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The IACA Artist Fellowship Awards are $15,000 unrestricted awards granted to Illinois artists in recognition of their outstanding work and commitment within the arts. Out of the 24 Illinois artists awarded this year, three are faculty in the College of Fine & Applied Arts.
C. Kemal Nance (Department of Dance), Lisa Fay (Department of Theatre), and Carlos Carrillo (School of Music) are AFA recipients for the disciplines of Choreography, New Performance Forms, and Music Composition, respectively.
“Illinois’ artists are one of our strongest and most valuable resources, making a more creative and welcoming state for us all even in the face of global and national challenges,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Congratulations to each of these recipients on their hard work and to IACA for their steadfast support of the arts.”
IACA Executive Director Joshua Davis-Ruperto added, “After years of challenges brought on by the pandemic, artists have continued to provide opportunities for re-engagement and connectivity for those around them as well as ongoing investment in our communities. The 2023 IACA Fellows were selected for their remarkable artistic practice and their commitment to Illinois’ communities – both within their specific regions and discipline at large.”
The mission of the Illinois Arts Council Agency is “To build a strong, creative, and connected Illinois through the arts.” The Agency recognizes that Illinois’ artists are an essential component of the social fabric of the state and its arts community, especially during these challenging times.
The Artist Fellowship Awardees and Finalists hail from 13 different cities across the state including urban, suburban, and rural communities.