Resourcing artists since 2009.
High Concept Labs (HCL) strengthens the creative sector by providing accessible residency programs for artists across disciplines interested in experimentation, discovery, exchange, and risk. Through these residencies, HCL meets artists where they are while promoting visibility for the creative process and advocating for critical investment across every stage in the development of new work.
The vision of High Concept Labs (HCL) is a vibrant, artist-driven ecosystem that is equitable, inclusive, wide-reaching, and allows for experimentation. We work towards this vision by providing artists crucial support to develop and present new work. Since our inception in 2009, we have enabled artistic development, career advancement, and audience engagement for over 300 artists.
We began by providing short-term project-based support to artists in a warehouse space in an industrial corridor on Chicago’s north side. In 2014, we moved to our current home at Mana Contemporary, situated between the Pilsen, Bridgeport, and Chinatown neighborhoods, bringing us closer to artists and communities systemically underrepresented in Chicago’s art spaces. This studio is now secured through a joint residency with Monira Foundation through a partnership that enables both organizations to meet artists where they are, promote visibility for the creative process, and respond to the evolving needs of our communities.
Our programs have evolved as we recognized the need for expanded resources and equitable access. In 2019, HCL transitioned to a co-director leadership model and defined initiatives to decentralize where work is made and shared in Chicago, increase visibility for the creative process, and prioritize ongoing anti-racist efforts at every level of the organization.
Shortly thereafter, HCL’s programs were overhauled to expand the depth of support for artists. Our flagship four-month residency was reinvented as a 12-month opportunity, with the option to return for an additional year of support as a Fellow Artist in Residence. This expanded duration dramatically stabilizes artistic practices and can enable pivotal career growth. We also developed two new residency formats: Partner Artist in Residencies provide opportunities to select grantees of program partners, such as Chicago Dancemakers Forum and 3Arts; The LabX Residency brings international artists to Chicago. Across all four residency variations, we continue to tailor support to artists’ diverse needs with resources including no-cost studio access, curatorial and research support, professional documentation, production assistance, and marketing support.
In 2020, HCL again expanded its impact by establishing our Active Hope and Reparations Accelerant (AHORA) initiative in order to fund the development and premieres of new community-attuned work by BIPOC and disabled artists within HCL’s residency programs. Among other accomplishments, this initiative funded Ayako’s LUCA/Res Communis: ETHOS Episode III and supported the launch of LabE, an initiative to address the specific needs and interests of disabled artists.
Most recently, as we strive to broaden access to the performing arts on the South and South West Side of Chicago, we established an ongoing partnership with Experimental Station in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood. Experimental Station is the current home of LabE, and is expected to host a variety of free public performances and gatherings in 2023 and beyond.
Photo Credit: Open Labs #2: Juliann Wang: Pause in Time, May 2022 | Photo Matthew Gregory Hollis