Apply to be the 2025 DJ Scholar-in-Residence

The application closes at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday April 3, 2025. 

The residency will run for 12 weeks from April 28-July 18, 2025. 

CPL is pleased to announce an open application for the Renaissance Project’s DJ Scholar-in-Residency, supported by the Mellon Foundation. The DJ Scholar-in-Residency offers an exceptional opportunity for an experienced Chicago-based DJ creative, music producer, or musician to engage with the rich African American archival materials housed in the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection at the Carter G. Woodson Regional Library and Special Collections at the Harold Washington Library Center to produce new music and programming.  

Examples of CPL’s musically rich archival collections include: 

This opportunity will provide one (1) DJ, music producer, or musician with a paid 12-week residency. The intent is to find inspiration from themes in CPL’s archival collections on Black history and curate a list of music directly from or related to the collections and spin them with original re-mixing for public performances.  Programming designed by the DJ Scholar-in-Residence will primarily focus on the presentation of new music and sounds, taking the public on a journey of Black Chicago history. The DJ Scholar-in-Residence will also offer workshops for CPL Adult and Teen YouMedia patrons with an interest in sound production. 

What the Residency Offers 

The Renaissance Project’s DJ Scholar-In-Residence will receive the following: 

  • Research support from CPL archivists and librarians to assist with using the archives.  
  • Program development support
  • A stipend of $8,000 for the 12-week residency 
  • A budget of $800 for workshop materials for CPL patrons 
  • If desired, mentorship from a Chicago-area DJ 

Eligibility Criteria 

  1. Applicants must be a resident of the city of Chicago. 
  2. D.J. with 2+ years of public performance experience and ability to mix music. Music producers and musicians with a DJ background will also be considered.  
  3. Must have own sound production equipment. 
  4. Be able to provide audio recordings of music produced, and a résumé that includes related DJ sets, musical performances, productions, or projects. 
  5. Be able to spend 6-8 hours per week in the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection at Woodson Regional, and/or Special Collections at Harold Washington Library Center during the research period.

Preferred qualifications:  

  1. Be knowledgeable of the role of Black music in Chicago’s history and communities.  
  2. Have experience teaching or conducting educational workshops or leading programs. 

Expectations: 

  1. Integrate the history of Chicago’s Black musical legacy found in CPL’s archival collections into a DJ format for the listening public. 
  2. Perform one DJ set at a “Liberation Listening Party” hosted by the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection at Woodson Regional Library. 
  3. Participate in 3-4 public programs at CPL branches, such as “Meet-the-Musician,” “Maker Lab” workshops, or a self-designed program. 

Apply to the 2025 Chicago Public Library DJ Scholar-in-Residence

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
DJ or Producer Name
Address*
Can you spend 6-8 hours per week at the archives weekly during the hours the archives are open? (See hours of operation: Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection hours, Special Collections at HWLC hours)*
(In 200 words or less, tell us about yourself. This section may be used in CPL announcements and workshop descriptions)
Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 30 MB.

Your Proposed Project

This section should demonstrate your experience, range and describe your vision of your musical project.
(Please include information such as, approximate # of attendees, event theme/venue, style of music/artists spun, and what made the event special to you.)
Which collections from Harsh and/or Special Collections would you consider relevant to your research for this project?
Drop files here or
Max. file size: 30 MB, Max. files: 2.

    Your Programming Experience

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