for the 2025 Chico Review

Christopher Anderson - Dana Lixenberg - Matthew Genitempo - Sally Mann - Mark Power - Sage Sohier - Sergio Purtell - Carla Williams

 
 

The Chico Review is the country’s premier Photobook Retreat. Organized by Charcoal Book Club, The Chico Review takes place over six nights at Chico Hot Springs Resort, near Livingston Montana. Sixty-four applicants will be selected by our jury and invited to spend the week with over twenty of the most influential and creative photographers, book makers, gallerists, museum curators, and photobook publishers in the industry. One full scholarship and five partial scholarships will be awarded. Student discounts and need-based scholarships will be available to those selected who qualify.

Attending artists receive ten formal reviews by speakers and reviewers and take part in artist lectures, panel discussions, peer reviews, Q&A sessions, and additional evening programming over the seven day event. 

At the end of the event, one grand prize winner will be announced and their project will be published and distributed by Charcoal Book Club.

 
 

 
The Chico Review is an umbrella, that brings a wide spectrum of experts and students under the shadow mountains of Montana. There is no hierarchy, all is friendly and relaxing.
— Sabiha Çimen
In this crazy and overly complicated world, each year I look forward to the time that I get to spend in Chico. There’s honestly no other event quite like this one!
— Todd Hido
 
 

 
The ratio of reviewers and mentors to participants was unlike anything I had ever seen before, ensuring that participants received a tremendous amount of one-on-one time with the mentors. To run a well oiled event at this size is no small feat!
— Sasha Wolf, Sasha Wolf Projects
My experience at Chico was unlike any other portfolio review event. So much of my work as a curator depends on solid working relationships with photographers and Chico was a great opportunity to lay that foundation.
— Gregory Harris, High Museum of Art
 
 

 

2025 Keynote Speakers

 

 
Modeled after summer camp, the Chico Review is serious fun in a magnificent setting.
— Mimi Plumb
I left Chico wanting to do everything differently. I haven’t totally recovered yet.
— Danial Arnold
 

 

2025 Featured Reviewers

 

 
I loved being at the Chico review. There’s a very warm atmosphere, surrounded by epic beauty, away from daily life. I learned a lot, left with energy to work and a wish to return to Chico!
— Michael Ackerman
It was magical to be totally immersed in looking at and thinking about photography, alongside beautiful people, for an entire week. Life doesn’t give you many opportunities like this.
— Jenia Fridlyand
 

 

2025 Selection Jury

 
The Chico Review is the most refreshing art retreat I’ve ever attended. The whole experience created by Charcoal Book Club is warm, relaxed, and completely revitalizing. I would highly recommend this over many 2-3 days reviews that are more impersonal.”
— Paul Moakley - TIME
 
 

 

2025 Exclusive Alumni Workshop & Special Guests

Returning alumni have the opportunity to attend subsequent years of the Chico Review without submitting a portfolio, paying the application fee, or being selected by the jury. We offer exclusive workshops and programming to develop the skills and grow the network of our Alumni.

 

 
The atmosphere is casual but intensive, and beautiful—turns out the hot spring is a good place to talk about photography and the snow peaked mountains in the backdrop weren’t a bad sight to recharge the eyes.
— Irina Rozovsky
The stunning, unspoiled, Big Sky setting of rural Montana provides an ideal counterpoint to the intensity of the lectures and discussions with exceptional company from the moment you arrive until the moment you, reluctantly, must leave.
— Richard Rothman

Awards and Scholarships

 
  • 1 Charcoal Publishing Prize - The Charcoal Publishing Prize will be awarded to one attending photographer. The selected project will be published and distributed worldwide by Charcoal Book Club.

  • 6 Merit Scholarships - One full tuition scholarship ($4850) and five partial tuition scholarships ($1500) to the Chico Review will be awarded to six accepted attendees. Scholarships are awarded based on the quality of submitted projects.

  • 64 Selected Artists - Sixty-four total photographers will be invited to travel to take part in this juried photobook retreat. These attendees are chosen by our jury based on the merit of their submitted project.

    *Academic discounts and limited need-based scholarships available upon acceptance.

 
 
 

 

What to expect if selected to attend

 

Schedule

Each day will include three catered meals, two artist lectures from one of this year's speakers, daily portfolio reviews, and unscheduled free time. Each attendee will have ten 20-minute portfolio reviews with a mix of our speakers and reviewers. Over the course of four days, you will spend time reviewing your work and gaining insight from our featured speakers, reviewers, and Charcoal Book Club staff. During unstructured time (including one entirely free day in the middle of the week), attendees can relax around the lodge and hot springs or explore the surrounding area - bookstores and saloons in Livingston, wildlife in Yellowstone National Park, and the ranch land of Paradise Valley.

 


Accommodation

We've reserved private and shared rooms on the 150-acre property. Room sizes and amenities differ, and we're offering them on a first-come, first-served basis. You'll have the opportunity to select your accommodation upon acceptance. Activities at Chico start at its steamy natural hot springs, with two open-air pools averaging 96 and 103 degrees year-round. The Yellowstone River and surrounding spring creeks that slice through the wide-open glacial valley are fly fishing meccas during warmer months.

 

Menu

You'll eat well at Chico Hot Springs. The extensive gardens produce abundant vegetables thanks to rich soil that is heated by the geothermal runoff from the natural hot springs. There's a dining room, cocktail lounge, saloon, and diner on the premises, and we'll provide you with three square meals a day. "Chico is just quintessential Montana," says owner Colin Davis. "We get the rancher down the road who drops in for a steak and a glass of Jim Beam. Then a bit of Hollywood could show up for a bottle of Sassicaia”.

 
 

 
 
My advice: don’t think of Chico as a “portfolio review.” Of course, the one-on-one sessions are an important part of the event, but I think the great value is in the extended informal time you’ll have with speakers, reviewers, and fellow attendees. It’s a unique opportunity to foster professional and personal bonds that will last a lifetime. I feel sure that Chico will be as much of a thrill for you as it always is for me.
— Tim Carpenter, 2024 Reviewer
 
 

 

Attendance details if selected to attend

 

TUITION & Board - $4850

Tuition & Board include:

  • 10 Portfolio reviews by speakers and reviewers

  • Daily lectures, panel discussions, peer reviews and Q&A sessions

  • Daily catered meals, daily happy hours, snacks, and more

  • Access to alumni programming and benefits in perpetuity

*Academic discounts and limited need-based scholarships available to those who qualify upon acceptance.

LODGING

We’ve reserved the majority of Chico Hot Springs for this event. Upon acceptance, we will help you select your accommodations, which range from main lodge rooms ($100/night) to deluxe private suites ($255/night)—something for everyone's budget.

Room types are available on a first-come, first served-basis.

 

Timeline

Call-for-entries Open
16 August 2024
|
Submission Deadline
24 November 2024
|
Late Submission Deadline
1 December 2024
|
Selected Attendee and Scholarship Announcements
27 December 2024
|
Chico Review Begins
17 March 2025
|
Charcoal Book Club Publishing Prize Announcement
19 June 2025