Latino artists are an important part of Chicago's cultural scene.

Yeah.

organizations often lag behind other groups for federal and philanthropic funding from theater companies to museum exhibitions.

Many struggle to sustain their work in partnership with Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.

Chicago Tonight explores how some philanthropic foundations are experimenting with longer-term funding to address this disparity.

>> And, you know, get some credit.

Michael Chernus.

I can spot.

Chicago is known for its diversity its people, its stories, and it's art for actor Camillo performing on stage is an act of cultural expression.

But as Latino artists continue creating their work, supporting organizations, face federal funding cuts and shrinking philanthropic support.

Justino Chicago international Latino Theater Festival is an initiative helping to close the gap.

The festival is organized by the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance or clot blood that was found >> Based on the idea of providing disability and helping uplift Latino theaters and our stories and major states across the city makes stages and across different communities throughout Chicago.

>> According to a 2025 report by the University of Illinois, Chicago, Great Cities Institute Latinos make up about 30% of the city and the majority of CPS students yet only around 6% of philanthropic arts funding is directed toward Latino this year close to award a $10,000 grant to visy on Latino Theater company to stage last putting Kenya a play set in Puerto Rico.

>> What an honor to be able to share that experience with them and have them in the audience just like very endearing.

So I feel like it means so much to Latino community to see these stories on stage to hear this history that it's been kind of like hidden away.

At the federal level.

The National Endowment for the Arts awarded 424 grams to Chicago organizations between 2020 2024.

>> But only 31 or about 7.3% of those grants went to Latino arts or communities.

Alana Gonzalez, curator of the Key in Chicago exhibition at the Chicago History Museum says even a major institution like hers struggles to secure consistent federal support.

It >> challenging situation.

Trying to arrange for the funding of this exhibition and then as we worked on starting the building of the project, actually, our federal funding was terminated from the from the federal government.

And then part of it was reinstated.

>> Gonzalez says without adequate funding, many Latino arts organizations may lose the opportunity showcase their work.

She warns that a future without strong art support could limit cultural expression and creativity for future generations in and be on the Chicago area.

Those who support Latino arts to the root of the problem lies and who holds the financial purse strings organizations like the Angel Foundation Hoof and Claw agree.

There aren't large funders who are Latino for groups to be going to.

>> So that means they're having to speak to power.

does not look like represent The Paul Am Angel Foundation shifting its approach moving away from short-term grants and investing more in helping organizations to stay in their work for the long term.

Those arts strategies that we can help them.

gaining assets.

>> Keeping funding unrestricted so that they can utilize the dollars how they see fit to.

>> Try to keep them secure for the future.

>> Yeah, I we've grown our general operating from 2024.

To 2025.

From being like I want to say it was like 30 something percent of our grants given in 2024. to over 50%.

We're general operating grants this year and then multi-year it.

>> Good or even more.

For Wt Tw News and Northwestern's Medill School of journalism.

I'm Juliana prop key in Chicago the exhibition runs at the Chicago History Museum through November.

>> You can read more about Latino arts funding on our website and we're back to wrap things up right after this.