ANNOUNCING THE 2026 KRESGE ARTIST FELLOWS AND GILDA AWARD RECIPIENTS!
Kresge Arts in Detroit is pleased to announce the 2026 Kresge Artist Fellows and Gilda Award recipients in Live Arts and Film & Music. Ten local artists will receive $50,000 each in no-strings-attached funding.
The 18th cohort of artists consists of 3 Kresge Artist Fellows in Live Arts and 7 Kresge Artist Fellows in Film & Music, in addition to 3 Gilda Award recipients in Live Arts and 7 in Film & Music. Awards in each category are proportional to the relative number of applications received.
Detroit has shaped American creative culture for generations; this cohort knows it and owns it. Across disciplines and generations, their work is rigorous, communal, and reflective of what this city means in the American story. We believe in the transformational power of unrestricted investment in artists, and I am so excited to see what comes next for this group.
Katie McGowan
Director, Kresge Arts in Detroit
LIVE ARTS FELLOWS
Galaxy*, Performance Art
Ed Miller, Dance and Choreography
Karen Prall, Dance and Choreography
*past Gilda Award recipient
FILM & MUSIC FELLOWS
Salar Ansari, Music Composition and Performance
Jeremy Brockman*, Film Directing and Screenwriting
Maurice “Pirahnahead” Herd, Music Composition
Mitch McCabe, Interdisciplinary Work
Shahida Nurullah, Music Performance
Ackeem Salmon*, Interdisciplinary Work
Frisly Soberanis*, Film Directing
GILDA AWARDS IN LIVE ARTS
Ayman “Mino” Aboutaleb, Dance and Choreography
Levon Kafafian, Interdisciplinary Work
Chris Woolfolk, Dance and Choreography
GILDA AWARDS IN FILM & MUSIC
Kasan Belgrave, Music Composition and Performance
Ifayomi Christine, Film Directing
Kashira Dowridge, Film Directing
RAEDY LEX, Music Composition and Performance
Ashley Sorrell, Music Performance
Nico Swan, Interdisciplinary Work
Vaughn Taormina, Animation
Gilda Awards are $5,000 prizes for emerging artists, named in honor of beloved Detroit artist and mentor Gilda Snowden (1954–2014). The recipients are selected from the applicants for the Kresge Artist Fellowships. Gilda Awards recognize early-career artists who are gaining momentum; demonstrating exceptional potential through creative risk-taking; and pushing the boundaries of their chosen art form.
Fellows were selected through a months-long review process involving new panels of local and national arts professionals to reduce bias and provide fresh perspectives. Selection is based on a demonstrated track record of artistic achievement and high-quality work; the potential to grow and advance one’s artistic career; and the potential to reflect, enhance, or impact communities within metro Detroit.
2026 LIVE ARTS PANELISTS
Darryl Kent Clark, Choreographer; Director; Performing artist; Associate professor, musical theatre dance, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Karilú Alarcón Forshee, Interdisciplinary Performing Artist; Youth Arts advocate; Program Manager, CultureSource; 2020 Kresge Artist Fellow
William Hector, Playwright; Novelist; Founder and artistic director of the Coconut Grove Theatre Festival
Liz Joynt Sandberg, Director; Writer; Improviser; Sketch Comedian, The Second City, Baby Wine Comedy, The Annoyance Theater, iO Chicago, Comedy Theater
Alex Trajano, Sound Designer, Audible Studios; Musician; Audio engineer; Host of The Moth StorySlam, Detroit
2026 FILM & MUSIC PANELISTS
Katy Dresner, Filmmaker; Interdisciplinary Artist; 2024 Kresge Artist Fellow
Todd Johnson, TV Lounge; Sun & Sound Detroit; Charivari Detroit
Angelo Madsen, Artist; Filmmaker, University of Vermont
Dr. Jasmine Pigott, Performer; Composer; Educator; Storyteller; Meinl Weston Performing Artist; Adjunct Professor of Tuba, Rowan University
Janis Shen, Artist Manager & Entertainment Attorney; Co-Founder and CEO, Wax Management; Of Counsel at Covey Law, Arts & Entertainment practice; Director, CAPENY
What an honor to be part of this. I can absolutely confirm that Detroit’s art scene is truly high level, vibrant, and driven by the grit and heart that makes this city so very special and unique. I couldn’t be more proud and inspired.
Alex Trajano
2026 Live Arts panelist