Those sitting in the Sun Theatre on April 21 as attendees of the annual Saint Louis Visionary Awards will have a question searing in their spirits: “What more can I do?” The question won’t be asked in a manner that comes with the accusation or indictment that not enough is being done. No, it’ll be quite the opposite.
Watching the group of women honored for their contributions to the St. Louis arts community activates, initiates and inspires – and drives home the point that the opportunity to further enrich the region’s already top-tier cultural community is ours for the taking.
The same will be true Monday when five outstanding women will be celebrated for shifting St. Louis culture further into the stratosphere.
“The Saint Louis Visionary Awards is a 501(c)(3) organization and has a committed board of directors who take great joy in honoring women working in the arts ranging from established arts professionals and arts educators to emerging artists and community impact artists,” the organization said upon the announcement of the 2025 honorees.
This event continues a 22-year legacy of honoring women across the St. Louis arts landscape.
2025 Honorees include:
- Sukanya Mani (Community Impact Artist)
- Katie Banister (Arts Innovator)
- Marie-Hélène Bernard (Outstanding Arts Professional
- Adelia Parker-Castro (Outstanding Teaching Artist)
- Adrienne Davis (Major Contributor to the Arts)
- Sara Paulsen (Outstanding Working Artist).
Mani’s art seamlessly blends feminist values with intentional artistic choices, education, and empowerment. Her work explores complex themes, including domestic violence, unseen labor, immigrant identity, and postpartum care. She weaves together storytelling, science, and visual art.
Davis exemplifies her commitment and advocacy for the arts through leadership roles and as a conduit for equity and inclusion. She serves on the Executive Committee of Opera Theatre St. Louis’ Board of Directors, where she chairs the Diversity Committee and supports Belonging in Opera. An Honorary Trustee of the St. Louis Art Museum, Davis previously served as President of the Board of Trustees and on the Board of Commissioners, including serving as Secretary. Her civic engagement also includes service on the boards of Laumeier Sculpture Park, the Pulitzer Arts Foundation, the Saint Louis Visionary Awards, and December magazine, where she is now an advisory editor.
“I am beyond humbled to be a part of this amazing cohort of St. Louis women who are passionate about the arts,” said Davis.
Parker-Castro heads the National Society of Arts & Letters-St. Louis Chapter, a 70-year-old organization supporting emerging artists. She championed the creation of a student section, providing exhibition opportunities alongside professionals in galleries like Gallery 210 and the Gretchen Brigham Gallery. She is also a practicing artist exhibiting photography, quilts, sculptures, and installations in galleries such as Zuka Artists Guild, Art St. Louis, and Lubbock Fine Art Gallery, with international exhibitions and works in private and public collections.
“I am totally honored,” Parker-Castro said. “And filled with peace and joy.”
President & CEO of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra for the past decade, Bernard has prioritized artistic vitality, community engagement, and making music accessible to everyone. A passionate advocate for music education, she has expanded SLSO programs to reach over 449,000 students and 1,300 teachers each year. She is leading the SLSO through a $140 million renovation and expansion of Powell Hall, funded by a $155 million campaign, which will transform the experience for audiences and artists alike.
Banister co-founded Access-4-All, an organization offering education and empowerment through diverse programs. Her leadership roles include serving on the Recreation Council Board, as the first president of the Delta Center for Independent Living, and as a founding member of the “DisAbility Project.” Bannister’s impressive achievements include her induction into the 2025 Kirkwood High School Hall of Fame, being named a 2001 St. Louis Woman of Achievement, and one of 1998’s Ten Outstanding Young Missourians.
Paulsen is an artist, filmmaker, community organizer, and illustrator whose work has been widely exhibited both locally and nationally. She was a recipient of the 2018 Great Rivers Biennial – where her work culminated in an exhibition at the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis. A 2010 C.A.T. Institute fellow and 2015 Regional Arts Commission Artist Fellow, she has received numerous awards and completed several residencies. Paulsen recently completed an artist residency with the Kranzberg Arts Residency, where she illustrated and self-published a book.
The program will include performances by The BLCK Bird String Ensemble and Circus Sisters, Circus Harmony’s all-woman acrobatic troupe.
Gwen Mizell, Senior Vice President, Chief Sustainability, Diversity, and Philanthropy Officer at Ameren Corporation and arts advocate, fundraiser and community volunteer Miran Halen will serve as 2025 Saint Louis Visionary Awards co-hosts.
“Participating in the Saint Louis Visionary Awards is both a privilege and a pleasure,” Halen said. “I am honored to witness the remarkable contributions of women in St. Louis’s arts scene.”
The 2025 Saint Louis Visionary Awards will take place at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 21, at The Sun Theatre, 3625 Grandel Square. For more information, or to purchase tickets visit www.vizawards.org.
Living It content is produced with funding by the ARPA for the Arts grants program in partnership with the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis and the Community Development Administration.
