Founded in 1965, The Illinois Arts Council strongly believes that there is no education without the arts. With such a strong commitment from the State's leading arts body, it is no wonder that Illinois remains a favorite destination for art students. Major art colleges and universities in Illinois are based in Aurora, Bloomington, Buffalo Grove, Chicago, Joliet, Naperville, Elgin, Peoria, Berwyn, Burbank, Rockford, Springfield, Waukegan, Bolingbrook, and Cicero among other cities.

Art courses available in Illinois include Web Design, Fashion Design, Architecture, Interior Design, Multimedia, Game Design, Film, Photography, Animation, and Graphic Design.

For those who cannot attend classes in person, Illinois art schools also provide online courses. Support is available in Illinois for aspiring art students with financial limitations but good academic credentials through both state and private benefactors. The government, through the Illinois Arts Council, provides substantial funding for both arts degrees and diploma students in Illinois universities and colleges. Notable private scholarships include the Bessie Myers Music Scholarship, which provides outstanding music students with renewable $500 scholarships.

Upon successful attainment of your Illinois art degree or diploma, you will find a multitude of attractive job openings in and around Illinois. The art industry is big business in Illinois, generating approximately $58 million in local and $45 million in state revenue annually. In a survey carried out in 2009, Illinois had over 125 art related businesses employing over 25,000 people in various capacities. Given Illinois' support of the arts, art professionals who choose Illinois as the place to work have a great opportunity to build and advance their careers.