Chicago Artists Coalition’s BOLT and HATCH residencies offer artists and curators unique opportunities to develop their practices, collaborate, and exchange ideas.
Application closes: September 7, 2022 (11:59 pm)
HATCH CURATORIAL RESIDENTS
Three curatorial residents are accepted into the program, based on an application evaluated by a jury of three professional peers, the mentor curators, from Chicago’s leading cultural institutions, and CACs Executive & Artistic Director. Curatorial residents are then responsible for evaluating artist applications with CAC staff.
In dialogue with curatorial residents and the Exhibitions & Residencies Manager, the Executive & Artistic Director will make the decision on the final selection of 12 artists-in-residence. Each curatorial resident manages a group of four artists for the year to realize professional and experimental exhibitions and public programming. Curatorial residents are expected to organize two small group shows (2-person shows) independently, and one survey show (12-person show) as a curatorial collective. Curatorial residents must commit to the residency, from January 2023 – August 2024, and live in the city of Chicago for the duration of the program.
Curatorial residents receive professional development through feedback from and working with the mentor curators, as well as through conversations and critiques with an active peer-to-peer creative network. Through this unique, hands-on experience and mentorship program, curators develop valuable insight and experience in contemporary exhibition-making.
Curatorial Resident Responsibilities:
- Jury prospective artist residents into the program alongside Exhibitions & Residencies Manager and Executive & Artistic Director;
- Participate in interviews with prospective artist residents, which are led by the Exhibitions & Residencies Manage and CAC staff;
- Manage four artist residents during the residency, from; January 2023 – August 2024
- Curate three innovative group exhibitions: two small group shows (2-person) and one large group show (12-person);
- Create at least one public program per group exhibition;
- Meet with mentor curators periodically to receive critical feedback on your exhibitions;
- Collaborate with your colleagues (both artists and curators) to implement ways to build community (studio visits, critique groups, potluck dinners, reading group, etc.)
- Invite at least two leading arts professional to conduct exhibition critiques with your four artists-in-residence (honoraria provided);
- Promote HATCH exhibition openings and programming to your community and attend the events.
CAC and mentor curators will work closely with curatorial residents to provide:
- Input on curatorial residents’ research, development, and execution of exhibitions in a professional gallery context;
- A professional and open environment to host visits with gallerists, curators, dealers, and collectors;
- Marketing support, including: editing press releases, sending media alerts, and promoting events in CAC’s newsletter, social media, and the Visualist.


