Residencies - Kala Art Institute

Kala Art Institute provides space and equipment to artists working in and across the fields of printmaking, photography, performance, sculpture, fiber, clay, and textile arts, installation and media arts through our Artist-In-Residence (AIR) and Fellowship programs. Artists accepted into our residency programs receive access to Kala’s facilities, which include an 8,000 square foot printmaking facility, digital media lab, black and white photo darkroom, and a new 600 square foot sculpture and textile lab. Through a wide array of equipment resources, communal space, a dynamic artist community, a 2,200 light-filled square foot gallery, print and media study center, and exhibition opportunities, Kala offers artists a unique and supportive environment to experiment and make new work.

We are excited to launch a new Curatorial Fellowship this cycle at Kala. For the inaugural program we are accepting applications from Bay Area curators, artists, and cultural workers to provide research and exhibition development opportunities. The year-long program culminates in an 8-10 week exhibition in the Kala Gallery.

The 2026-2027 Fellowship application will open on December 15, 2025.

Find out more about the application here!

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Artist-in-Residence Program

The Artist-in-Residence (AIR) Program provides accepted artists with 24-hour access to the printmaking workshop, digital lab, black and white darkroom, sculpture and textiles lab, individual storage space, access to Kala’s gallery with potential exhibition opportunities, professional development resources including classes, and participation in a vital, international artist community. Established in 1974, Kala has been supporting emerging and established artists for over 50 years. Kala’s artist residency programs have steadily grown over the years. You can learn more about the application process and facilities here!

The residency application will be released on December 15, 2025.

Artists are encouraged to apply to the Fellowship and Artist Residency – a single application (March 1st, 2026 deadline).

Visit kala.slideroom.com starting on December 15th to begin your application.

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Fellowship Program

KALA FELLOWSHIP

Kala Fellowship is an artist residency for international, national, and local artists producing innovative work in and across multiple media. For over 30 years, Kala Art Institute has provided artists with equipment, time, space, and financial support for their work through the Kala Fellowship. The Fellowship is geared towards supporting artists in completing specific projects or bodies of work that would benefit from Kala’s specialized equipment. In 2025, Kala supported 6 artists with a $3000 stipend, 1 month of housing for artists outside of the 9 Bay Area counties, 24/7 access to Kala’s facilities for 1-9 months, a Kala class or workshop, and a culminating group show in the Kala Gallery.

The 2026-2027 Fellowship application will be published on December 15, 2025.

Visit kala.slideroom.com starting on December 15th to begin your application!

Learn More

Curatorial Fellowship Program

ABOUT KALA CURATORIAL FELLOWSHIP

We are excited to launch a new Curatorial Fellowship this cycle at Kala. For the inaugural program we are accepting applications from Bay Area curators, artists, and cultural workers to provide research and exhibition development opportunities. The year-long program culminates in an 8-10 week exhibition in the Kala Gallery.

The 2026-2027 Fellowship application will be published on December 15, 2025.

Visit kala.slideroom.com starting on December 15th to begin your application!

Learn More

Media Arts Residency Program

Kala’s Media Arts Fellowship supports artists working on innovative projects in and across film and video, sound, animation, performance cinema, and media arts installation. This opportunity is open to local, national, and international artists. Media Arts Fellowships are selected by a jury based on conceptual creativity, originality and artistic excellence, and project-specific technical knowledge. In 2023, Kala Media Fellowship supported 4 artists with a $3,000 stipend, unlimited access to Kala’s facilities for up to 9 months, one free class/workshop at Kala, and a culminating group exhibition with the 2023-2024 Fellowship and Media Arts Cohort in the Kala Gallery. The Media Arts Fellowship is geared towards supporting artists in completing specific projects or bodies of work that would benefit from Kala’s equipment and resources in the print studio, darkroom, digital lab, small project spaces, and gallery.

Media-based artists are encouraged to apply through the fellowship application.

The 2026-2027 Fellowship application will be published on December 15, 2025.

Visit kala.slideroom.com here starting on December 15th to begin your application!

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Veterans Residency Program

Kala Veterans Artist Residency Program provides artist residencies to local, regional, and national artists. Veterans working in the arts, producing innovative work in mediums including printmaking, film and video, digital media, sculpture, textile and fiber arts, installation, social practice, photography, and book arts are encouraged to apply. The 2025-2026 Veterans Artist Residency includes 1-4 months of a studio residency with 24/7 studio access, cash Award: $1,000, 1 month of housing at Kala’s apartment for artists coming from outside the Bay Area, an individual project spaces (150-200 sq ft) or a large shared project space (400 sq ft) available to artists staying in Kala’s apartment; funded Kala class or workshop, community and network of approximately 75 artists working at Kala, participation in Kala events and support of Kala staff!

The next Veterans Artist Residency application will be published on December 15th, 2025.

Visit kala.slideroom.com here starting on December 15th to begin your application.

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Print Public Residency Program

The Print Public municipal artist-in-residence program is back in collaboration with the City of Berkeley and two local artists or artist teams to work as cultural strategists within the City of Berkeley’s Planning Department. Selected artists receive a stipend, and 16-month residency at Kala with 24/7 access to Kala’s printmaking studio, digital lab, and other facilities.

Kala, in partnership with Berkeley Civic Arts, welcomed the 2023-2025 cohort of the Print Public municipal artist-in-residence program. This cycle, the Print Public Municipal Artist-in-Residence supports two artists with concurrent 20-month artist residencies with Kala and with City of Berkeley’s Planning Department. Cheryl Derricotte is paired with Katie Van Dyke and the Pilot Climate Equity Action Fund and Marcel Pardo Ariza is paired with Robert Rivera and the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan.

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Parent Artist Residency Program

Parent Artist Residency supports artists with children under 18; currently, there is no application for the Parent Artist Residency. We’re looking for additional funding to support the Parent Residency program in the future.

Kala offers fully funded residences through the Fellowship (March 1st, 2026 deadline), Veterans Artist Residency (March 1st, 2026 deadline), Jen Cole Artist Residency, and CCA Hamaguchi Artist Residency (July deadline). All residences are subsidized and are made possible through generous donations and grants from foundations and individuals. You can learn more about the application process and facilities here!

Artists who are parents are encouraged to apply to the Fellowship and Artist Residency – a single application (March 1st, 2026 deadline).

Visit kala.slideroom.com here starting on December 15th to begin your application.

Learn More

Facilities

Kala Art Institute is a unique resource, providing high-quality working facilities to artists working in and across printmaking, photography, book arts, installation, performance and media arts. Kala’s facilities are spread out over two buildings and feature the following: Print Studio, Gallery, Digital Arts Lab, Photo Darkroom, and Gallery Mercy and Roger Smullen Print & Media Study Center

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