Made it Here!
        Deadline April 1, 2026

Are you working on a creative project in one of Columbia's on-campus facilities? Made it Here! celebrates our amazing on-campus fabrication facilities and the creative projects made within them. If you have a project you have even partially made using Columbia equipment or facilities, please exhibit with Hokin Gallery. You may submit works in progress.

Student Spaces for Art and Collaboration offers students at Columbia College Chicago the opportunity to exhibit their work in Hokin Gallery. Students within any field of study are open to submit creative projects that can be displayed in an art gallery setting. 

Have a project but not sure how to present it? Ask gallery staff for advice!

Reach out to Mark Porter, Senior Art Program Coordinator, mporter@colum.edu

Made it Here! is a celebration of the amazing on-campus facilities available to Columbia students. 

Your work is eligible if:

1. It can be displayed on a wall or pedestal

2. Was created (even partially) in an on-campus facility including, but not limited to Makerspace, Printmaking studios, Papermaking studios, Fabrication Facility, Fashion,

3. You are enrolled at Columbia College Chicago during the 2026 academic year (May graduates are eligible.)

4. Can deliver the work to the gallery BEFORE June 15. We can accept work as early as May!

Please note Hokin Gallery does not have a budget to mail any works that can not be picked up in person after the exhibit ends. If you provide a shipping box that is pre-paid, we can send to you!

5. Does not violate any of the prohibited materials/activities listed below the form.

Need advice or have questions? Mark Porter, mporter@colum.edu

The Following items and activites are not allowed in Hokin Gallery:

Prohibited Items:

• Candles and/or open flames of any kind at any time 

• Weapons or objects that resemble weapons 

• Potentially hazardous materials or chemicals requiring special ventilation 

• Live animals, untreated hides, taxidermy, biomatter (living or recently living organisms) 

• Bloodborne pathogens (BBP), blood, urine, other bodily fluids, or hypodermic needles 

• Unprotected sharp edges, points, or moving components, pedestals, heavy or unstable objects, objects hanging from above, building a wall or altering a wall, overhead closures (tents, roofs, etc), window coverings 

• Unprotected electrical appliances, bare wiring, spliced wires, invented or altered electrical items 

• Inebriants (alcohol, prescription or over the counter medications)

Prohibited activites:

• Attaching anything to the ceiling, sprinkler system, or pipes 

• Alterations to any fire extinguishers, exit signs, or alarm systems 

• Creating any potential tripping hazards (cords or cables on the floor must be secured with gaffer’s tape or cord covering) or projects that block egress 

• Utilizing alternative public spaces – stairways, hallways, elevators, sidewalks, exterior facing windows 

• Displaying profanity visible from outside of the gallery or from the street 

• Serving unapproved and/or unpackaged food (during performances or artist talks) 

• Audience interactive/participatory actions that may place duress on the body during performances 

• Violating confidentiality, privacy and anonymity permissions, copyrights, and public interaction 

The following must be approved by gallery staff:

• Painting or drawing directly on walls 

• Hanging heavy objects on the wall greater than 10 lbs 

• Showing floor work greater than 250 lbs 

• Decomposing materials, plants, soil, sand, or rocks 

• Work that contains food or water 

• Excessive noise 

• Large amounts on materials or supplies not typically used 

• Performance pieces – you must explicitly tell us what you’re planning on performing 

• ANYTHING YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT 

Hokin Gallery is accepting proposals for 6-12 person exhibitions Deadline  Monday, April 20, 2026

Student Spaces for Art and Collaboration offers students at Columbia College Chicago the opportunity to exhibit their work within a gallery setting. Students within any field of study are open to submit an exhibition proposal for a minimum of 6 persons and maximum of 12 persons to be held in Hokin Gallery from September 23-November 13, 2026. The submission should be organized by one main contact person. All students enrolled in the 2025-2026 academic year are eligible however 80 percent of the participating students must be enrolled in classes for the Fall semester of 2026. Works submitted in the proposal may be works in progress but must be completed by the exhibit installation. Your proposal must include at least one idea for a related event that is hosted in an SSAC facility (Hokin, Haus, Shop Columbia or Makerspace)

Please be aware that we only have one available time in our calendar, so unfortunately we can only accept one proposal. Proposals will be reviewed by our Exhibition Planning Committee and a vote will be taken after each proposal is carefully reviewed.  Successful proposals include all of the required items. The more detailed you can be, the better. Please keep in mind you may submit a proposal that includes works in progress 

A full list of items that are prohibited in the gallery are listed below.

Need advice on what to submit? Please reach out, we can help!  Contact Senior Art Program Coordinator Mark Porter, mporter@colum.edu

Need advice on how to assemble a proposal?

Schedule an appointment for advice with gallery management- Mark Porter, mporter@colum.edu

Or Use our handy how to guide- How to Create a Professional Exhibition Proposal 

Proposal Requirements- MUST CONTAIN ALL OF THE FOLLOWING 8 items

1.Upload a PDF document that contains the following:

2.Exhibit concept

3.Exhibit description

4.Contact name and email of main organizer

5.Names of individuals participating include their major and graduation year (minimum 6 persons, maximum 12 persons)

6.A diagram of the exhibit layout (we need to know that you have plans to fill the entire exhibit space) You may use the gallery floorpan below. Please note you can adjust the layout later if needed

Hokin Gallery Floorplan-  https://students.colum.edu/ssac/hokin-gallery-floorplan.pdf

7.Works to be exhibited (may be works in progress), we need an image for each work, title, description and requirements for exhibition.

8. Related event idea. In addition to Hokin Gallery, SSAC Manages Makerspace, Shop Columbia and event spaces. Priority will be given to an exhibit proposal that includes related programming that utilizes other SSAC spaces. For example, an exhibit that incorporates a workshop held in Makerspace, related artworks for sale in ShopColumbia or a performance held in an event space such as Haus.

Here is an example of a program that was included in an approved proposal: Adventures with Monoprint: Alternative Uses of Lamination in Printmaking

Wednesday, February 7th, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Makerspace, 754 S. Wabash Ave,

2nd Floor. Join artist and printmaker XXXXXXXX to explore alternative methods

of printmaking with laminated textures and objects. In this two hour workshop,

you will learn to laminate textural objects and make basic monoprint designs

(a la texture rubbings). Attendees will leave with a successful monoprint and

the laminated “block” that can be used to reproduce. Armed with the basics of

laminating and relief printing introduces new, alternative ways to incorporate

printmaking at home. Please bring your own objects, ephemera, and textures to

work with!

If you need to upload video, audio or large files separately, you may do so below 

Important dates:

Application deadline: Monday, April 20, 2026          Review and Accept/Decline artists: May 5

Artwork Drop-Off September 14

Install: September 15-22

Exhibit dates: September 23-November 13

Exhibit Reception: Thursday, Sept 24, 4-6pm

Artwork Pick up dates: Nov 16

Upon acceptance, Hokin Gallery will send a list of deadlines for promotional materials.

Hokin Gallery will produce all exhibition signage including wall signage, window signage, posters and postcards. Hokin Gallery will promote the exhibit through our social media accounts.

Hokin Gallery can provide advice on how to install the work but does not have a budget for artwork production. Artists are responsible for printing, framing and producing their work. Hokin Gallery has a limited inventory of pedestals and audio/visual equipment. If the gallery does not have an item required to exhibit the work, the artist must provide. Gallery staff and provide advice and consult on assembling the exhibit and artwork. Gallery staff will assist artists during the installation, however the Gallery reserves the right to decline artwork or alter the exhibit based on safety, security and general policies determined by the college. 

By submitting this form all artists involved in the proposal agree that they are the makers or co-makers of the images submitted. Everyone involved agree that the Hokin Gallery may display submitted images on campus or online at Hokin Gallery / Columbia College Chicago social media accounts. All parties agree that submitted works do not violate any federal, state, county or municipal laws, ordinances or regulations, or violate any college policy, regulation or rule as outlined in the Student Handbook and Columbia’s Student Code of Conduct. All parties acknowledge that any persons appearing in the photo have granted likeness permissions.

Again-

Need advice on how to assemble a proposal?

Schedule an appointment for advice with gallery management- Mark Porter, mporter@colum.edu

Or Use our handy how to guide- How to Create a Professional Exhibition Proposal

The Following items and activites are not allowed in Hokin Gallery:

Prohibited Items:

• Candles and/or open flames of any kind at any time 

• Weapons or objects that resemble weapons 

• Potentially hazardous materials or chemicals requiring special ventilation 

• Live animals, untreated hides, taxidermy, biomatter (living or recently living organisms) 

• Bloodborne pathogens (BBP), blood, urine, other bodily fluids, or hypodermic needles 

• Unprotected sharp edges, points, or moving components, pedestals, heavy or unstable objects, objects hanging from above, building a wall or altering a wall, overhead closures (tents, roofs, etc), window coverings 

• Unprotected electrical appliances, bare wiring, spliced wires, invented or altered electrical items 

• Inebriants (alcohol, prescription or over the counter medications)

Prohibited activites:

• Attaching anything to the ceiling, sprinkler system, or pipes 

• Alterations to any fire extinguishers, exit signs, or alarm systems 

• Creating any potential tripping hazards (cords or cables on the floor must be secured with gaffer’s tape or cord covering) or projects that block egress 

• Utilizing alternative public spaces – stairways, hallways, elevators, sidewalks, exterior facing windows 

• Displaying profanity visible from outside of the gallery or from the street 

• Serving unapproved and/or unpackaged food (during performances or artist talks) 

• Audience interactive/participatory actions that may place duress on the body during performances 

• Violating confidentiality, privacy and anonymity permissions, copyrights, and public interaction 

The following must be approved by gallery staff:

• Painting or drawing directly on walls 

• Hanging heavy objects on the wall greater than 10 lbs 

• Showing floor work greater than 250 lbs 

• Decomposing materials, plants, soil, sand, or rocks 

• Work that contains food or water 

• Excessive noise 

• Large amounts on materials or supplies not typically used 

• Performance pieces – you must explicitly tell us what you’re planning on performing 

• ANYTHING YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT 

ShopColumbia announces a Call for Work for Columbia College Chicago current student, graduated alumni, faculty, and staff artists to contribute work in all media that is miniature in size for our Spotlight Exhibition: MINI MINI: A Showcase of Miniature Works (March 18 - April 17, 2026).    

• The theme of the exhibition is miniature. Think small! The maximum size of all work is 4" x 4" x 4" but work can be, and is encouraged to be, smaller. The 4"x 4" x 4" is non-inclusive of the frame size. Any works with framing larger than 4" x 4" x 4" will be exhibited but the artwork image size must be 4" or smaller.
• Artworks do not have to be square! Art can be 2"x2", 3"x4" or any size/format smaller than 4"x4".
• All mediums welcome: fine art, photography, and sculpture pieces are encouraged.
• Two-dimensional work must be framed. Additional unframed copies can accompany framed pieces.
• Artworks can be 2D or 3D. Three-dimensional work will be displayed on a tabletop, shelf, or pedestal.
• All work must be available for purchase. Students earn 75% of every sale. Alumni, faculty, and staff earn 50%.
• New works (2025 or later) are preferred but not mandatory.

Tips and suggestions:

• ShopColumbia encourages artists to buy their frames early and not rely on local shopping options. Online frames are often more economical.
• When pricing your work, make sure to include the cost of the frames.
• Framed pieces and unframed work can be priced differently.
• If artists are printing through the campus Digital Print Center, you may want to print your work early to test print quality. Also, the DPC can experience delays if all artists are printing for the same deadline, plan accordingly.

Submission Deadline: March 1, 2026

Artwork Drop-off + Consignment Forms Deadline: March 11, 2026

ShopColumbia is inviting Columbia College Chicago student organizations to partner with the store for their fundraising efforts.  ShopColumbia will facilitate all sales in store and on our webstore.  
 

Prior to submitting, please read the ShopColumbia + SOC Fundraising Guide 

Please note: Events should be submitted 3-6 months in advance in order to establish procedures with partners and to allocate campus resources.

ShopColumbia announces a Call for NEW WORK for the NEW YEAR!  To celebrate new calendar year, ShopColumbia is inviting new and existing shop artists to submit new work.  

Details:

• Ideally the work should be recently made, either in the last semester or over winter break or J-term.
• What makes the work new?  New design? New ideas? New color palette? New Media?

Submission Deadline: January 30, 2026 (by 11:59pm)

Artwork Drop-off + Consignment Forms Deadline: February 5, 2026 by 4pm.

Columbia College Chicago's Makerspace is seeking proposals from Students, Staff and Faculty to host a workshop(s) at the Makerspace.  
 

Details:
 

• Workshops can be a one-time workshop, series of workshops, or the same workshop hosted more than once. 
• Workshops can be hosted by individuals, multiple presenters or student organizations.
• Workshops must be free and open to all Columbia College students to attend.
• The Makerspace will provide supplies and equipment for workshop hosts and attendees.
• Workshop hosts will be receive a modest stipend for workshop preparation and instructional service.

Questions? Contact Ronda Payne, Director of Student Spaces for Art and Collaboration at rpayne@colum.edu