BOLT Resident's Studio. Paintings by Eric Wall.

BOLT Residency is a highly competitive, juried, one-year artist studio residency program offering artists the opportunity to engage the Chicago arts community and its public in critical dialogue about contemporary art.  Located at the Chicago Artists’ Coalition’s (CAC) 8,000 sq ft West Loop facility, BOLT provides workspace, creative community, exhibition opportunities and professional development for Chicago-based, contemporary artists.

BOLT Residency is funded in part by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.

APPLICATIONS ARE DUE FEBRUARY 17th: Read Guidelines below and then submit HERE.

WORKSPACE

• One-year artist studio rental with 24/7 secure access
• 9 subsidized studios, approx 250 square feet/studio
• Free storage, two bathrooms + shower, slop sink, full kitchen
• Option to share/divide or use space individually

CREATIVE COMMUNITY

• Open-plan layout to inspire dialogue, collaborations and the development of new ideas
• Monthly potlucks to build meaningful relationships, networks and resources
• Work with your peers to creatively shape the residency according to your needs
• Gain exposure and expand audience through CAC’s public programming

EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES

• Designated 500 square foot exhibition space for one solo exhibition + professionally curated group shows
• Juried exhibition opportunity for one BOLT resident at EXPO Chicago
• Opportunity to use studio as secondary exhibition space to showcase your work to interested parties
• CAC’s full marketing support to the press and arts community, including press releases, postcards and posters

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• CAC works closely with you to develop a customized professional development plan based on your vision  and personal goals.
• CAC staff offers tours of your studio for potential collectors in your absence
• Discounted access to CAC’s Art.Business.Create (A.B.C), a series of intensive educational workshops and consultations designed to build artists’ professional business skills (worth over  $500)
• One-on-one studio visits with prominent members of the greater arts community.  Previous visitors have included:
  Ellen Hartwell Alderman: Owner/Director Alderman Gallery. Program Coordinator, Graham Foundation
  Lisa Corrin:  Ellen Philips Katz Director, Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art
  Michael Darling: James W. Alsdorf Chief Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
  Lisa Dorin: Assistant Curator of Contemporary Art, Art Institute of Chicago
  Tricia Van Eck: Founder and Artistic Director at 6018NORTH
  Natasha Egan: Associate Director and Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Photography
  Karen Irvine: Curator and Manager of Publications, Museum of Contemporary Photography
  Mark Jeffrey: Associate Professor Performance, SAIC. Curator. Artist.
  Eric May: Founder and Director, Roots and Culture Gallery
  Monique Meloche: Owner/Director, moniquemeloche gallery
  Janine Mileaf: Director, Art Club of Chicago
  Allison Peters Quinn: Director of Exhibitions, Hyde Park Art Center
  Andrew Rafacz: Owner/Director, Andrew Rafacz Gallery
  Dieter Roelstraete: Manilow Senior Curator, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
  Roberto Sifuentes: Chair/Professor, Performance, SAIC. Founding Member, La Pocha Nostra Performance Group
  Lorelei Stewart: Director, Gallery 400
  Shannon Stratton: Founder and current Executive and Creative Director of threewalls Chicago
  Lane Relyea:  Chair, Art Theory & Practice at Northwestern University
  Thomas Robertello: Owner/Director, Thomas Robertello Gallery
  James Yood: Director of the New Arts Journalism program and Visiting Professor in the Department of Art History, Theory and Criticism, SAIC.
  Hamza Walker: Director of Education and Associate Curator for the Renaissance Society
  Lynne Warren:  Curator, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

APPLICATION DUE DATE:  February 17, 2013

TO APPLY
Applicants need to reside in the Chicagoland area during residency.
 
APPLICATION PROCESS
 
Applicants must complete the online application by visiting: https://chicagoartists.slideroom.com/

To apply you need to:
Complete online form
Upload Resume
Provide 5-10 Work Samples
Pay non-refundable, $25 application fee.

CAC Membership is not required to apply to the BOLT Residency. Artists will be encouraged to become a current CAC member upon acceptance to the program.

IMPORTANT DATES 2013

February 17 (midnight): Application due via slideroom.com
Feb 18-Feb 24: Jury deliberates
Feb 26-March 1: Potential interviews with CAC staff
Mid-March: Notify selected BOLT Residents via email
July 15: Residents move into 217 N Carpenter Street
July 15, 2014: Residents move out of 217 North Carpenter Street

LEASE + MOVE IN DATE
March 15, 2013: Lease signed and security deposit due (one month’s rent)
July 15, 2013. Move in date. First month’s rent due.
BOLT RESIDENCY STUDIOS (studio selection will ultimately be determined at CAC’s discretion)

(6) Open Plan Studios: $275 for approx. 260sq.ft.          (1) Semi-Private Studio: $400 for approx. 300sq.ft.

All studios are work-only (non-residential)

SELECTION PROCESS

Submissions are evaluated by a jury of four professional peers from Chicago’s leading cultural institutions.
The 2013-2014 jury is: Ellen Hartwell Alderman, Natalia Ferreyra, James Yood, and Hamza Walker.
Click here for jury bios.

 Jury-selected finalists may be interviewed by CAC staff.

Artists who wish to apply as collaborators or share space must apply individually and send individual fees, application and support materials (collaborators must include a separate page describing your collaborative proposal). Collaborators will be considered for the semi-private studio.

Types of Disciplines: painting, works on paper, sculpture, photography, new media, installation and film. Performers and sound artists are encouraged to apply, but may be required to provide applicable technology due to open floor plan.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, color, sex, age, veteran status, or disability.

 To keep up to date with BOLT Residency, sign up here to receive CAC’s e-newsletter.