Kala Art Institute Artist-in-Residence
Artists working in and across printmaking, photography, or digital media arts are encouraged to apply to Kala's Artist-In-Residence program. Kala's printmaking studio, digital lab, and darkroom are shared facilities. Resident artists receive year-round 24-hour access to the printmaking workshop and/or media center, individual storage space, possible exposure on Kala’s website and in other exhibitions at Kala, and participation in a vital, international artistic community.
Artists may apply for 1-, 2-, or 3-month residencies, and must specify the desired residency length in the application. Please review our contract rates here to determine what option works best for you; 6-month residencies are available to continuing and returning Artists-in-Residence who have completed a 3-month residency.
Applications are reviewed three times per year: January 15, May 15, and October 15 by Kala’s Artistic Director/Co-Director, Artist Residency Manager, Kala’s print studio manager, and Digital Lab Manager. The jury considers skill in the proposed project area that matches the resources available at Kala, along with artistic and conceptual strength.
Residency Program Information
Residency Program Summary
Application Information
A Full Application Includes:
-Completed application questions
-Artist resumé or CV
-Work samples, up to 5 images and/or 5 minutes of video
Examples of the proposed printmaking or digital media are highly encouraged in the application.
Kala offers contract rates for different working needs and artist experiences! New 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. Rates are effective October 2nd, 2023.
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.
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.
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 Program
Senior artists (65+ years of age) will receive a $25 per month discount on all residency rates.
Accessibility
Kala Print Studio is located at the top of three flights of stairs. Please email Leyla Rzayeva at kalaair@kala.org before enrolling so we can assess if we can accommodate you (and your service animal) safely and efficiently.
Feel free to reach Leyla 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!
Kala Print Studio is located at the top of three flights of stairs. Please email Leyla Rzayeva at kalaair@kala.org before enrolling so we can assess if we can accommodate you (and your service animal) safely and efficiently.
We currently house our traditional black & white photography darkroom and our documentation room on the second floor of our space. This is not accessible by the elevator and artists must be able to walk up stairs in order to access this.
Housing & Accomodation
- Modern kitchens with custom fixtures.
- Gas range cooktops
- Energy Star-rated appliances
- Full size, front-loading washers and dryers
- Rooftop deck with barbeques, firepits, and seating
- Secure indoor bike storage room and bike maintenance station
- Lobby and living room area with a bar, seating, and TV
- Fitness room
- On-demand yoga with local instructor Peter Walters
- Car matrix parking and
EV charging stations - High-filtration ventilation air supplied directly to each apartment
- High-efficiency building glazing and insulation
- Non-toxic materials and finishes, including paints, sealants, and adhesives
- FloorScore certified wood flooring made from 98% post-industrial recycled content
- In-unit LED Lighting and Energy Star-rated appliances
- Operational policies for building maintenance aligned with LEED criteria
Studio & 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
The Print Studio (8,000 sq. ft.) includes equipment to facilitate a variety of traditional and contemporary print processes including: Intaglio, Relief, Lithography, Screen print, Letterpress, Black & White Photography and Alternative Photographic Processes. In addition to the Digital Arts Lab, the Print Studio houses these spaces: Workshop, Photo Darkroom, Acid Room, Exposure Room, Screen printing, Lithography, Multi-use/Shared Presses, Editioning Room, Letterpress, Paper Preparation/Print Dryers, and Kitchen.
EQUIPMENT LISTS (major items only)
Presses:
American French Tool Etching Presses (3)
*Press bed sizes: 48 x 78″, 40 x 70″, 40 x 70″
*Approximate maximum printable areas: 44 x 66″, 36 x 58″, 36 x 58″
Charles Brand Etching Press (2)
*Press bed sizes: 32 x 52″, 30 x 50″
*Approximate maximum printable areas: 28 x 40″, 26 x 36″
Griffin Etching Press
*Press bed size: 21.75 x 40″
*Approximate maximum printable area: 17.75 x 28″
Takach Motor Driven Lithography Press
*Press bed size: 33 x 56.5″
*Metal printing base for plate lithography: 32 x 51″
Griffin Lithography Press
*Press bed size: 26.5 x 45.5″
Vandercook SP-15 Letterpress
*Maximum form size: 14 x 18”
*Maximum printable area: 12 x 15”
*Maximum sheet size: 14.75 x 20”
*Magnetic Printing bases (Patmag base: 12 x 16”, Bunting base: 8.5 x 11.25”)
Vandercook SP-20 Letterpress
*Maximum form size: 19 x 26”
*Maximum printable area: 17 x 22”
*Maximum sheet size: 19.5 x 28”
*Magnetic Printing bases (Patmag base: 12 x 16”, Bunting base: 8.5 x 11.25”)
Silkscreen vacuum table with arm (manual printing):
*Vacuum area 36 x 48”
*Maximum screen size 50 x 72” (or 48 x 60” if using the vacuum area)
Cincinnati Silkscreen vacuum table with arm (manual printing):
*Vacuum area 27 x 43”
*Maximum screen size 42 x 64”
Other:
Amergraph Advantage 150 Silkscreen exposure unit
*Maximum outside dimensions of silkscreen: 30″ x 40″
Anderson Vreeland Orbital VIII Photo-Polymer Platemaker
*Maximum plate size: A4 (8.3″ x 11.7″)
NuArc FT26MH flip-top vacuum exposure unit (photo-intaglio & alternative photo processes)
*Maximum plate / paper size: 18″ x 24″ or 20″ x 22″
For further information about studio equipment, processes and capabilities, please inquire with the Print Studio Manager, nick@kala.org.
DIGITAL ARTS LAB / PHOTO SHOOTING STUDIO
The Digital Arts Lab (D.A.L.) houses digital media-based equipment to facilitate digital photography, design, large format printing and digital video editing.
EQUIPMENT LISTS (major items only)
Computers and peripheral hardware:
We have 9 Apple workstations with color-corrected monitors, Adobe Creative Suite
Printers:
-(1) Epson 9900 (44″ wide, photo and matte black inks)
-(1) Epson p8000 (newest model 44″ Printer)
-(1) Epson p6000 ( newest model 24″ Printer)
-Epson 4800 (17″ wide, matte black ink)
Scanners:
-Imacon Flextight 848 Virtual DrumScanner (scan films up to 4″x5″, reflective materials up to A4)
-Epson 10000 XL Photo Flatbed Scanner (12″x 17″)
-Epson 4490 Photo Flatbed Scanner (Letter size)
-Plustek oversize document scanner (12″ X 17″)
Computer software programs:
Adobe Creative Suite
Digital Photography:
-Nikon D3300 24MP DSLR
-Nikon D5500 24MP DSLR
-Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8 lens
-Nikon 28-70mm f/2.8 lens
-Nikon 85mm f/3.5 Macro lens
-Nikon 35mm f/1.8 prime lens
-Imacon Flextight 848 Virtual Drum Scanner
Photography:
-Sinar “X” 4×5 camera
-Northlight Lighting System
-Cambo Studio Stand
-Bogen Tripod
-Acute 2400w strobe set with two heads
-3 Beseler 4X5 Enlargers one with color head
Video:
-Panasonic HD Digital Camcorder
-Sony Mini-DV recorder/player
-JVL Mini-DV HD recorder/player
-DVD Players-Epson & Canon Multimedia Projectors
-Tascam DR-40
Kala’s studio environment is designed for artists who can work independently and/or collaboratively without staff assistance. Staff will provide basic orientations, which include information about functionality, tips & tricks, and individual “personalities” of our presses and processes in the studio; however, we can’t offer instruction. If you are new to a piece of equipment or a technical process, we encourage you to take a class before application to gain proficiency.