Studio Fellowship

Spudnik Press is temporarily reducing our offerings and and we do not have a confirmed timeline for our next Fellowship. If you are interested in applying, when applications become available, please sign up to be notified as we open applications.


Mission

The Spudnik Press Cooperative Studio Fellowship is an intensive eight-month program that provides emerging artists opportunities to develop the artistic and professional skills needed to build a successful career in the arts. Program components work in conjunction to provide mentorship, technical training, meaningful interactions with art professionals, public programming experience, and leadership opportunities. These key program components consist of the following:

  • Access to professional printmaking facilities.
  • Seminars addressing various elements of professional practices.
  • Leadership experience through regularly monitoring Open Studio sessions.
  • Presentation opportunities through a culminating public project.

As ambassadors of Spudnik Press Cooperative, Studio Fellows play an important role in providing a welcoming experience for everyone who visits our studio and expanding our community. By contributing to day-to-day operations, Studio Fellows help shape the future of our facilities.

Program Overview

The Studio Fellowship provides Chicago artists comprehensive professional, artistic, and technical support that addresses the specific needs of printmakers.

Studio Fellows receive unfettered access to the professional facilities at Spudnik Press Cooperative to support the creation of print-based artwork. Through working in our shared studio and monitoring weekly Open Studio sessions, fellows interact with our community and benefit from ongoing support and feedback from staff and peers.

The impact of the Fellowship is expanded through regular professional development seminars. Across 15 sessions, Fellows develop artistic and professional skills needed to build a successful career in the arts. Topics range from self-promotion for artists to artwork documentation to business planning.

Fellows have the unique experience of planning and presenting two culminating public projects. Crossing of the Fellows is an opportunity for incoming and outgoing Fellows to formally present their work to each other and Spudnik Press supporters. Each cohort also has the opportunity to collaboratively conceptualizes, organizes, and presents a community-based event.

Finally, fellows receive advanced notice and discounted registration for all Spudnik Press professional development opportunities including portfolio reviews, visits to arts resources and professionals throughout Chicago, exhibition opportunities, and more. Fellows receive a complimentary one-year Studio Membership so they can continue to take advantage of member opportunities for the four months following their Fellowship.


COVID-19 Modifications

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. The fellowship program will follow our COVID-19 Policies, and will have both in-person and virtual elements:

Virtual (via Zoom):

  • Public speaking experience: “Crossing Of the Fellows” artist talks
  • Professional development seminar sessions

In person:

  • Studio training
  • 24 hour access to all facilities
  • Open Studio monitoring responsibilities
  • Critiques
  • Bi-weekly Fellowship Group Meetings
  • Public Programming: Designed and presented by fellows towards the end of the fellowship period.

TBD:

  • Additional Assistance Opportunities: With some programs suspended, there are limited opportunities to gain additional assistance in areas such as youth programming and teaching. While opportunities will be made available whenever possible, this portion of the Fellowship will be optional at this point in time.

Eligibility

The Studio Fellowship program best supports:

  • Emerging artists, and artists at transitional points in their career.
  • Artists with substantial printmaking experience, such that they are able to perform all monitoring duties.
  • Artists whose current art practice requires access to printmaking facilities.
  • Artists who already have a dedicated and regular studio practice.
  • Artists who are able to commit about 8 hours a week to the fellowship program in addition to maintaining their art practice.
  • Artists whose goal is to produce art a primary component of their career.
  • Artists seeking opportunities to meet Chicago-based arts professionals.
  • Artists interested in building meaningful connections with a creative community.

Please review our Fellowship Information Packet to learn more about:

  • Program Overview & Components
  • Fellowship Timeline
  • Open Studio Monitoring
  • Professional Development Seminar
  • Additional Assistant Opportunities

Studio Fellowship Application Guidelines

To Apply:

Please thoroughly review the Fellowship Information Packet. Complete the Online Fellowship Application Form. You will need to have the following ready to submit:

  • Letter of interest addressing the following:
    • Why now is the right time in your career for this fellowship
    • Goals would you like to accomplish through the fellowship and you plan to achieve them
    • How you see the Fellowship and the resources at Spudnik contributing to your project
    • Your training in printmaking processes and previous exposure to print facilities
    • What you will bring to the program
  • Project Statement: Outline and expound upon the project you are hoping to work on during the course of this Fellowship. 300 words max.
  • Resume or CV
  • Bio: 100 words max.
  • 7-10 Images
  • Confirmation that we will receive a letter of recommendation sent to sara@spudnikpress.org by the application deadline. Please email sara@spudnikpress.org at least 7 days prior to the deadline if you have any concerns about obtaining a letter of recommendation to discuss an alternative.

Important Dates

Required Weekly Commitments:

  • Fellowship Meetings:  Most Tuesdays from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
  • Individual Monitor Shifts: One of the following 4.25-hour per shift per week:
    • Mondays 5:45 – 10:00 p.m.
    • Thursdays 5:45 – 10:00 p.m.
    • Saturdays 9:45 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
    • Saturdays 1:45 – 6:00 p.m.

Thank You to all our current and past Studio Fellows:

2022:

golden collier
Clara Fischer
Frannie Miller
Alexander Tsanov
Logan Woodbury
Xingyi Zhao

2021:

Cam Collins
Kirstin Dunlap
Kyle Dunlap
Alex Fox
Yu Wei

Kianni Bey
Riley Brady
Rachel Jackson
Nicolette Lim
Esmeralda Reyes
Sara Sukhun

2020:
Kelsey Gibson
Samantha Hensley
Dan Landgren
Osée Obaonrin
Robert Stokowy
Marc Benja
Teresita Carson Valdéz
Efrat Hakimi
Vero d. Orozco

2019:
Ally Hembree
Sean Mac
Zakia Rowlett
Hope Wang
Vidisha Aggarwal
Atlan Arceo-Witzl
Lisa Armstrong
Lya Finston

2018:
Emma Bilyeu
Dan Manion
Emily Shopp
Junli Song
Molly Berkson
Ben Garbus
Brendan Robson
Cristina Umaña

2017:
Jess Caldwell
Jazmin Dua
Yewon Kwon
Grace Makuch
Mary Climes
Carolina Martinez
Yasaman Moussavi
Betsy Stout

2016:
Stephanie Benhaim
Margaret Hitch
Eliz Kaple
Darian Longmire
Robert Kelsey
Rebecca Lothan
Randi Stella
Matthew Wead

2015
Heather Anderson 
Ashley Shaul
Caroline Walp
Bruno Suarez Bango
Emily Culbert
Natalie Tarnowski
Carla Fisher Schwartz

2014
Salvador Andrade

Kim Morski
Brad Rohloff

2013
Elise Forer

Tara Zanzig
Nate Cubeta

Spudnik Press Cooperative does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, selection of Studio Fellows . We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.

Our Accessibility page includes additional information about getting to the studio and using the equipment.