about the report.