Student Spaces for Art and Collaboration
Curatorial and Exhibition Programs
Student Spaces for Art and Collaboration is comprised of student-centered galleries, performance venues and ShopColumbia, an entrepreneurial space for students to sell their work. These spaces serve as hubs for social, educational and cultural activities for Columbia students and the broader Chicago community. As an extension of the classroom,
Student Spaces for Art and Collaboration Curatorial incorporates the College’s curricula by building programs with academic departments providing opportunities to students such as showcasing their work through exhibitions, concert-level performances, & learn the ins-and-outs of becoming a professional artist.
Through civic engagement, Student Spaces for Art and Collaboration connects students and the college to local, national and international partners to provide experiential learning and professional development through collaboration. The spaces present innovative and accessible programs and opportunities for students, the college and beyond.
Please REVIEW each category thoroughly to make sure you are submitting your proposal to the correct gallery opportunity.
Any questions you have can be directed to Senior Exhibitions Coordinator Mark Porter (mporter@colum.edu) or 312-369-6643
Made, Hokin Gallery, July 7- September 12, 2025
Made celebrates the creative facilities and centers of Columbia College Chicago, the staff members who run them and the students who have made works within them. The exhibit features a wide range of works generated by current students utilizing facilities across campus. Our goal is to exhibit artwork, video, multi-media projects, books, sound works, sculpture, printmaking, fashion, performance and other types of creative works that were in some capacity created in one or more of Columbia's facilities.
You may submit up to three works. No single work may be larger than 8' in any direction.
Eligibility
- Must be a current Columbia student at the time of the application and during the exhibit (with an anticipated graduation date of December 2025 or after
- Must fill out complete submission form. Incomplete applications will be declined
- Must be able to deliver completed work to Hokin Gallery on June 23 or 24 between the hours of 9:30am-3:30pm
- You may submit works that are in progress. Do your best to represent what you want to exhibit. If the work is in progress you may submit a photo of the work in progress and description.
- All projects must be ready to exhibit by the drop off date and must be delivered by the creator with complete operating instructions. We may ask you to install your work yourself. Be prepared for this possibility.
- The gallery will not print your work for you. If your work has a 2d printed element, submit your document to the Digital Print Center for printing.
Important Notes:
Equipment
The gallery has a limited number of pedestals, monitors and basic equipment. If your project requires a specific piece of equipment (gaming counsel, audio player) or display mechanism (dress form, shelf, vitrine) make a note of this in your application. If the gallery does not own the equipment or display mechanism you request, you are responsible for providing this. It may be possible that your department has the item you need and can loan it to you. Be sure to ask them.
Items the gallery does not own: Dress Forms, Vitrines, Gaming Consoles, iPads
Performance submissions
If you would like your contribution to the exhibit be a performance that takes place during the reception or exhibit run you may request use of Haus or the gallery. Be detailed on what your performance requires (space, any equipment you need), what will occur, what it will look like. Include video of previous versions or a sketch/description.
Video Formats
Final exhibit video must be sized at 720p .mp4
Unity
Hokin Gallery, July 7- September 12, 2025
Call to Students, Staff and Faculty for creative projects
Deadline, please submit your work by April 1.
Questions? Contact Mark Porter, mporter@colum.edu
Student Spaces for Art and Collaboration and the Hokin Gallery seek artwork submissions from Columbia College Chicago Students, Staff and Faculty to be included in Unity, a group exhibition running July 7-September 12, 2025
Columbia College Chicago’s 135th anniversary is a time to reflect on our history, accomplishments, what binds us together as a community and defines who we are as a college We seek creative projects that reflect on the concepts of Unity. Our aim is to exhibit creative projects by Columbia Students, Staff and Faculty alike, shown side by side as a gesture of Unity.
Who is eligible?
We seek submissions by Students, Staff and Faculty of Columbia College Chicago who will remain active into the Fall 2025 semester.
Eligible projects:
Our aim is to present a diverse gathering of creative projects. Paintings, drawings, sculpture, installation, sound, video, writing, fashion and interactive works including any creative project that can be presented in a traditional art gallery setting.
- All projects must be ready to exhibit by the drop off date and must be delivered by the creator with complete operating instructions. We may ask you to install your work yourself. Be prepared for this possibility.
- The gallery will not print your work for you. If your work has a 2d printed element, submit your document to the Digital Print Center for printing.
Submission requirements:
Each applicant may submit 1 to 3 separate projects, each including: (no single project that requires more that 8' in any direction)
1. Your name
2. Title of work
3. Year of creation
4. Process/materials
5. A description of the project
6. Dimensions/space needed
7. What is required to present the project in an art gallery
8. One or more images/video/description to represent the project
Please note that we accept works in progress. In your project description, indicate your progress and the anticipated result. Questions? Contact Mark Porter, mporter@colum.edu
Important Notes:
Equipment
The gallery has a limited number of pedestals, monitors and basic equipment. If your project requires a specific piece of equipment (gaming counsel, audio player) or display mechanism (dress form, shelf, vitrine) make a note of this in your application. If the gallery does not own the equipment or display mechanism you request, you are responsible for providing this. It may be possible that your department has the item you need and can loan it to you. Be sure to ask them.
Items the gallery does not own: Dress Forms, Vitrines, Gaming Consoles, iPads
Performance submissions
If you would like your contribution to the exhibit be a performance that takes place during the reception or exhibit run you may request use of Haus or the gallery. Be detailed on what your performance requires (space, any equipment you need), what will occur, what it will look like. Include video of previous versions or a sketch/description.
Video Formats
Final exhibit video must be sized at 720p .mp4
2025 Manifest BA Fine Arts Exhibition
Important dates:
April 1, 2024 Project Applications need to be submitted by 5pm. Students who submit proposal forms on, or before, the deadline will be included in the exhibition. NO LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED
To ensure that all works in Manifest meet all Columbia College Chicago’s policies and guidelines, each participant must complete a Manifest proposal form by April 1, 2025.
Proposals will be submitted to the Hokin Gallery Submittable site.
Faculty, gallery staff and the Manifest Committee will review all applications for completeness and eligibility. Once approved, the applicants will be shown together in an exhibition at Hokin Gallery, located at 623 S. Wabash Ave, 1st Floor. Students may be contacted for clarification of their proposal.
May 3, 2024 Artwork drop off you must deliver all elements of your artwork to Hokin Gallery between the hours of 9am-2pm. Your delivery must meet the following requirements. If any of these requirements are missing, your delivery will not be accepted.
You may submit up to five artworks. No one object may be larger than 6' in any direction and the total combined space of all your works may not exceed 8'.
1. Artwork must be ready to hang, all hardware must be assembled/included.
2. The artwork must be exactly as described in your proposal (works not matching your submission will not be accepted)
3. Artwork must include detailed installation instructions
4. Artwork and any artwork packaging must be labeled with your name and contact information
5. If your work needs to be “turned on” in some way, you must include operating instructions.
May 6 Installation 2pm-8pm supervised by faculty and Hokin Gallery staff
May 7 Installation 1pm-9:50pm supervised by faculty and Hokin Gallery staff
May 10-31, 2024 Exhibition is open to the public, please note the gallery is CLOSED on weekends, except of Manifest weekend.
June 2, 3 Deinstallation: 10am-3:30pm. You are responsible for removing your artwork from the gallery during one of these dates. Anything remaining after June 25 will be discarded.
The specific requirements for your installation proposal:
Artist Statement (150 words or less) A written description of your work in Third person. Your Artist Statement should be a brief, concise description of what your work expresses and why you make it.
Written Project Description (200 words or less)* Develop a written project description that clearly communicates the work you are proposing to display. The physical project description should be as literal as possible. Please include a complete description of how you want the work to be installed in the gallery. Be specific about how your work will be hung, placed, or installed. We ask that you provide an installation diagram that matches your written description.
Example- “My project consists of nine white plaster castings of cats posed in various natural positions. Starting from left to right, Cat #1 should be on the left ascending in order so that Cat #9 is the last on the right.”
Installation Diagram Submit a sketch of how your work is to be displayed. This sketch should match the details in your Written Project Description.
Technical Needs (100 words or less) Please outline any technical or pedestal requests needed for your work. There are a limited number of monitors, projectors, and pedestals available, Hokin Gallery will do its best to accommodate all requests. If Hokin Gallery is not able to provide a requested item, the artist will be responsible for providing it.
Visual Support Materials (Images/Video/Audio) Please upload your documentation of the work you want in the exhibition. You may submit up to 5 images, video, or audio works. Your files MUST be titled with your name and image number (example JoanSimith1.jpg, JoanSmith2.jpg). Please note these images may also be used in marketing and print materials.
Title Information Please fill out title and media information for all of your visual support material completely, including your name (as it should appear in print), the title of the work, the year completed, media, and dimensions (in inches).
Special Considerations
If your project touches on any of the below concerns, please note your concern in the Special Considerations section of the application and start a conversation with your Columbia College Faculty member. The items listed below encompass the safety, health and legal details to consider when making your work for the Columbia College Chicago community.
Hokin Gallery reserves the right to reject any artwork that violates campus-wide policies.
Painting Walls and Ceiling Hanging Any work that requires painting or drawing directly on the walls or work hung from the ceiling needs to be pre-approved by Hokin Gallery staff.
Food, Liquids, & Controlled Substances Does you work contain food, water, alcohol, other liquids, prescription or over the counter medications?
Chemicals & Hazardous Materials Potentially hazardous materials requiring special ventilation, large amounts of materials or supplies not typically used.
Biomatter, Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP), & Organic Materials Live animals, untreated hides, taxidermy, biomatter (living or recently living organisms), bloodborne pathogens (BBP): blood, urine, or other bodily fluids, decomposing materials, plants, soil, sand, rocks. No hypodermic needles.
Performative Audience interactive or audience participatory actions that may place duress on the body
Weapons Weapons or objects that resemble weapons
Structures & Kinetics Unprotected sharp edges, points, or moving components, pedestals, objects, heavy or unstable objects, installations, objects hanging from above, building a wall or altering a wall, overhead closures (tents, roofs,etc.), window coverings
Electrical & Sound Levels Bare wiring, spliced wires, invented or altered electrical items, sound levels and frequency
Alternative Spaces Public spaces-- stairways, hallways, elevators, sidewalks, exterior facing windows, ceilings: pipes, drop-down, sprinkler systems
Fire & Safety Candles, open flames, fire extinguishers, exit signs, and alarm systems as artwork, potential tripping hazards, projects that block egress
Community & Courtesy Confidentiality privacy & anonymity permissions, copyrights, public interaction
Anything You Are Unsure About