Since 1992, the Salt Lake City Arts Council and the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office have recognized contributions to our community through the Mayor’s Artist Awards, presented annually in conjunction with the Utah Arts Festival.
Mayor Erin Mendenhall is pleased to announce the winners of the 2023 Mayor’s Artists Awards, which will be presented in conjunction with the Utah Arts Festival on Friday, June 23 at 7 p.m. at the Festival Stage at Library and Washington Square.
Chitrakaavya Dance
Chitrakaavya Dance is a Salt Lake City-based non-profit that conceptualizes movement as visual poetry. Artistic Director, Srilatha Singh, has a Ph.D. in Mathematics in 3-manifold topology, which deals with geometry of spaces and the same fascination with geometry is imbued in her passion for Indian Classical Dance. She enjoys choreographing to unexplored themes, and teaching and presenting history, mythology, rhythm, mathematics, poetry, and theatre, all through the medium of Bharatanatyam. Chitrakaavya Dance fosters innovation and excellence in this dance form, and nurtures inter-cultural conversations using the medium of performing arts, to educate, elevate and entertain.
Kilby Court
Established in 1999, Kilby Court is Salt Lake City’s longest running all ages venue, and widely appreciated as a springboard stage for beginning local & touring artists alike. Kilby Court is located at the end of a small street named Kilby Court which begins at 700 S and about 350 W. Their DIY, garage-style atmosphere encourages close artist-crowd interaction, with the same intimacy as having a show in one’s own backyard. They have hosted acts such as Doja Cat, Phoebe Bridgers, The Backseat Lovers, Death Cab for Cutie, The Head & The Heart, and many more.
Latoya Cameron
Latoya Cameron (she/her) is an actor, singer, writer, and director. She is an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Dramaturg at Salt Lake Acting Company. As an actor, she has worked at theatre companies such as Pioneer Theatre Company, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Salt Lake Acting Company, and Plan-B Theatre Company. As a Change Leader, she raises her voice for Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and other marginalized groups within her community. Latoya is part of the 2022-23 National Leaders of Color Fellows, where she continues to be an advocate and activist for inclusion, representation, and equity in the arts.
Nan Seymour
As poet-in-residence on Antelope Island, Nan Seymour led day-and-night vigils on behalf of the imperiled Great Salt Lake throughout the last two Utah State legislative sessions. During those winter weeks she assembled irreplaceable, a collective love letter to the lake containing over 400 voices. Her story lake woman leaving was awarded the 2022 Alfred Lambourne prize. Nan advocates for Rights of Nature, legally defensible personal rights for ecosystems. Her poetry proclaims their inherent right to live, flourish, and naturally evolve. Nan works to repair the breach between humans and the rest of the sentient and singing earth.
Youth Theatre at the U
Youth Theatre at the University of Utah is a program that empowers youth to skillfully engage in the performing arts to explore their creativity, connect with their community, and think critically about the world. With a strong focus on collaboration, students at YTU embark on a hands-on journey within the classroom, rehearsal spaces, and live performances. Through these immersive experiences, they develop invaluable principles, techniques, and skills that foster personal and artistic growth. At Youth Theatre, the transformative power of theater takes center stage, enabling young people to shine brightly and leave a lasting impact on audiences near and far.
