3Arts Awards

2023 3Arts Awards Celebration: For the Love of Artists

Monday, November 13
5:30pm Welcome Reception
6:30pm Awards Celebration (After party to follow)
The Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Street
Tickets: $130 General Admission • $300 VIP Reserved Seating

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Join us as we honor ten new 3Arts awardees who have been selected by national jury panels to receive $30,000 awards, ten Make a Wave artists who have been selected by past 3Arts awardees to receive $2,000 surprise grants for their indispensable contributions to our city, and five Next Level $50,000 award recipients, who are receiving a second award from our organization.

This community-wide celebration features energy-filled performances by Grammy Award-winning opera singer Will Liverman*; a dance production by critically-acclaimed choreographer Stephanie Martinez (founder of PARA.MAR Dance Theatre); and a grand finale led by Chicago’s inaugural poet laureate, avery r. young, joined by an “all-star band” of past 3Arts awardees, including JoVia Armstrong, Caitlin Edwards, Meagan McNeal, Bethany Thomas, Sam Thousand, and more. 

This event features ASL interpreters, audio description, real-time and video captioning, tactile mapping, large print programs, personal assistants, and accessible seating. 

Video: Behind the scenes of the making of A Fly First Choice by Cecil McDonald, Jr.

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:

• 2014-2017: Artist Reflections
• 2008-2013: Artist Survey

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. 

The recipients of 2023 3Arts Awards will be announced this fall. We express our gratitude to this year's distinguished jury panelists.