Mah Joins Illinois Arts Council Agency to Present at 2023 Artist Fellowship Awards

CHICAGO – State Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, is joining with the Illinois Arts Council Agency (IACA) to present a 2023 Artist Fellowship Award (AFA) to saxophonist and composer Nick Mazzarella on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 6 p.m., at the National Museum of Mexican Art on 1852 W. 19th Street, Chicago.

“With this award, we are recognizing Mr. Mazzarella’s wonderful additions to the Illinois Arts, both for the entertainment his work has brought to countless audiences, and for the impact he has made in our shared history,” Mah said. “From Sam Cooke to Mavis Staples, Illinois artists occupy a unique place in American music, and Mr. Mazzarella has made his own brilliant contribution to that tapestry. I feel privileged to offer him this honor.”

The IACA is proud to be able to provide Illinois artists with unrestricted funds to support their creative endeavors and artistic growth. The AFA Program offered funding in 8 artistic disciplines. This year’s Fellowship and Finalist Award recipients were selected from 283 Illinois based creative artists working in the disciplines of Choreography, Media Arts (category includes audio art, digital art, film and video), Music Composition, Music Improvisation, New Performance Forms, Poetry, Prose, and Scriptworks.

“The Artist Fellowship Awards celebrate the backbone of Illinois’ rich cultural history: its artists,” said Illinois Arts Council Executive Director, Joshua Davis-Ruperto. “Continued direct support to artists like Nick shows that the state of Illinois believes in the positive impact arts and culture can have on quality of life and the strengthening of local economies. I would like to personally thank Representative Mah for her continued support for Illinois’ creative sector.”