Chicago 3Arts Announces Winners of Annual 3Arts Awards

published: Oct. 7, 2014

Chicago nonprofit 3Arts has increased the amount of its annual unrestricted awards for women artists, artists of color, and artists with disabilities to$25,000, effective with the 7th annual 3Arts Awards tonight, Oct. 6, 2014. Ten Chicago-area artists working in the performing, teaching, and visual arts will receive a total of $250,000 in a celebratory gathering at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Previously, 3Arts presented annual awards of $15,000.

The amplified annual 3Arts Awards mark the beginning of a long-term increased commitment from 3Arts in support of Chicago's diverse artistic community. To date, 3Arts has awarded nearly $1.5 million in direct support for Chicago artists. This year's 3Arts Award recipients are: dancerDarrell Jones and choreographer Erica Mott; circus choreographer Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasiand playwrightCalamity West; instrumentalists Brandi Berry and Carlos Mejía; visual artistsIrina Botea and Amanda Williams; and teaching artists Sophia Nahli Allison and Samuel Roberson.

"Over the past seven years, we've listened to what artists tell us they need and want to help them make their work and build sustainable careers. In response, we have deepened and expanded our programs so that in addition to the cash grant, our awardees are now offered residency fellowships, project support, professional development and promotion. The time has come to raise the bar again-to raise the amount of our award so that Chicago artists can gain that extra bit of freedom to pursue whatever really matters to them," said 3Arts Executive Director Esther Grisham Grimm.

"Thanks to everyone who has stepped up in support of our efforts, from major funders to hundreds of individual contributors, we are confident our increased financial commitment is sustainable and will resonate throughout Chicago's artistic community for years to come," said 3Arts Board Chair Irene Siragusa Phelps.

Driven by the belief that the vitality and creative spirit of Chicago is reliant upon a diverse spectrum of artistic voices, 3Arts advocates for women artists, artists of color, and artists with disabilities working in the performing (dance, music and theater), teaching, and visual arts. For more information on 3Arts, please visit www.3arts.org.