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Artist Opportunities

You can find various calls for proposals and other opportunities for artistic engagement here!


Special Service Area #33
Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce

Sign Up for the WPB Artist Directory
SSA #33 is currently collecting information of local artists who live, work, or show work in Wicker Park Bucktown. If this applies to you, please fill out our Artist Directory form to be included in our public database to help connect the residents of and visitors to WPB to our exceptionally talented pool of local artist, artisans, and makers.
Deadline: Ongoing
REGISTER HERE


Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events
Arts Alliance Illinois & Chicago Cultural Alliance
The City of Chicago

Call for Artists: Performing Arts, Music, Dance & Theater
Are you an artist or arts organization interested in participating in the 2024 DCASE Performing Arts Music Festival, Dance, or Theater programming? Due to the volume of responses, applications will be reviewed on a monthly basis. Should an opportunity arise for partnership, you will be contacted directly by a member of the DCASE Performing Arts Programming Team.
Deadline: Rolling
MORE HERE

Call for Artists: Now Playing...Sights & Sounds
The newly re-designed Learning Lab at the Chicago Cultural Center offers sights, sounds, and experiences for visitors of all ages and a wide range of abilities. Non-profit arts organizations and individual artists around the world are invited to submit proposals for their work to play in the sound dome and/or be shown on the projection wall in the Learning Lab. This is an opportunity to engage with a broad, diverse audience that visits the Chicago Cultural Center daily.
Deadline: Rolling
MORE HERE 


 

CALLS FOR ARTISTS


Chicago Sculpture International Project Space

Accepting New Membership Applications
CSI Project Space and Gallery is under the direction of a collective of Chicago-based artists, hosting curated indoor exhibitions, and innovative educational art workshops for professional artists and sculptors as well as the general public while giving back through partnerships with local community and philanthropic organizations. We offer members the opportunity to submit for a variety of exhibitions throughout the year. All shows are free of fees, free to attend, and often include free artist lectures. When you join Chicago Sculpture International, you are joining over 200 members dedicated to the celebration of sculpture. In addition to having your artist profile featured on our website, CSI provides unique opportunities for advancement and growth in all aspects of being a professional sculptor.
Deadline: N/A
MORE HERE

Call for Artists: CSI Project Space
CSI offers their members the opportunity to apply to public indoor and outdoor exhibitions via their numerous curators and venues AND offers exhibition opportunities through our Project Space gallery. All applicants must be current CSI members.
Deadline: Rolling
MORE HERE


Gallery Café

Call for Artists: 2024 Exhibition Season
Each month, Gallery Café hosts a new artist exhibit. We love showing off our community of talented artists! If you’re interested, please fill out the application form to be considered. While we strive to provide a platform for as many artists as possible please keep in mind we can only host 12 showcases annually.
Deadline: Ongoing
MORE HERE


Jackson Junge Gallery

Call for Artists: General Submission
Jackson Junge Gallery appreciates interest in showing at the gallery and accepts artist submissions in all media for potential exhibition.
Deadline: Ongoing
MORE HERE


Little Broken Things

General Artist Submissions
Little Broken Things encourages local artists to share their work at their shop and salon, building a collaborative community. Artists interested in consignment sales or exhibitions are welcome to submit proposals to Little Broken Things.
Deadline: Ongoing
MORE HERE


No Nation Art Gallery & Tangential Unspace Lab

Open Call: Artist-in-Residence
The No Nation Artist-in-Residence program is a live/work engagement with No Nation Tangential Unspace Art Lab. Artists-in-residence will work on their proposed project(s) and exhibit their work while engaging with the spirits of the space. Each artist-in-residence will have access to their own private studio to live/work, as well as the No Nation gallery for a larger workspace and shared equipment.
Deadline: Flexible
MORE HERE


Quimby's Bookstore 

Sell at Quimby's
Do you want to sell your zine at Quimby's? Has a new issue of your minicomic come out? Quimby's Bookstore sells local zines, comics, artist books, and more on consignment. This is for reading material, not postcards, crafts, stickers or owl-shaped ceramic soap holders you sell on Etsy.
Deadline: Ongoing
MORE HERE


Sideshow Gallery

General Artist Submissions
Sideshow Gallery is a truly unique and magical place with an ever-changing creative spirit inspired by a love of the occult, travel, obscure places, heavy metal music, and the most unusual and oddball, and beautiful things. The shop features unique one of one-of-a-kind natural specimens, skulls and taxidermy, handmade jewelry,  oddities and vintage treasures, candles, herbs and tools to perform magic, and lots of art! The gallery accepts inquiries from those interested in having artwork or products considered for inclusion in the shop.
Deadline: Ongoing
MORE HERE


The Violet Hour

Facade Mural Painting Opportunities
The Violet Hour accepts and reviews proposals for temporary murals painted on the facade of their building.
Deadline: Ongoing
MORE HERE

 

JOB LISTINGS


 

 

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES


Young Chicago Authors

Check the Method
Taught by YCA's Artistic Staff including Jamila Woods, Kevin Coval, Britteney Black Rose Kapri, Nate Marshall, and José Olivarez, Check The Method is Chicago's premier writing workshop for 14-25 year-olds. Come learn how to find inspiration in your daily life, write poems, and craft performances. Check The Method alumni have gone on to publish books and pursue professional writing careers. This workshop is open to all levels and is 100% free. Check The Method operates on a drop-in model, so no registration is necessary. If you're ready to write, you are welcome to join us.
Every Saturday (Mid-October - Mid-June with winter breaks) - 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
MORE HERE

Emcee Wreckshop
Emcee Wreckshop brings together rappers from all over the city. The session begins with a workshop taught by local rappers Add-2 and Defcee, in which students will study an exemplary work, write new material, and finally, exchange pens for microphones, taking to YCA’s stage in a performative cipher. Additionally, Wreckshop participants will have opportunities to feature their work at MC Olympics (a Louder Than A Bomb special event), on the Louder Than A Bomb annual Mixtape, and other high-profile events throughout the year.
Every Saturday (Mid-October - Mid-June with winter breaks) - 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
MORE HERE

Queeriosity
Queeriosity is a free monthly poetry salon for LBGTQ and questioning youth aged 12-25 to explore the world through a queer lens. Queeriosity events are hosted by YCA Teaching Artists H. Melt & Dominique James. Each month has a different theme and features a writing workshop, discussion, and guest artist or speaker. There are also opportunities for live performance and publishing work in the Queeriosity Zine. This program is free and no prior experience with poetry or performance is necessary. There is no need to register for Queeriosity. Our workshops are open to all and work on a drop-in model. If you want to come to Queeriosity, all you have to do is show up.
Every Second Thursday - 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
MORE HERE

WordPlay
WordPlay is the longest-running youth open mic in Chicago. Every Tuesday night, poets aged 12-25 come through Young Chicago Authors to participate in a writing workshop, perform their original work, and listen to music and poetry by artists of all genres and skill levels. Some of the illest up-and-coming artists in Chicago have hung out and performed at WordPlay, including Chance The Rapper, Jamila Woods, Mick Jenkins, No-Name Gypsy, Saba, Nico Segal, and many others!
Every Tuesday: Workshop 6:00 pm - Open Mic 7:00 pm - Featured Artist 8:15 pm
MORE HERE

 

Artist Resources


Chicago Artist Resource
Chicago Artists Resource (CAR) is an innovative arts service administered by the Chicago Artists Coalition. CAR is an online extension of the capabilities, resources, and leadership of the city's cultural community and a demonstration of Chicago's commitment to the important contribution successful artists make to a vital, world-class city. CAR provides artists with information on a wide range of issues related to professional practice and a connection to local, national, and international resources.

Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)
The mission of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events is to enrich Chicago’s artistic vitality and cultural vibrancy. To support this overarching mission, the Cultural Grants Program’s goal is to play an active role in the development of Chicago’s arts and culture community by funding artists and arts organizations that have the potential to meaningfully contribute to the City’s cultural vitality.

Illinois Arts Council Agency
It is the mission of the Illinois Arts Council to build a strong, creative and connected Illinois through the arts. The Illinois Arts Council Agency serves the people of Illinois through a variety of grants and services. The Illinois Arts Council Agency was created as a state agency by the Illinois General Assembly in 1965 through legislation sponsored by Senators Paul Simon, Thomas McGloon, and Alan Dixon. The agency is governed by up to twenty-one private citizens chosen for their demonstrated commitment to the arts and appointed by the Governor. Council members serve in a voluntary, non-paid capacity and are charged with developing the state’s public arts policy, fostering quality culturally diverse programs, and approving grant expenditures. A small professional staff with in-depth knowledge of the arts develops and administers the agency’s programs, provides technical assistance, and ensures the responsible and impactful distribution of all funds. Resources to support the Illinois Arts Council Agency are provided by the Governor and General Assembly of Illinois and the National Endowment for the Arts.