Lycee Francais de Chicago Artist in Residence Program

The Artist-in-Residence program creates a rich dialogue between an international artist and our community.

Every other year, the LFC’s Artist-in-Residence (AIR) program welcomes a creator who wishes to develop an artistic project in a school setting. All artistic disciplines are welcome: architecture, visual arts, performing arts (music, theater, dance), digital arts, comics, film/animation, design, graphic design, literature, photography, murals/street art, etc.

The next call for applications will open February 1, 2024, for the 2024-2025 residency. The project must reach the entire LFC community and actively involve students from pre-K to Grade 12.

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History

Since the school’s inception, arts and culture have been given a valued place at the LFC. Created in 1997 by parents Nancy Lerner Frej and Mary Jane Jacob, with the support of former Lycée Arts Director Jean-Brice Wallon, the Artist-in-Residence Program (AIR) enriches each student’s journey and exposes them to new artistic approaches.

The LFC has had the pleasure of welcoming numerous artists since 1997:

Christian Boltanski (France/photography)
Ery Camara (Senegal/language arts),
Sheila Hicks (USA/sculpture),
Laurent Baude (France/sculpture),
Périphériques Architecture (France/architecture),
Jim Vincent for the Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (USA/dance),
Beate Gütschow (Germany/photography),
Donald Fels (USA/architecture),
I.C.E. – International Contemporary Ensemble (USA/music)
Nicolas Henry (France/photography)
Joël Degbo (France-Benin/photography)
Phil Smith and Louise Lamson from the Lookingglass Theatre Company and Tom Lee from the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival (USA/theater)

The selected artist is invited to develop an original and collective project in collaboration with the students, teachers and parents of the LFC. The final art work—the result of a rich dialogue between an international artist and our community—is showcased at a public exhibition and becomes part of the LFC’s art collection.

Artist-in-Residence Criteria

The call for applications for the 2024-2025 residency will be open until April 15, 2024.

For the 2024-2025 residency, the LFC is particularly interested in a collaboration with a musician/lyricist, but will consider any artistic projects, choosing the most promising. All artistic disciplines are welcome: architecture, visual arts, performing arts (music, theater, dance), digital arts, comics, film/animation, design, graphic design, literature, photography, murals/street art, etc.

Terms and Conditions

The artistic output shall be the property of the LFC.
The duration of the residency is generally 4 to 12 weeks, depending on the nature of the project itself. However, it must be finished before the end of the school year (see school calendar).
The project must reach the entire LFC community and actively involve students from pre-K to Grade 12.
The public exhibition at the end of the residency is an integral part of the project.
The artist will work with LFC’s pedagogical teams and, in particular, the art department.

Funding & Support

The artist will receive a total stipend of $15,000 from the LFC to cover all expenses: housing, airfare, materials and supplies necessary for the residency (other than those available at the Lycée).
A work space will be made available at the LFC for the duration of the residency during the school’s normal hours of operation.
The LFC will support the artist in his/her networking with local organizations, partners and other stakeholders who may participate in the development of his/her project (cultural and academic institutions, etc.).