Applying for Residencies
Applications for the 2024-25 Artist-in-Residence program have closed.
Applications for 2025-26 will open in February 2025.
About the Artist-in-Residence program
Lillstreet Art Center offers year-long residencies in the departments of Ceramics and Metalsmithing, and 9-Month residencies in Textiles, Drawing & Painting, and Printmaking & Book Arts beginning in September every year.
As a collaborative, community-based art center, the residency is a place for artists to expand their personal practice and gain teaching experience ; while learning how to sustain a working artist’s lifestyle. The resident artist program enriches our community by bringing artists with unique and refined skills to our educational programming through classes, workshops, public demonstrations and studio hours.
As a resident artist, you will continue to develop professionally and intellectually through contact with other residents, department peers, art administrators and students. Lillstreet Art Center supplements the residency with resources and instruction in and outside the department of residency. Resident artists have the opportunity to work together, take part in community events and sales and to be creative leaders in Chicago’s vibrant Ravenswood neighborhood while being immersed in the community.
Our AiR specific programming is built for face-time with artists, students and vendors in the Ravenswood community; other opportunities include artist features in the gallery shop, professional development through dynamic exhibitions, one-on-one studio visits with peers and interdisciplinary artists, public programs, and community building to develop a sustainable creative practice. As a professional working and teaching artist, you are also welcome to brainstorm your ideas, share resources with our students and community and build relationships by resource sharing.
ELIGIBILITY :
Proficiency within your field of art, along with teaching experience are the most important factors we consider for the Artist-in-Residence Program. BFA or MFA encouraged. Equivalent experience (residencies, workshops, apprenticeships, internships, or other non-traditional education experiences) are also considered.
Lillstreet Art Center residencies are granted based on quality of work, programming within the departments, your desire to teach, how you fit into the community art education world, and experience.
International artists may apply but you must already have a visa that allows you to work. Artists-in-Residence are employees of Lillstreet Art Center and must be able to receive pay for their stipends and teaching compensation. We unable to sponsor visa applications.
Residency Expectations
All Artists-in-Residents are expected to teach within their departments ; teaching hours are paid. AIRs can expect to teach anywhere between 1-3 classes per session. Lillstreet Art Center’s education calendar has 5 sessions per year. AiRs can also teach private workshops, demos and custom classes which are paid.
Community Events
Lillstreet Art Center is a big part of the thriving community in Ravenswood neighborhood in Chicago. We host and are a part of 2-3 community events per year, along with hosting center wide staff events every year. AiRs will be offered first chance to participate in these events, which will be paid and will offer you a chance to interact with the community.
Housing
Lillstreet Art Center is NOT able to provide housing for residents, but there are many affordable housing options in Ravenswood, Uptown and Edgewater neighborhoods. We can connect you to other teachers and Artists-in-Residence to make it easier to split costs.
REVIEW PROCESS :
Applications are reviewed by an internal committee of artists, administrators, curators, and art world professionals.
The committee considers the following metrics when viewing applications: the artistic merit of submitted work, the alignment of the application with organizational mission and values, applicant’s desire to be an educator in our community, and applicant’s ability to work safely and independently in the studio.
Artists of color and people with any marginalized identities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Sample application can be download here
The application fee is USD 20.
Lillstreet Art Center recognizes the inaccessibility of application fees. If you need a fee waiver, please start filling out your application and email darshita@lillstreet.com with your name, pronouns, the email you are using to apply and a link to your work.
Allow 2 – 3 work days for review and a fee waiver to be applied to your application in Slideroom.
Residency Period
- Year Long: September 1st, 2024 – August 31st, 2025
- 9 Month: September 1st, 2024 – May 31st, 2025
- Applications open February 01, 2024
- Deadline: May 1st, 2024 at 11:59 pm
- Final decision announced June 1st, 2024.
April 11 : Office hours for info and QnA with the Director of Artist Programs
Application Components
- Current CV/resume
- Artist portfolio
- A brief artist bio, written in the third person
- A narrative statement outlining how you’ll use your time in the studio
- Statement on teaching ability across age groups
Residency Includes:
- Personal workspace in a group studio
- 24-hour access to facilities and equipment
- Free classes in any of our six departments
- Paid opportunities to teach and/or assist classes
- Participation in a solo exhibition with an option for an end of the residency group exhibition in the Lillstreet gallery.
- A stipend of $400 every month.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I know the results of the application ?
You will hear back from Lillstreet Art Center by the first week of June 2024.
Can I apply in multiple departments?
Yes, you may apply in more than one department, you only need to pay for one application fee, but we recommend you submit different applications for individual departments. Contact darshita@lillstreet.com if you are applying in more than one department.
I am a current Lillstreet Artist-in-Residence/alum. Can I return to the residency : in the same department or different after a period of time?
Lillstreet allows for one candidate per year for a 2 year repeat residency at max.
In order to be considered for a second year, you will need to submit a new application in the respective department.
Can I receive feedback on my application?
Unfortunately, because Lillstreet is a small school with a limited staff, we are unable to provide feedback on individual applications.
If I wasn’t selected for the residency last year can I apply again?
Yes, you can.
What is the selection process, how many rounds of selection?
There are three rounds of selection.
The first round includes a preliminary selection by Director of Outreach for requirements. Second round is a thorough review process by the Department directors for a short list. The final round is an interview with the department director and the Director of Outreach to review if you are a good fit for the AiR cohort and the community at Lillstreet Art Center.
Do I have to teach if I get selected as an Artist-in-Residence?
As an Artist-in-Residence, you will have the opportunity to develop classes, contribute to our curriculum and teach during your residency. Since the residency is strongly rooted in mentorship and educational models, teaching is a requirement.
Regardless of department or teaching background, the standard teaching pay rate for all Lillstreet resident artists is $26.00 per hour.
How often will I get my stipend?
Artists-in-Residence at Lillstreet will receive a $400 stipend per month to spend on materials or anything of your choosing.
I'm an interdisciplinary artist. Can I apply to the residency?
You can. But you will have to choose a department that feels like home for your work to work through. Unfortunately, at this time we do not have capacity to develop more programs than the ones we offer.
We encourage applicants to attend the Residency Info Session before applying. The info session is hosted virtually one month before application deadline. Still have questions? Please reach out to darshita@lillstreet.com for assistance.
