Artist-in-Residence : Metalsmithing & Jewelry 2023 - 2024

Lillstreet Art Center offers a year long residency in Metalsmithing and Jewelry 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 some 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, 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, to 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 facetime with artists, buyers, 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.

Applications are reviewed by an external committee of artists, academics, curators, and non-profit 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.

The application fee is USD 20. Please email darshita@lillstreet.com if you need a fee waiver. Allow 2 – 3 work days for review.

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 group exhibition in the gallery
• and a stipend of $400 every month.