Supporting Illinois' Arts Sector

Third Coast Percussion (TCP) is a GRAMMY® Award-winning ensemble founded in 2005 by four graduates from Northwestern University. From their base in Chicago, the quartet carefully and thoughtfully built a thriving nonprofit organization—including full-time staff, office/studio space, and a board of directors—to support their vision and facilitate their efforts to bring new works to life. Commissioning new works for percussion has always been central to TCP's activities, and the group has commissioned and premiered over 125 pieces from today's leading composers, emerging music creators, and everyone in between, many of whom travel to Chicago to work with the ensemble.

Among the highlights of their 2026-2027 season, the ensemble brings its new Vernacular program to Carnegie Hall and makes its Philadelphia debut in a performance of its Philip Glass tribute, Ripples in the Water. Domestically, the ensemble is scheduled for over two dozen U.S. engagements while international tour dates include performances in London, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Rome. This season also features several hometown performances in Chicago, with engagements at the Grant Park Music Festival, the Northwestern Percussion Symposium, Chamber Music America, the Chicago Humanities Festival, Constellation Chicago, and more.

Enthusiastic about the current season, Reba Cafarelli, Executive Director of TCP shares, "This fall, Third Coast Percussion embarks on an extensive European tour with Gary, IN-based electronic musician and composer, Jlin. The tour coincides with the release of their groundbreaking new album, Vernacular, which fuses TCP's distinct acoustic soundworld with Jlin's innovative electronic practice. Support from IAC was instrumental in providing time and resources to develop this music together over several years. Now, we're incredibly proud to bring Chicago's sound to stages around the globe!"

This week's featured artist is Travis Janssen of Makanda, Illinois. Janssen's creative practice employs the mediums of printmaking, video, and installation, often exploring themes of perception, technology, and materiality. His work frequently incorporates optical effects, repetition, and layering, drawing connections between traditional printmaking techniques and contemporary digital media. Janssen received an MFA degree in printmaking from Arizona State University and a BFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His art has been displayed in various solo and group exhibitions both in the U.S. and abroad, gaining attention in such publications as Art in Print and Graphic Impressions. Janssen is currently an associate professor and head of printmaking in the School of Art and Design at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he has taught since 2008.

Janssen has been busy showcasing his work with a recent solo exhibition at MAP Gallery 3840 in St. Louis, featuring a series of cyanotype prints and animations. His work has also appeared in several recent juried exhibitions, including those at the Anderson Gallery in Des Moines, the Daum Museum in Sedalia, Missouri, and the Manifest Gallery in Cincinnati. Janssen is now preparing to participate in the upcoming 80th Bradley International Print & Drawing Competition in Peoria, Illinois, scheduled for February 5 through March 19, 2027.

Janssen shares, "The Creative Accelerator Fund (CAF) grant has been a huge help for my work this past year. It allowed me to sustain my practice and take on opportunities that needed a significant amount of investment. The funds will continue to benefit my exhibition efforts long after the grant period ends."