Chicago Artists Coalition Residency for Artists and Curators

Organisation: Chicago Artists Coalition (CAC)
Location: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Support: Studio access, exhibitions, mentorship, professional development and networking opportunities
Cost: Offered at little to no cost
Duration: Two years
Application deadline: 20 December 2026, 11:59pm

Chicago Artists Coalition (CAC) invites applications from emerging and mid-career artists and curators for its two-year residency programme, designed to support artistic development, professional growth and meaningful engagement with Chicago’s arts community.

The residency brings together artists and curators in a collaborative cohort, providing access to resources, exhibitions, studio opportunities, mentorship and sustained professional development.

Through collective learning and shared experiences, participants will have the opportunity to develop their practices, establish professional relationships and build lasting connections within Chicago’s arts ecosystem.

About the Residency

The Chicago Artists Coalition Residency is an artist-centred programme supporting emerging and mid-career artists and curators.

Offered at little to no cost, the residency combines practical professional development with opportunities for artistic experimentation, exhibition-making and collaboration.

The programme incorporates elements of CAC’s former BOLT and HATCH residencies, which operated from 2011 to 2024 and were combined under the name CAC Residents in 2024.

Residency Programme and Support

Participants can expect the following activities and opportunities throughout the residency:

• A curated group exhibition at the conclusion of the residency.
• Monthly 30-minute virtual check-ins with the residency cohort.
• Monthly professional development workshops.
• Six studio visit opportunities with arts industry professionals.
• Career-building social activities and networking opportunities every two months.
• Exhibition opening receptions, artist talks and related activities every two months.
• Quarterly individual coaching sessions.
• Two social events, including a resident mixer and holiday party.
• Two open studio events.
• Opportunities to participate in larger Chicago arts events, potentially including Chicago Exhibition Week, West Town Art Walk, EXPO Chicago and The Other Art Fair.

Who Should Apply?

The residency is intended for emerging and mid-career artists and curators with a strong body of work who are interested in developing their practices and building professional relationships.

The programme may be particularly suitable for:

• Artists and curators seeking to build connections within Chicago’s arts community.
• Practitioners interested in developing practical skills for a sustainable arts career.
• Artists seeking opportunities to exhibit their work in galleries, museums and other cultural spaces.
• Curators interested in expanding their practice through collaboration with artists and exhibition development.
• Artists and curators seeking mentorship, collective learning and access to industry professionals.
• Artists looking for space to develop and expand their existing practice.
• Practitioners interested in building long-term professional relationships.

On-Site Studio Requirements

Artists interested in an on-site studio should:

• Need a dedicated space to produce work and welcome visitors.
• Be able to spend at least 15 hours per week on-site.
• Be interested in working within a community of artists.
• Work with non-toxic materials that do not require heavy ventilation or equipment such as kilns or torches.
• Be comfortable with members of the public viewing their work or works in progress during visits to CAC.

Selection Process

Curators are selected independently from visual artist applicants.

The selection process involves several stages:

1. CAC staff review all applications and narrow the applicant pool to approximately 100 candidates.
2. A panel of two or three reviewers evaluates these applications and selects approximately 30 candidates based on the strength of their work and suitability for the residency.
3. The final 30 candidates are presented to the selected curators, who choose their working groups.
4. Curators select their top six artists.
5. Candidates are interviewed, and the studio selection process begins.

Image: Courtesy of Chicago Artists Coalition.