As we approach the end of 2023, the critics and columnists of A+E reflect on the year to highlight some people who have made a difference in the city’s arts.

In 1982, Carlos Tortolero and five others — mostly Bowen High School colleagues — pooled $900 to start what eventually became known as the National Museum of Mexican Art. At the time, he knew a lot about Mexico but not a lot about art. It’s since grown into one of the city’s cultural landmarks. He retires from the museum he founded on Dec. 31.

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Jonathan Eig’s biography of Martin Luther King Jr. has changed perceptions of well-worn American history, and well-worn mythology about King, seemingly in real-time. It’s already in its ninth printing. It was nominated for a National Book Award and seems a probable Pulitzer Prize contender in the spring. That’s not all: Universal Pictures bought the movie rights, for Steven Spielberg to produce and Chris Rock to direct.

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Under Roche Schulfer’s watch, the Goodman Theatre has just completed one of the most financially and artistically successful calendar years in its long history. This after a pandemic that was ruinous for the performing arts. The current Goodman season represents his 50th year at the managerial helm.

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Some years it’s easy. This year, the accomplishments of Rogers Park native and current Hyde Park resident Minhal Baig, as she’s rarely described in interviews originating outside Chicago, make Baig the happily inevitable Tribune Chicagoan of the Year in Film.

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Jahari Stampley keeps coming back to one word to describe the past couple months: “crazy.” As in, it’s crazy that the 24-year-old born and raised in Austin made it into the prestigious Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz’s International Competition at all, much less won: he was on tour and nearly forgot to submit his application.

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Joffrey Ballet stage managers Mandy Heuermann and Katherine Selig bear the ultimate responsibility for every light cue firing on time, every prop piece placed where it needs to be and every set change going off without a hitch.

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Ariel Zetina was always meant to be a star. And 2023 proved to be a pivotal star-making year in her career. After the successful fall 2022 release of her debut album “Cyclorama” and spots on many “best of” lists, Zetina spent 2023 connecting with newfound fans around the world.

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These days, Chicago just makes sense for Jessie Montgomery, now 42 and among the most avidly commissioned composers of her generation. Montgomery lives in Pilsen, which has a vibrant arts scene and grassroots spirit that echoes the Lower East Side of her youth. Really, in her eyes, much of Chicago does.

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