Chicago, IL, 2018-Aug-14 — /Travel PR News/ — Mayor Emanuel and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) will honor 35 outstanding young artists selected for the city’s 2018 Rising Star Honor Roll at a private reception tonight, August 8, at the Chicago Cultural Center. Recognized for their creative leadership and exceptional artistic talents, the young artists were nominated directly by their mentors from arts organizations, school arts programs and community organizations in the following areas: music, theatre, dance, visual arts, media arts, literary arts and culinary arts. The full list of 2018 Rising Star honorees and nominating organizations follows.
This year’s Rising Star honors are held in conjunction with Chicago’s Year of Creative Youth—a citywide celebration of Chicago’s young artists and the mentors who inspire them, presented by Allstate Insurance Company. The creative talents of hundreds of young artists from dozens of Chicago cultural organizations and programs will be on display during the Creative Youth Festival, the new youth arts showcase event on Saturday, September 22 from 11am to 7:30pm throughout the Millennium Park Campus. For more information and the most up-to-date festival schedule, visit cityofchicago.org/YOCY.
“Through the Year of Creative Youth, we are shining a light on the immense artistic talent of Chicago’s young people,” said Mark Kelly, Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. “We celebrate this year’s Rising Stars as the artists and arts leaders of the future. They inspire other young people to take a creative path.”
“When young people believe in themselves and are encouraged to bring their ideas forward, we know they’ll create the kind of society that uplifts us all,” said Vicky Dinges, Senior Vice President of Corporate Responsibility at Allstate. “That’s why Allstate is focused on empowering our next generation of leaders by investing in programs like the arts that help young people build critical social and emotional skills. We care about the future of Chicago and our youth and are proud to recognize them as problem solvers, change agents and artists.”
2018 Rising Star honorees and nominating organizations
Brittany Alexander
Nominated by Gary Comer Youth Center for honor in Visual Arts
Kanyinsola Anifowoshe
Nominated by Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago for honor in Media Arts
Steven Baloue
Nominated by Merit School of Music for honor in Music
Brian Blanco
Nominated by The People’s Music School for honor in Music
Michelle Boens
Nominated by Roosevelt High School for honor in Culinary Arts
Steven Bowman
Nominated by Jazz Institute of Chicago for honor in Music
Joselyn Corona
Nominated by Marwen for honor in Visual Arts
Ileana Ericksen
Nominated by Chicago Public Schools All-City Program for honor in Dance
Ciara Evans
Nominated by After School Matters for honor in Dance
Nicole Fanelli
Nominated by Art Institute of Chicago for honor in Visual Arts
Esther Figueroa
Nominated by Puerto Rican Arts Alliance for honor in Music
Joserik Figueroa-Duran
Nominated by Mariachi Arts and Culture Academy for honor in Music
Eric Flores
Nominated by After School Matters for honor in Visual Arts
Semira Garrett
Nominated by Chicago Public Library YOUmedia for honor in Media Arts
Nicole Ginard
Nominated by Chicago Architecture Foundation for honor in Media Arts
Elaina Huang
Nominated by Lane Tech High School for honor in Music
Adero Johnson
Nominated by Chicago Park District Kenwood Park for honor in Visual Arts
Patricia Joyner
Nominated by Free Spirit Media for honor in Media Arts
Lucy Mangalapalli
Nominated by Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras for honor in Music
Yamaris Martinez
Nominated by Chicago Architecture Foundation for honor in Visual Arts
Deondre McDuffie
Nominated by Little Black Pearl Art & Design Academy for honor in Literary Arts
Brianna Medina
Nominated by SkyART for honor in Visual Arts
Sylvia Merie Meraz
Nominated by Yollocalli Arts Reach of the National Museum of Mexican Art for honor in Literary Arts
Abigail Mosquera
Nominated by Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater for honor in Dance
Antoinette Mpawenayo
Nominated by CircEsteem for honor in Theatre
Sajdah Muhammad
Nominated by Musical Arts Institute for honor in Music
Isaiah Ortiz
Nominated by 826CHI for honor in Literary Arts
Georgia Pauley
Nominated by South Chicago Dance Theatre for honor in Dance
Daniela Reyes
Nominated by Chicago High School for the Arts for honor in Theatre
Yailin Rojas
Nominated by Guitars Over Guns for honor in Music
Jalin Ross
Nominated by After School Matters for honor in Music
Jessica Ross
Nominated by Chicago Park District Kenwood Park for honor in Literary Arts
Hallie Spolarich
Nominated by Beverly Arts Center for honor in Theatre
Ania Wellere
Nominated by Kenwood Academy High School for honor in Media Arts
Noah Wilson
Nominated by Kenwood Academy High School for honor in Visual Arts
About the Year of Creative Youth
Mayor Emanuel and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) have designated 2018 as the Year of Creative Youth – a citywide celebration of Chicago’s young artists and the mentors who inspire them. Presented by Allstate Insurance Company, the Year of Creative Youth will feature young artists and their work at City of Chicago festivals, exhibitions and events throughout the year and a new Creative Youth Festival. The year will also include cultural grants and convenings for youth arts organizations, a marketing campaign and more—representing an over $2 million investment by the City of Chicago.
Additional grant support for the Year of Creative Youth is provided by The Chicago Community Trust, the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, and support from the Chicago Transit Authority.
About the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events is dedicated to enriching Chicago’s artistic vitality and cultural vibrancy. This includes fostering the development of Chicago’s non-profit arts sector, independent working artists and for-profit arts businesses; providing a framework to guide the City’s future cultural and economic growth, via the 2012 Chicago Cultural Plan; marketing the City’s cultural assets to a worldwide audience; and presenting high-quality, free and affordable cultural programs for residents and visitors.
Contact:
Elizabeth Neukirch
The Silverman Group
elizabeth@silvermangroupchicago.com
312.932.9911
Mary May
mary.may@cityofchicago.org
312.744.0576
Christine Carrino
christine.carrino@cityofchicago.org
312.744.0573
Source: City of Chicago