We Will Chicago - Artist Projects 2022

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), in partnership with the Department of Planning and Development (DPD), seeks artists and artist teams with established participatory and civic practices to contribute to the public engagement phase of We Will Chicago, a comprehensive citywide planning process. Over the past two years, the City has engaged hundreds of residents and dozens of community partners to develop recommendations to improve conditions for how Chicagoans work, live, and play. At the end of June 2022, DPD will release the draft plan structured by eight thematic quality-of-life pillars: Arts & Culture, Community & Civic Engagement, Economic Development, Environment/Climate & Energy, Housing & Neighborhoods, Lifelong Learning, Public Health & Safety, and Transportation & Infrastructure.

During this phase, artists and artist teams will be asked to explore a single pillar in collaboration with stakeholders and the public. Artists will review information generated through the planning process and either create a new project or expand on a current/past project related to their chosen pillar area. Artists are expected to work with community partners identified through the planning process or through their own networks and with members of the public to execute the project. Artist/artist teams will be selected through a limited invitation, application, and interview process, vetted by a committee of We Will Chicago and DCASE stakeholders.

DCASE will contract with up to six artists/artist teams for a six-month engagement period. Each artist/team will be awarded a total budget of $50,000, inclusive of all costs and fees for the artist/artist team, materials and supplies, coordination, production, documentation, and insurance. Selected artists will conduct research and engage with materials from the planning process, interpret/interrogate/visualize elements of the draft plan, collaborate with stakeholders and the public to develop work, and present the process and output in public before the end of 2022. Deliverables include attendance at launch, mid-point, and close meetings; project workplan and budget; informal progress updates; implementation of artist project; documentation of production and final presentation; and end-of-contract reflection notes. Work is anticipated to commence September 19, 2022.