More than $42,000 in grants will be presented today to different art organizations from Illinois’ 70th district.

The Illinois Arts Council and Rep. David Wirsing (R-Sycamore) will present the grant money at 11 a.m. today at The House, 263 E. Lincoln Highway.

The organizations receiving money include the Sandwich Opera House, Hinckley-Big Rock School District No. 429, Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Northern Illinois Children’s Chorus, NIU’s Fine Arts series and NIU’s Art Museum exhibit.

Wirsing said the $42,000 is up from last year’s total, but lower than amounts from the last several years.

“Our biggest challenge is not enough competition here; the competition is east of us in Chicago,” Wirsing said.

The Illinois Arts Council is an agency the art organizations can apply to for grants to seek funding.

“It’s an entity put in place to support art throughout the state,” Wirsing said. “I like the way they handle the grants because they send people from the council to help the organizations with the grants.”

CAB Fine Arts will receive a grant of $9,140.

“I was very pleased when I received notification of the grant,” said Mary Tosch, assistant director of University Programming and Activities. “Without the Illinois Arts Council, many arts organizations wouldn’t exist. The grant program is very integral to many organizations.

CAB’s grant is a presenter’s development grant, which means it will be used for operating and production expenses, Tosch said.

Tosch described CAB Fine Arts as consisting of eight performances a year and one visual art component. The group also provides master classes for various academic departments on campus as part of the Fine Arts series.