3Arts Awards

About the 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 jurors convene to select ten awardees from the applicant pool. 3Arts requires panelists to disclose conflicts of interest as part of the selection process. If a strong personal or professional relationship exists between a panelist 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 the most recent jury panelists.

Profiles of all 3Arts Awards recipients are accessible further below on this page, or download an awardee list in PDF here.

2008

Alana Arenas
Actor

Originally from Miami, Florida, Alana traveled to Chicago to study at DePaul University's Theatre School, receiving her BFA in 2002. In 2007, Alana was invited to join the Steppenwolf Theatre Ensemble where she created the role of Pecola in THE …
Amy Briggs
Pianist

Amy Briggs has established herself as a leading interpreter of the music of living composers, while also bringing a fresh perspective to music of the past. Based in Chicago, she is a featured soloist and chamber musician on the Chicago …
Juan Angel Chavez
Sculptor/Installation Northern Trust Artist

Juan was born in La Junta, Chihuahua, Mexico, where he lived until 1985. At the age of thirteen, he immigrated with his family to Chicago, where he lives and works to day.

Juan focuses in larger then life sculptures and …
Josephine Lee
Conductor

Born in Chicago, Josephine Lee is a classically trained pianist, conductor, arranger and producer. Appointed in 1999, Josephine is Artistic Director of the multicultural Uniting Voices Chicago (formerly Chicago Children's Choir), serving 3,000 children annually. Under her direction, Uniting Voiceshas …
Riva Lehrer
Artist, Writer, Curator Chandler Family Artist

Riva Lehrer (she/they) is an artist, writer, and curator who focuses on the socially challenged body. She is best known for representations of people whose physical embodiment, sexuality, or gender identity have long been stigmatized.

Her work has been exhibited …
Tekki Lomnicki
Actor

Tekki Lomnicki believes in the healing power of stories. She is a solo performer, playwright, director, and educator. Tekki has devoted her craft to finding ways to break down the barriers between those with disabilities and those without. In 1995, …