PERU — The Illinois Valley Fine Arts Trust recently awarded grants to 34 fine arts groups and community organizations in the tri-county area — the greatest number of grants in one year in its 19-year history.

IVFAT awarded $6,000 in grants to 15 full-time fine arts groups, including three art, seven music and five theater nonprofits. IVFAT also awarded nearly $3,000 in grants to 19 community organizations for fine arts programming they will offer this year, including four libraries, two museums, four nonprofits and nine schools.

“This is a banner year for fine arts programming in the Illinois Valley as well as a milestone for the Illinois Valley Fine Arts Trust,” said Robert Willmot, IVFAT executive director.