3Arts Awards

The 3Arts Awards express our gratitude to Chicago’s artists for their indisputable contributions to the health and vibrancy of our city. Every year, ten artists who live and work in the six-county metropolitan area receive unrestricted $30,000 awards in dance, music, teaching arts, theater, and visual arts. Artists may use the award in any way that makes a difference to their lives and careers, including paying off debt, purchasing equipment, hiring collaborators, producing new work, and saving for the future.

We invite you to read two reports that compile reflections from artists who have received a 3Arts Award:

We thank our Award Partners and Community Award donors for their generosity in helping 3Arts support and advocate for local artists.

Selection Process

3Arts awardees are selected through a nomination and jury process. More than 100 artists are nominated annually by at least 35 anonymous local nominators--artists, curators, presenters, and advocates--who are acutely knowledgeable about the breadth of artists working in neighborhoods across the metropolitan area.

After the nominees have completed our online application process, five national, discipline-specific panels of judges convene to select ten awardees from the pool. 3Arts requires judges to disclose conflicts of interest as part of the selection process. If a strong personal or professional relationship exists between a judge and a nominated artist that might be an impediment to the integrity of the process, a full recusal from the discussion and vote is implemented.

In honor of the time and energy it takes to apply, all artists who submit an application will receive a $100 honorarium.

We express our gratitude to this year's distinguished jury panelists.

2011

Alberto Aguilar
Multidisciplinary Artist

I will write this biography using 167 words but will not discover this number until it is complete. From this point forward he will be speaking in third person. Alberto Aguilar is a Chicago based aartist that was born there …
JoVia Armstrong
Music Siragusa Foundation Awardee

Daringly innovative, percussionist and educator JoVia Armstrong is a well-traveled musician and a Sabian-endorsed artist. Detroit-bred, she is winner of the 2014 Best Black Female Percussionist of the Year through the Black Women in Jazz Awards. She received the 3Arts …
Kareem Bandealy
Actor

Kareem was born in Karachi, Pakistan, brought up in the USA, and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance from the University of Central Florida. His Chicago theatre credits include: Rock ‘N’ Roll, Gas for Less, …
Regina Harris Baiocchi
Composer

Regina Harris Baiocchi writes notes and words to fill vessels called music, poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Regina is driven by her curiosity to create art that is informed by research, speaks to diverse audiences, and moves people to participate …
Regin Igloria
Teaching Artist

Regin Igloria is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and arts administrator based in North Chicago. His drawings, artists’ books, sculptures, and performances portray the human condition as it relates to the natural environment and inhabited spaces. He has several years of …
Lisa Lindvay
Photographer Chandler Family Awardee

Lisa Lindvay (b. 1983, Erie, Pennsylvania) earned her MFA in Photography from Columbia College Chicago (2009) and BFA in Applied Media Arts from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania (2005). Lindvay’s photographs have been exhibited at Addison Gallery of American Art, Andover …
Norman Long
Sound Artist

Norman is a local sound artist/designer/composer born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. He has exhibited and performed in galleries in Chicago, Ithaca, NY, London, and the San Francisco Bay Area. His current work focuses on sound art …
Nicole Mitchell
Composer

Nicole Mitchell is an award-winning creative flutist, composer, bandleader, and educator. Having emerged from Chicago’s innovative music scene in the late 90s, Mitchell makes music that celebrates contemporary African American culture. Inspired by the idea of bridging the familiar with …
Ami Saraiya
Singer/Songwriter

Ami is a veteran of the Chicago music scene. Her songwriting is often described as magically surrealist in flavor and uniquely combining elements of chamber pop, blues, and gritty soul. Before she released her first solo album, Archaeologist, Ami was …
Alison Siple
Costume Designer Merrill Lynch Awardee

Alison is a freelance costume designer who has been working in Chicago for 12 years. Recent projects: The Great Fire (Lookingglass), Sophocles Seven Sicknesses (Hypocrites), Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis) and Pirates of Penzance (Hypocrites). Upcoming …
Jacqueline Williams
Actor

Jacqueline is a Chicago-based actor who works in theatre, film, TV, and is also a voice-over artist. She was last seen at in HOT L BALTIMORE at Steppenwolf Theatre, where she also performed in THE BROTHER SISTER PLAYS (both directed …
Mirtes Zwierzynski
Visual Artist

Mirtes is a visual artist, muralist, and teaching artist. She was born in Brazil and has lived in Chicago since 1981. Her studio work, through either individual or collective exhibitions, has been extensively shown in the Chicago area. She has …