Kala's Artist-in-Residence program serves over 150 artists annually. International, national, and local artists producing innovative work in printmaking, sculpture, photography, digital media, film and video, sound, animation, media art installation, and book arts are encouraged to apply. Artists share space, equipment, techniques, and ideas and are a vital part of the Kala community. Residents receive 24/7 access to a shared 8,000-square-foot Print Studio, equipment, digital lab, sculpture lab, black and white darkroom, and 3 individual artist project spaces (150-400 sq feet available to visiting artists). Kala offers subsidized contract residency rates for different working needs and artist experiences.
Applicant Resources
– How to Apply
– Residency Experience
– Kala Facilities
Artists can apply for the following in a single application:
– Artist Residency (AIR) Program
– Jen Cole Artist Residency Award
– CCA Hamaguchi Emerging Artist Resdiency at Kala
– Veterans Artist Residency
Residency Eligibility
Residency Experience Summary
Application Information
Application Deadline: July 26th, 2025
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS HERE
Residency Resources: artists receive 24/7 access to a shared 8,000-square-foot print studio, sculpture and textiles lab, digital lab, black and white darkroom, and 3 individual artist project spaces (150 sq feet each available to visiting artists).
Applicant Resources
– How to Apply
– Residency Experience
– Kala Facilities
Important to Note: Print Studio location description: Kala Print Studio is located at the top of three flights of stairs, a total of 52 steps. Feel free to reach out to Leyla Jamil Rzayeva, Artist Residency Manager, at leyla@kala.org or by phone at T: 510.549.2977 x 303 Mon-Thu 9 am - 5 pm PT with any questions. If stairs present an access issue for you, please feel free to let staff know.
Eligibility Criteria: The selection panel considers skills in the proposed project area that match the resources available at Kala, along with artistic and conceptual strengths. Examples of the proposed media are highly encouraged in the application. Artists who apply for a residency should be familiar with at least one of the media and equipment offered at Kala print studio, digital lab, darkroom, sculpture lab, and other facilities: https://www.kala.org/residencies/facilities/ Applications are reviewed by Kala’s Co-Director, Artist Residency Manager, Print Studio Manager, and Digital Lab and Sculpture Lab Manager.
Kala’s Artist Residency Apartments: Artist housing is located across the street from Kala’s facilities. Kala offers two shared artist apartments, each apartment is a 2-bedroom unit, meaning you will be living with a roommate and sharing a kitchen, living room, and bathroom. A $200 non-refundable housing deposit to reserve artist housing is due in two weeks upon confirming the dates of your residency and will be applied toward your residency costs.
Project Spaces: In addition to the shared facilities, artists staying in Kala's apartment receive an individual Project Space (150-200 sq ft).
Keep in touch on social media @kalaartinstitute and through the weekly newsletter here!
Artists-in-residence can sign up for 1, 2, or 3-month-long contracts. Individual artists can choose to do a full-time residency (up to 7 days/week) or part-time (up to 3 days/week) with 24/7 access to the print studio for individual artists. A collaborative rate option is also available. All artist residencies are highly subsidized and are made possible through generous donations from foundations and individuals.
1, 2, or 3-Month Part-Time Contract: $315 per month
3 days per week studio access
1, 2, or 3-Month Full-Time Contract: $470 per month
4 to 7 days per week studio access
2-week Full-Time Contract with Kala Housing included: $1,100 total
Full-time studio access and Kala’s shared artist apartments are available to artists who reside outside the Bay Area.
Emerging AIR Program
For artists who have graduated from a BA, BFA, or MFA program in the last 24 months, Kala is pleased to provide a discounted residency rate to artists for one year after graduation. Rates are $200 per month for a part-time 1, 2, or 3-month contract ($1400 per month w/ Kala housing included), and $400 per month for a full-time contract ($1600 per month w/ Kala housing included)
Senior AIR Discount
Artists (65+ years of age) will receive a $25 per month discount on the residency rates, with the exception of Emerging AIR Program.
Kala’s Artist Residency Apartments: Kala offers housing in two shared artist apartments: each unit is a 2-bedroom shared apartment, meaning you will be living with a roommate and sharing a kitchen, living room, and bathroom, at an additional subsidized fee of $1,200 per month. Please note that Kala’s shared apartments are limited to artists who reside outside of the Bay Area. Upon reservation, housing adds $1,200/month to the residency rates.