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College and Community Artist in Residence Program

College of DuPage   /   Deadline: 01/31/26

College of DuPage visual art programs will invite artists to apply for a residency working with our students. Applying artists will propose a detailed timeline for their residency project. The residency spans a 2 to 8 week period between September 21 and November 21, 2026 and February 8 and April 17, 2027. Proposals must provide details about how the residency and subsequent project will engage our student body, including an explanation of how the project could potentially include broader forms of community engagement. The proposal should explain how the artists will work closely with one or more COD classes for a minimum of 6 hours over the course of the residency. While residents will be working primarily with art students, potential interdisciplinary connections and research across other fields of study are encouraged.

The selected artists will give an initial artist lecture to introduce themselves and their work to the students and will be required to engage with the college community for a minimum of 6 hours per residency through open studios, workshops, studio visits, or another proposed activity. In special circumstances some of this collaboration may be completed via Zoom, but quality time spent with students should be evident in the proposal. The artists will close the residency with a proposed event, lecture, or exhibition to share the work accomplished during their residency. This may be a permanent piece by the artist donated to COD or a temporary work.

Location

College of DuPage (COD) is located in the Chicago suburb of Glen Ellyn, 25 miles west of downtown Chicago, and accessible through public transportation.

Fees

Free

Eligibility

Individual artists or collectives of up to three people are eligible to apply.

Artists and collectives working in any media are eligible to apply.

The selected artists must be able to demonstrate they are legally authorized to work in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor visas at this time.

Employees of the College of DuPage are not eligible to apply.

Requirements

Artists must be able to commit to at least two continuous weeks (80 hours) in residence from between September 21 and November 21, 2026 or February 8 and April 17, 2027. (Please note the college will be closed March 29 - April 4 for Spring Break.) The applicant must list their preferred residency period in their application.

Selected artists or artists groups will be required to give an introductory 40 minute talk with 10 min Q&A or workshop to a class or larger group within the first week of the residency.

Artists will work with faculty liaison to coordinate student activity and participation. Artists are required to work, interact, or collaborate with students for a minimum of 6 hours during the residency in the form of project work, collaborations, workshops, studio visits, or other proposed events. In special circumstances some of this collaboration may be completed via zoom.

Artists will be required to close the residency with an event such as an open studio, public lecture, exhibition, or other proposed event.

Studio and workshop spaces will need to prioritize students and class times. Coordinate with faculty and staff for facility access in order to maximize the student artist collaboration.

Evaluation Criteria

Project description including proposed public events

Description of contact/work with students for 6 hours or more

Alignment with artist-in-residence program goals

Request to work with one or more specific classes (drawing, printmaking, digital art, photography, time based media, fashion, graphic design, sculpture, or architecture) or other types of classes. For detailed list of class offerings, please visit this link: https://catalog.cod.edu/

Type of equipment, space, tools needed from the college to complete project

Detailed timeline for project within one or two of the specified time frames listed above

Detailed project budget for stipend up to $3500; may include materials, travel, lodging, and other living expenses

10-20 images of past work that may relate to proposal; for sound and video work, please include links to vimeo, youtube, soundcloud, or other platforms and indicate up to 5 minutes of media for the committee to view.

150-300 word artist statement

150 word bio

Artist Resume or CV and website

Optional: List special circumstances that may require part of residency to take place over Zoom.

Link to project proposal requirements and application: https://cod.edu/academics/programs/arts/artist-in-residence.html

Contact Information

Nelson Cantada
425 Fawell Blvd.
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137

P: 630-942-2363
W: https://cod.edu/academics/programs/arts/artist-in-residence.html
E: cantadan@cod.edu