Fellowship Program - Kala Art Institute
Artists submit applications to complete specific projects or bodies of work that benefit from Kala's specialized equipment in printmaking, digital media, ceramics, weaving, or other media.
Does this fit your work? 5 questions score every call to your medium, location and budget. Free.
Get matched →- Deadline
- annual cycle, check dates
- Entry fee
- Not listed - check the source
- Award
- $3,000
- Location
- Kala Print Studio, 1060 Heinz Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94710
- Exhibition window
- Jul 1, 2026 → Jun 30, 2027
- Applicants notified
- May 1, 2026
About
Overview
Kala's Fellowship Residency Program supports international, national, and local artists producing innovative work in multiple media. The program provides access to equipment, time, space, and financial support to develop ideas and work.
The Fellowship Includes
- $3,000 cash stipend
- One to nine months of studio residency with 24/7 access to communal studio spaces, equipment, and resources
- One class in printmaking, digital media, ceramics, weaving, or other areas
- Inclusion in Kala's annual group exhibition of Fellowship artists
- Access to a community of approximately 75-80 artists working at Kala monthly
Key Dates
- Submission deadline: March 1, 2026
- Application notifications: May 2026
- Program period: July 2026 – June 2027
Program Period
The 2026-2027 Fellowship program period is July 2026 – June 2027. Artists must be able to schedule a residency during that time.
Artist Resources
Artists receive 24/7 access to a shared 8,000 square-foot print studio, digital lab, black and white darkroom, 600 square foot sculpture lab with woodworking tools, kiln/slab roller, sewing machines, and 3 individual artist project spaces (150 sq feet) available to visiting artists.
Housing
Kala offers two shared artist apartments (2-bedroom units with roommate) for artists coming from outside the San Francisco Bay Area. A $200 non-refundable housing deposit is due two weeks upon confirming residency dates and will be applied toward residency costs or the fellowship stipend. An Alternative Housing List is available for artists securing their own accommodations.
How to Apply
Artist residency applications are accepted online at kala.slideroom.com. Applications are initially reviewed by Kala's Co-Director, Artist Residency Manager, Print Studio Manager, and Digital Lab and Sculpture Lab Manager, with top 50+ applications going to the panel.
Selection Panel
The 2026 Fellowship selection panel includes: Talia Heiman (Associate Curator, San Jose Museum of Art), Mahwish Chishty (Fellowship alum), Mayumi Hamanaka (Kala's Co-Executive Director), and is chaired by Artist Residency Manager Leyla Rzayeva. Panel composition changes each year.
Contact
Questions: reach out to Artist Residency Manager Leyla Rzayeva at [email protected] or [email protected], 510.549.2977 x 303.
- Award
- $3,000 stipend, 1 month of housing for artists outside 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
- Eligibility
- Open to international, national, and local artists producing innovative work in multiple media.
- Audience
- International, national, and local artists
- Contact
- [email protected]
Every listing links to the organizer's official page. Always confirm deadlines, fees, and entry rules there before you apply.