Department of Planning and Development announces the first-ever Artists-In-Residence for four of the city’s INVEST South/West neighborhoods!

Published: November 9, 2020

Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and the Department of Planning and Development recently announced the first-ever Artists-In-Residence for four of the city’s INVEST South/West neighborhoods. They include Auburn Gresham (artist Dorian Sylvain), Austin (Antonia Ruppert), Englewood (Eric Hotchkiss) and New City/Back of the Yards (Fernando Ramirez, in partnership with Project Onward).

As a pilot project, the initial round of the INVEST South/West (ISW) Artist-In-Residence Program is focused on creating public art and site-specific cultural programs that reflect the spirit of these four communities. Each artist was selected through a community-led process by a panel of community stakeholders.

“This pilot project serves as a critical program to not only uplift our city’s artistic life in the near-term but also lay the foundation for the long-term vitality of Chicago’s proud cultural landscape,” said Lightfoot.

Pictured: A mural by Dorian Sylvain. Image courtesy City of Chicago.

Keywords: Artist in Residence, Artists, Auburn Gresham, Department of Planning