Location: Chicago, Illinois

Mission: Our guided tours of architecture, history and culture of Chicago bring people to explore stories and places locals don’t even know. We hope to offer some of the best architectural tours of Chicago. Our regularly scheduled walking tours share new perspectives in interacting with architecture to the public. We specialize in private walking tours and bus tours for corporate team-building, company outings, birthday parties, educational student field trips, family reunions, and other special events.

We believe that the primary role of a tour guide is to educate, so we create an interactive group dynamic and share educational tools and new perspectives for you to connect with the architecture of Chicago.

We are committed to responsible travel, so we use green practices and immerse you in a truly local experience.

We know that history is best told with a creative approach, so we use different media, like historic quotes, old photographs, and documentary film clips, to stimulate your imagination and present various perspectives.

We believe that a city like Chicago is more than “highlights,” so we share forgotten stories about both famous city landmarks and lesser-known attractions.

We understand that business is about building community, so we like connecting with tour operators, conventions, destination management companies, non-profits, community groups, senior groups, universities, cultural organizations, and Chicago businesses.

Cost: A $400 stipend for supplies

Application Fee: no application fee

Number of Artists: n/a

Accommodations: 24-hour access to shared office space for two months ($550 value), A desk with lockable space for storage, An exhibition or screening reception at the end of the residency (including refreshments, installation assistance, opportunity for sales, etc.), A $400 stipend for supplies

Length of Stay: 2 months

Session 1: September 1 – November 1

Session 2: November 15 – January 15

Demographic/Medium: Installation, documentary or experimental video, drawings, sculpture, photography, mixed media

Benefits: Work in the office as often as necessary (must come a minimum of 15 hours/week artist is welcome to use the space to work on other projects), Post weekly social media updates on project, Write three brief blog posts: one at the beginning of the residency, one for the fifth week, and one to conclude, Produce one work for Chicago Detours Tour Company permanent collection

Goals: To encourage artistic inquiry into the city of Chicago architecture, history, tourism, landscape, neighborhoods, communities; To support local artists by providing office/studio space downtown with easy access to museums, architecture and public transportation to Chicago neighborhoods; To provide an opportunity for an artist to make and show a project (installation, documentary or experimental video, drawings, sculpture, photography, mixed media) that will contribute to his or her creative and professional development; To aid an artist in connecting with new audiences for their work

Deadline: August 15th (TBA in 2014)

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