In a rocky era for arts groups, funding for Chicago’s cultural affairs department would decrease under Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposed budget for next year.
At a City Hall budget hearing Tuesday night, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events acting commissioner Kenya Merritt said the department — which produces some of the city’s most popular Downtown events, like Taste of Chicago and Jazz Fest — is “entering a new chapter focused on collaboration and accountability.”
Merritt, one of Johnson’s deputy mayors, was tapped to lead the department after Johnson’s hand-picked commissioner and longtime friend, Clinée Hedspeth, resigned last month. That departure capped a tumultuous tenure that included high staff turnover and allegations of bullying and sexual harassment, and came as the mayor prepared to terminate her, as first reported this week by NBC Chicago.
Closing out a full day of departmental budget hearings, DCASE’s moment before City Council arrived at 8 p.m. and lasted just an hour. The number of aldermen in attendance had dwindled to eight.
Johnson’s proposed budget allocates just north of $62 million for DCASE for next year. That’s a 15% decrease from the nearly $73 million allocated in last year’s budget. (According to this year’s budget documents, the department’s actual 2025 appropriation came in just above $72 million.)
DCASE’s funding comes primarily from the city’s special events and hotel tax, plus a mix of public and private grants. The funds from the special tax bucket remained steady this year, while forecasted grants are down more than 30%. That drop is, in part, due to a decline in remaining COVID-19 relief dollars.
The trimmed-down budget arrives in a moment when arts organizations face a tough financial outlook. The sector continues to attempt to rebound after the battering of the pandemic led to venue closures and audience declines. Plus, this year, the Trump administration has clawed back national grant dollars and changed rules that prevent some local organizations from qualifying for funds. The confluence has already resulted in some small local arts entities closing up shop.
At the hearing, Merritt faced questions from aldermen about what she will do to get the department back on track, after the “well has been poisoned by your predecessor,” as Ald. Raymond Lopez of the 15th Ward put it, referring to Hedspeth. In response, Merritt praised the DCASE staff and said she is focused on “establishing communication norms” with staff, aldermen and the department’s advisory council.
“Transformation isn’t just about leadership,” Merritt said at the hearing. “It’s about culture, integrity and accountability, and that’s why I’m here.”
Aldermen also asked Merritt about increased safety at public events and how to generate more revenue from the city’s film industry.
Merritt did not take questions from reporters following the hearing. In an emailed statement she said “DCASE is committed to continuing to bring dynamic programming for Chicagoans and visitors to enjoy year-round.”
“We approached the development of a balanced budget with thoughtful consideration of preserving our cultural grants investment without reduction, which is increasingly important during a time of significant federal pullbacks,” Merritt said in the statement. “We were tasked with identifying cost-saving measures and are confident that through innovative program development, enhanced fundraising efforts and partnerships, we will maintain a full schedule of events in 2026.”
Given the overall financial landscape for the city, Arts Alliance Illinois Executive Director Claire Rice said that she is “cautiously optimistic” about the proposed DCASE budget.
“A modest cut in the overall budget feels like a reasonable win, given the incredible deficit the city is facing,” Rice said, adding that she is encouraged by the department’s continued investment through direct grants to arts and arts organizations.
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposed budget includes a roughly 15% decrease for the city’s cultural affairs department. Merritt said the department remains committed to producing “programming for Chicagoans and visitors to enjoy year-round.” Here, a Chicago Architecture Biennial exhibition is seen at the Chicago Cultural Center.
Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times
Johnson told WBEZ in mid-October that the arts are a priority for his administration. Johnson also said he would appoint a permanent DCASE commissioner “soon.” Johnson would not say if Merritt will permanently fill the role, instead saying that the next commissioner will be “someone that reflects my values and someone who understands the importance of the art community and what it means to remain a top global city for the entire world.”
In a statement, Arts Alliance Illinois said the current arts funding ecosystem makes the funds generated via the city’s special events and hotel tax all the more vital.
“Tourism and hotel-tax performance will be crucial to sustaining FY2026 grantmaking levels; any dip in travel or convention revenue could translate into mid-year adjustments,” the statement reads. Last month, Choose Chicago reported a record-setting summer of tourism in Chicago, with hotel occupancy surpassing pre-COVID records.
The city’s arts and culture scene has also been cited as a key driver in drawing people downtown and reinvigorating the economy of the Loop, which experienced an unprecedented drop in foot traffic during and following the pandemic. How to fill empty commercial space Downtown is an ongoing conversation among civic leaders.
Courtney Kueppers is an arts and culture reporter at WBEZ.