Looser-Flake Foundation awards $120,000 to support creative arts across Mercer County
Grants expand music education, public art, performances, and local history programs
The Looser-Flake Charitable Foundation has awarded $120,000 to support creative arts across Mercer County, Illinois. The funding includes 14 project grants helping local organizations bring arts experiences to students, residents, and visitors throughout the county.
This year’s grants support a wide range of opportunities, from instruments students can use at no cost and expanded arts instruction to live music, public murals, and historical storytelling. Several projects bring organizations together to connect audiences with local artists, community history, and new ways to participate in the arts.
“The arts connect us to our history, enrich education, and bring people together through entertainment and shared cultural experiences,” said Tracy Brashears, board chair of the Looser-Flake Foundation. “Across Mercer County, these grants create opportunities for people of all ages to learn, express themselves, and enjoy the creativity of their neighbors. That’s an investment in the quality of life for everyone in Mercer County.”
Administered by the Quad Cities Community Foundation and dedicated to supporting charitable causes in Mercer County, the Looser-Flake Charitable Foundation was established by the estates of Dorothy Looser-Flake and Roberta Looser, sisters who were born and raised on a family farm near New Boston, Illinois.
The 2026 Creative Arts Grants recipients are:
Aledo Main Street, Inc. — $10,300 for an interchangeable public mural in collaboration with MC Art Collective and music at the farmers market through 2026.
Aledo Opera House, Inc. — $13,000 for music and technology equipment to support events and performance series.
Aledo Rhubarb Festival — $6,000 to expand evening entertainment offerings at the festival.
Ballet Quad Cities — $5,000 for an anti-bullying performance and preview lesson for Mercer County elementary students, in collaboration with local schools.
City of Aledo — $5,751 to expand a public storytelling project and walking tour featuring 10 structures, in collaboration with Visit MerCo, Aledo Main Street, and the Mercer County Historical Society.
City of New Boston — $5,000 to expand public arts and entertainment opportunities.
Mercer County Board of Supervisors — $8,436 to support the Ride 17 local music festival in collaboration with Visit MerCo.
MC Art Collective — $14,565 to expand visual arts instruction, interdisciplinary workshops, youth mentorship, community art events, and rotating exhibitions featuring local and emerging artists.
Mercer County School District #404 — $15,000 for additional elementary music education curriculum and a music garden at Apollo Elementary.
Quad City Symphony Orchestra — $3,000 for free music education programs and fourth- and fifth-grade attendance at the annual Symphony Day, in collaboration with elementary schools.
Sherrard CUSD #200 — $6,571 to purchase a marching baritone and sousaphone for students to use at no cost.
United CUSD 304 — $8,976 to purchase beginning band and modern/rock band instruments for students to use at no cost.
Visit MerCo — $10,000 to create pocket books supporting the public storytelling project, in collaboration with the City of Aledo and other partners.
Mercer County Historical Society/Essley-Noble Museum — $8,400 for historical reenactments, local art displays, and audio narration for the collaborative public storytelling project and walking tour.