CHCM launches “AIR of Equity” Artist-in-Residence program
Thursday, August 28, 2025
The Community Health Commission of Missouri (CHCM) is excited to announce that applications are now open for the AIR of Equity Artist-in-Residence Program. This year-long residency merges artistic innovation with health equity advocacy, offering an immersive opportunity for one St. Louis–based artist to create alongside communities most affected by health disparities.
“Art has always been a force for truth-telling and collective healing,” said Aja Owens, CHCM Implementation Manager, change agent, and poet. “This residency will create space for art to drive equity, policy change, and stronger connections across our communities.”
The selected artist will spend 12 months embedded within CHCM, collaborating with community partners and residents to co-create projects that uplift lived experiences and spark conversations around racial and economic health inequities. The residency will bring health justice to life in new and transformative ways, through storytelling, visual arts, performance, and multimedia.
Residency highlights and creative aims:
- A stipend available, up to $10,000
- $5,000 project and materials budget
- Hosting at least one community engagement event, such as storytelling circles, workshops, or installations
- Co-creating works informed by community voices and CHCM’s health equity data
- A final public showcase in June 2026
Artists of all disciplines are encouraged to apply—visual, literary, performance, multimedia, music, dance, and beyond. Applicants should live or work in the St. Louis region and demonstrate a commitment to community engagement, social practice, or interdisciplinary collaboration.
Deadline: Friday, September 19, 2025 at 11:59 PM CST
Apply by emailing a single PDF to info@chcmissouri.org
Click here to learn more.
Have questions about the application process? Check out our FAQ.
Application Questions
FAQ
For information related to the AIR application, please click the questions below. For additional questions related to the AIR application, please contact info@chcmissouri.org.
Is there a preferred medium?
There is no preferred or targeted medium. Artists of all disciplines are encouraged to submit the medium of their choice. Visual, literacy, performance, multimedia, music, dance and beyond are all acceptable.
When would the community engagement occur?
After the selected artist fellow is notified, they will work closely with CHCM staff to create a plan to engage the community. The artist fellow will have the flexibility to develop their own community engagement initiatives within their personal capacity. The expectation is that the community engagement will be completed before the final public showcase in June 2026.
Is the expectation for the artist to have culminating project(s) or presentations along the way?
The only expectation is that the artist will have a final project to present in June 2026 based on their community engagement efforts throughout the project. CHCM staff will be working closely with the artist and welcome any creative updates leading up to the final public showcase in June 2026.
Is the artist expected to conduct workshops for community members?
The artist will have the flexibility and autonomy to engage community members however they choose. Conducting a workshop is acceptable but not mandatory.
Should the artist have a project already in mind or created?
The artist does not need to have a project already in mind or created. Ideally, the artist will allow their community engagement efforts, along with their interactions with the CHCM team’s work to inform their final public showcase in June 2026.
By what means should work samples be submitted (original pieces, photos, social media links)
The artist should create a PDF file of their work samples and submit via email to the following email address: info@chcmissouri.org
Can a project that is in progress be submitted?
The artist can submit any examples of their work samples.
Can a group make a submission?
No, only an individual artist can submit for this opportunity.
Can the selected fellow work with other artists along their process to complete their final installation?
Yes, the fellow selected will have the creative freedom to collaborate with other artists; however, only the selected artist for this fellowship will be expected to adhere to the deliverables and present a final public showcase in June 2026.
Are there any wording or criteria you look for in the artist statement?
We are looking for artists who can demonstrate how their creative work and community work align with the mission at CHCM-to eliminate health disparities.
Has this fellowship been offered before?
No, this is the first time this fellowship is being offered.
What if an emerging artist is interested in applying, how likely would your submission be considered?
We welcome artists of all disciplines and artistic levels to submit. We will consider each and every submission with the same discretion.
What if you don’t have a lot of community engagement experience, how likely would your submission be considered?
We welcome artists at all levels of community engagement experience. We will consider each and every submission with the same discretion.
What is your overall vision for the fellow selected?
The overall vision for the selected fellow is to engage the community around themes of health justice, equity, lived experience, identity and utilize their creative processes to create original bodies of work that align with CHCM’s values and approach to storytelling and advocacy.
Is there a specific health disparity or issue a fellow should prioritize?
There is no specific health disparity or issue a fellow should prioritize. After engaging in the community and working alongside CHCM staff, the fellow will utilize their data and feedback to inform their final public showcase in June 2026.
What is the selection process like? How soon will the selected fellow be notified?
A diverse panel of experts will utilize a rubric to assess and score all submissions. Based on the scores, the top three artists will be interviewed by CHCM staff. After the interview, one fellow will be selected and notified in early October.
How will fellows be notified?
All artists that submit a completed application will be notified via email whether or not they will be invited to be interviewed by CHCM staff.
Beyond applying for the fellowship, will there be other opportunities for applicants to connect with CHCM? Other applicants?
We will invite every artist that completed an application to attend the final public showcase in June 2026. We also invite artists to subscribe to our newsletter and follow CHCM on all social media platforms to stay informed about future opportunities to engage.
When and how will funds be distributed?
The selected artist fellow will be able to begin working the second week of October. The artist fellow will work with CHCM’s internal team to discuss the increments and frequency of fund distribution.
Are there any stipulations on how to utilize funds?
The artist fellow has the autonomy to utilize the funds at their discretion to support their creative process and overall final public showcase in June 2026.
Will fellows need to submit any reports?
The artist fellow does not need to submit any reports. They will, however, work closely with CHCM staff to provide regular updates. [ The showcase will serve as the final product]
What is the time commitment for the fellow? How often will they need to engage with CHCM throughout the process?
There is no specific time commitment for the artist fellow. The primary responsibility of the fellow is to engage with community to inform the final public showcase in June 2026. The artist fellow will work closely with CHCM staff to develop a timeline that works for their schedule and capacity.
Join us in using art to create new ways to listen, heal, and act together for health equity.