Chicago-based artist and the professor at the University of Chicago in the Department of Visual Arts, Theaster Gates was honoured at the 26th Annual Crystal Award in Davos, for his leadership in creating sustainable communities. Theaster Gates established the Rebuild Foundation in 2010 to help develop educational and arts programming. The foundation primarily focused on creating archives for the Black culture which initiate discussions on history, race and equality, thereby leading to the revitalization of the southern side of Chicago. Gates is also a Distinguished Visiting Artist and Director of Artist Initiatives at the Lunder Institute for American Art at Colby College.