Parent Artist Residency Program

We recognize that each artist family has its own set of challenges when seeking a residency program. Families with multiple children of varying ages have different needs than families with older, more independent children. By offering a flexible residency experience in addition to our standard residency programs, we hope to create multiple entry points for artists to create artwork amidst the ever-evolving and diverse demands of family life. The Parent Artist Residency Program at Kala was generously supported by the Sustainable Arts Foundation (SAF) through 2024.

Since 2021, one Fellowship each year has been designated for a parent artist. To date, Kala has offered 10 rounds of Parent Artist Residency Awards!

Each parent artist creates an individual residency plan with up to $1000 worth of Kala services that can be applied towards the Residency Program, Kala Adult classes, Camp Kala, or other youth art programs for their children, or consulting with Kala staff about professional development opportunities. Artists will work out an individual plan with the Artist Residency Manager to build a unique experience within the time frame of the program period.

Upcoming Application Deadlines

February 2, 2025 (9:00 pm PST) deadline to apply for the Fellowship, Artist-in-Residency, and Veterans Residency in one application at kala.slideroom.com

Artists can apply in one application at kala.slideroom.com for:

– Fellowship
– Artist-in-Residence
– Veterans Residency

We’re looking for additional funding opportunities to support the Parent Residency program in 2025-2026. Although the Parent Residency is not specifically offered for the 2025-2026 application cycle, Kala offers great opportunities for artists through the Fellowship and the AIR (Artist-in-Residence) programs, which are continuously subsidized and offer great print studio and housing rates. Find out more below!

Applicant Resources

– Residency Experience
– How to Apply
– Residency Options & Subsidized Rates

Parent Residency Alumni

2024-2025 Parent Residency Recipients*:

Shirin Khalatbari (Berkeley, CA )
Kelley O’Leary (El Cerrito, CA)

*A special thanks to Sustainable Arts Foundation for supporting 2024-2025 Fellowship Artist Cristine Blanco!

2023-2024 Parent Residency Recipients*:

Jun Igarashi (Tokyo, Japan)*
Sasha Kelley (Oakland, CA )
Bushra Gill (Lafayette, CA)

*A special thanks to Sustainable Arts Foundation for supporting 2023/24 Fellowship Artist Alison Chen, and Curator-in-Residence Jun Igarashi!

2022-2023 Award Recipients*:
Demetri Broxton (Oakland, CA )
Rupy Tut (Santa Clara, CA)
*A special thanks to Sustainable Arts Foundation for supporting Fellowship artist Jessica Mehta.

2021-2022 Award Recipients*:
Alexandru Salceanu (San Francisco, CA )
Kathy Aoki (Santa Clara, CA)
*A special thanks to Sustainable Arts Foundation for supporting Fellowship artist Alisa Ochoa.

2020-2021 Award Recipients:
Judit Navratil (Oakland, CA )
Chloe Alexander (Hapreville, GA)

2019-2020 Award Recipients:
In our seventh year, Kala was able to award five residency packages to these outstanding artists with children:
Francis Baker (Oakland, CA )
Tavarus Blackmon (Sacramento, CA)
Ellen Heck (Winston Salem, NC)
Pablo Manga (Oakland, CA )
Narges Poursadeqi ( El Cerrito, CA)

Honorary AIR Awardee:
Ellie Fritz (San Rafael, CA)

2018-2019 Award Recipients:
In our sixth year, Kala was able to award five residency packages to these outstanding artists with children:
Susan Belau (San Francisco, CA)
Charmaine Davis(Alameda, CA)
Brian King (Oakland, CA)
Arturo Meade (San Rafael, CA)
Steph Rue (Sacramento CA)

2017 Award Recipients
In our fifth year, Kala was able to award eight residency packages to these outstanding artists with children:
Karen Gallagher Iverson
Steve Green
Diane Jacobs
Kimberlee Koym-Murteira
Ricardo Pinto
Beth Waldman
Suné Woods

2016 Award Recipients
In our fourth year, Kala was able to award eight residency packages to these outstanding artists with children:
Cynthia Ona Innis
Jenifer Kent
Vanessa Woods
Frederick Alvarado
Melissa Holden
Apollonia Morrill
Patricia Torres Ortiz
Victoria Wagner

2015 Award Recipients
In the third year, Kala was able to award ten residency packages to these outstanding artists with children:
Kim Bennett, Berkeley, CA
Eva Evrard, Brussels, Belgium
Patrick Gabler, Hamburg, Germany
Richard Haley, Birmingham, MI
Parul Naresh, Fremont, CA
Miwako Nishizawa, Berkeley, CA
Allison Reimus, Mount Prospect, IL
Hyeyoung Shin, Kansas City, MO
Emma Spertus, Oakland, CA
Marcia Teusink, London, UK

2014 Award Recipients
In the second year, Kala was able to award ten residency packages to these outstanding artists with children:
Carol Elkovich, Richmond, CA
Claire Kessler-Bradner, Oakland, CA
Julia Lucey, Fairfax, CA
Latifa Medjdoub, San Francisco, CA
Olivia Mole, San Francisco, CA
Kelly Ording, Oakland, CA
Maria Porges, Oakland, CA
Brody Reiman, San Rafael, CA
Lisa Solomon, Oakland, CA
Katherine Warriner, San Anselmo, CA

2013 Award Recipients 
In the pilot year of 2013, Kala offered residency options to support seven outstanding artists with children:
Johnna Arnold, Oakland, CA
Kim Anno, Berkeley, CA
Brian Caraway, Oakland, CA
Karen Kersten, Oakland, CA
Eric Larson, San Francisco, CA
Lena Wolff, Berkeley, CA
Wafaa Yasin, San Francisco, CA
Kevan Jenson, Berkeley, CA