Oak Park approved new funding levels for its local art and tourism partners last week.
The village board approved funding increases for both the Oak Park Area Arts Council and the recently rebranded Explore Oak Park and Beyond, the tourism board previously known as Visit Oak Park, as part of the village’s 2026 budget. The board ratified next year’s budget at its meeting Tuesday, Dec. 9.
Both groups also receive state grant money but rely on local funding to sustain their operations.
The arts council will receive $368,875 from the village next year, a significant increase compared to the $275,000 that Oak Park leaders approved for the group for 2025. The arts council said it will use the funds to support a variety of planned projects for 2026 including running grant and scholarship programs, putting on regular community art shows and markets and supporting the creation of dozens of new murals by the end next year, according to the council’s proposal.
“In a time when arts funding is being cut, budgets are being shrunk, and art organizations are struggling to stay afloat, OPAAC’s ability to grow and provide for the community is a testament to the quality of work being done and speaks volumes about the desire for these programs to continue to grow,” the group said of its work in its funding proposal.
The tourism board received a more modest increase in its village funding, going from $209,042 for 2025 to $229,042 for 2026. The funding for the tourism board comes from revenue collected via hotel/motel taxes, according to the village.
Explore Oak Park and Beyond promotes tourism and markets attractions in 20 Western Cook County suburbs, including Oak Park. The recent rebrand speaks to the tourism board’s emphasis on cross-community collaboration, as the agency hopes to help establish a stronger identity for the area between Chicago’s western border and Interstate 294, according to the group.
“Destination promotion is for the benefit and well-being of every person in a community,” the group said of its work in its funding proposal. “It is an essential investment to develop opportunities and enhance the quality of life for the people of a destination. What is our industry always pointing to? The jobs that are created, the local spending that is generated, the local tax revenue that is generated, and the economic activity that is generated.”
“With unwavering dedication and a keen eye for detail, the Explore Oak Park and Beyond organization comprehensively crafts unforgettable journeys, connecting visitors with iconic Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, world-class museums, a diverse culinary scene, and much more.”
