3Arts Awards
2021 3Arts Walder Foundation Awardee, Caitlin Edwards. Photo credit: 3Arts.
Recognizing diverse artists for their contributions to Chicago
Each year, the 3Arts Awards program recognizes 10 Chicago-based artists for their contributions to the health and vibrancy of our city. Women artists, artists of color, and artists with disabilities who work in dance, music, teaching arts, theater, and visual arts are selected through a nomination and jury process where winners receive an unrestricted cash award. In 2019, winners received $25,000. In 2020 and 2021, winners were awarded $30,000.
2021 Walder Foundation Awardees
Violinist and composer Caitlin Edwards is currently a mentor with the Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative, a program designed to offer resources to talented BIPOC youth pursuing careers in classical music. In addition to regular collaborations with local artists, she frequently performs with her string quartet, D-Composed. In the past, Caitlin has performed and recorded with Disney, the Chicago Sinfonietta, Grant Park Music Festival Orchestra, Lauryn Hill, Common, P.J. Morton, and on John Legend’s “Bigger Love” album, for which she received a Grammy Certificate in 2021. In August 2021, she released her debut solo album, “Exhale.”
Dance artist Cat Mahari is a culture bearer of Hip Hop and House, and former member of the Krump family Gool. Her 2021 work, “Loving Each Other,” is a cinematic investigation into Blackness, intimacy, trust, and vulnerability. Her upcoming work, “Esentaye,” will be developed through a Links Hall residency in fall of 2021 with an anticipated premiere in June 2023. Her previous work includes a mixtape series entitled “Violent/Break,” and an Afrofuturist Krump dance film, “Imprints & Traces.”
2020 Walder Foundation Awardees
Dance artist Keyierra Collins’ work explores how dance and movement can be used to heal trauma, particularly the collective and individual trauma experienced by people of the African diaspora. Keyierra has collaborated with a number of choreographers including Onye Ozuzu, Paige Cunningham, Margi Cole, Emily Stein, and many more. Having toured and worked with artists in Haiti and Nigeria, Keyierra aspires to travel and collaborate with artists around the world.
Through song, Meagan McNeal strives to reach others with her story and create a community where people can be healed by sharing their own stories. Meagan has performed across the U.S. and around the world, including on NBC’s “The Voice” in 2017. Artists Meagan has collaborated with include Emimen, Common, and The O’Jays.
2019 Walder Foundation Awardee
Theater artist Richard Costes’ work promotes diversity and inclusion in theater. He has performed at Steep Theater Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Red Tape Theatre, and many others. Richard is currently working on an original one-man show exploring his journey growing up deaf in a hearing world.
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