Residency Program

Mission & Vision

The Spudnik Press Cooperative Residency Program supports a broad range of artists including artists working in communities outside of the Chicago area. Resident Artists will bring new resources, perspectives, and professional connections to the various audiences that Spudnik Press serves, including first-time printmaking students, emerging artists, professional artists, art collectors and supporters.

Through integrating the production of innovative and well-executed print-based work with public programming and educational opportunities, the Residency Program strives to increase public awareness and appreciation of printmaking and its role in contemporary art practices.

Program Overview

The Residency Program at Spudnik Press Cooperative offers studio space and financial support to artists working in printmaking media to produce new print-based work. During their time with us, Resident Artists become an important part of our community by providing public programs that build from their art practice and create conversation and connections among our members and our community.

Throughout the year, we welcome mid-career to established artists from anywhere in the world to work at Spudnik Press for a period of two to six weeks. Resident Artists enjoy 24-access to the entire studio and receive general support from our printmaking staff. The residency does not include housing, but we are excited to announce a travel stipend of up to $500 is available for those traveling to Chicago in 2022. We design the duration, focus, and activities of each residency based on the needs and priorities of each individual artist.

In exchange, Resident Artists play an integral role in the Spudnik Press community, bringing new perspectives, experiences, and knowledge to our members and the broader public through a variety of public events. These are shaped by each artist’s skills and interests and have included artist talks, panel discussions, portfolio reviews with Spudnik members, collaborative or master workshops, and exhibitions.

The 2022 Residency Program is possible with generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts Arts Work Grant.

Eligibility

The Residency Program is committed to serving:

  • Mid-career and established artists. 
  • Artists with a strong exhibition record and public speaking or teaching experience.
  • Artists who are able to fully commit 2-6 weeks to a single, print-based project.
  • Artists with enough printmaking experience to work independently in the studio, with only light technical support from staff.
  • Artists whose current artistic practice or proposed residency project uses printmaking within a contemporary art practice.
  • Artists who show true interest in engaging with the Spudnik Press community.
  • Artists who are able to provide or coordinate their own travel, lodging, and local transportation during the residency.

Spudnik Press Cooperative encourages applications from artists from all backgrounds, including underrepresented groups that include (but are not limited to) artists of color, LGBTQ artists, women artists, and artists with disabilities. Our Accessibility page includes additional information about getting to the studio and using the equipment. Any requests for accommodations can occur upon finalist notification or acceptance.

Expectations

  • Residents are expected to make full and regular use of Spudnik Press facilities (Roughly 3-5 days per week, depending on the project and duration of the residency). Resident artists receive one flat file drawer, 24-hour access, the option to reserve equipment, and shared workspace, but no private studio.

  • Residents receive a thorough orientation to Spudnik Press facilities and light technical support from staff. However, residents should be knowledgeable enough to generally work independently in the printmaking processes required for their project. Please address any need for specific or additional assistance in the cover letter.

  • Resident Artists will present some form of public program or event, customized around the skills and interests of the artist and the Spudnik Press community.

  • Spudnik Press will retain a portion of the finished artwork produced through the residency. Sales of these artworks provide the critical funding to sustain this program.

Important Details

Application Fee: None; Free to apply
Deadline To Apply: Sunday, November 7th, 2021 
Finalists Selected: By November 24th, 2021
Final Notification: By December 8th, 2021
Residency Period: February 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022
Duration: Two to six weeks (local applicants are encouraged to apply for the full six weeks)
Stipend: $500
Additional Travel Stipend for non-local Artists: $500

Everyone’s safety is important to us. Participation in this program requires being onsite at Spudnik Press Cooperative and that per our Covid-19 Policy, all artists accepted into the program will be required to provide staff with proof of vaccination. Where possible, we will make reasonable accommodations for artists with a medical or religious exemption.

Selection Process

Residency applications are reviewed by a jury that includes two staff, a volunteer member of our cooperative, a residency alumni, and an outside expert who is a professional in the arts. Decisions are based on the quality of the proposal and the strength of the portfolio, including technical proficiency in printmaking and conceptual rigor. In addition, we seek established artists who are capable of working independently and bringing a new and unique public program to our audience. We also consider other aspects, such as scheduling logistics and the artist or project’s alignment with other programming planned at Spudnik Press Cooperative or throughout the city of Chicago.

Staff will conduct in-person or virtual studio visits with all finalists to assess technical skills and elaborate on public presentation and programming opportunities.

To Apply

Please submit the following materials to residency@spudnikpress.org. All documents should be PDFs:

  • Letter of interest (one page): Please address the general scope of your project, what equipment and materials the project will require, an overview of your experience in printmaking, public programming preferences or ideas, ideal length of a residency, any restrictions around dates, and anything else you like us to consider that is not covered by other parts of the application.
  • A one-sentence Project Summary followed by Project Statement (one page): Proposals should be well-defined and present a clear overview of the type and scope of work that you will produce, and how it will benefit from a residency at Spudnik Press. You do not need to specify exact edition sizes, print sizes, etc.
  • Digital Portfolio of 7-10 Images: Images must not exceed 1MB each and should be titled with your name and a file number. Work should be recent and include print-based art when possible.
  • Image List: For each work, include the file name, title, medium, year of completion, and dimensions.
  • Artist Statement
  • Current Resume or CV
  • Two references with contact information and their relationship to you

Download our 2022 Residency Information Packet 

Any inquiries regarding our Residency Program can be directed to residency@spudnikpress.org.