ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM

Artists working in various printmaking techniques, photo-processes, book arts and digital media including sound/video production can apply to become an Artist-in-Residence at Kala Art Institute. Residency applications are accepted four times per year. Artists who apply for residency should be familiar with at least one of the media offered at Kala. Considerations for acceptance are conceptual creativity and technical knowledge. Kala encourages experimental uses of both traditional and new technologies, and their admixture.

Resident artists receive 24-hour access to the printmaking workshop and/or electronic media center; individual storage space; exhibition opportunities such as the Artists' Annual show in the Kala Gallery and possible exposure on Kala's website and in other exhibitions at Kala or outside exhibition spaces; and participation in a vital, international artistic community. Artists also receive a 20% discount on classes and private tutoring offered by Kala.

Please note that this is a studio residency only; housing is not included. Artists are responsible for finding their own housing.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Applications are reviewed four times per year. Artists may apply for 1-, 2-, or 3-month residencies, and must specify the desired residency length in the application. (6-month residencies also exist, but are only available to continuing and returning Artists-in-Residence who have done the 3-month Evaluative Review.)

Application deadlines (materials received by):
January 31
residencies starting in March, April, May, or June
April 30
residencies starting in June, July, August, or September
July 31
residencies starting in September, October, November, or December
October 31
residencies starting in December, January, February, or March

(Note that there is some overlap of months. This means that artists applying on January 31 would have first dibs on residencies starting in June, but artists applying on April 30 would also be able to start in June if there are spots available.)

The application processes for local and out-of-area artists differ:

Bay Area artists
Please submit a request, by mail or email, for an in-person portfolio review with the Artistic and Executive Directors. Submissions should be in the form of an application cover sheet (download here). Within about a week following the application deadline, you will be contacted to schedule the portfolio review.

Artists living elsewhere
Please submit the following by email or mail, to be reviewed by the Executive and Artistic Directors:
-application cover sheet (download here)
-resumé (include detailed information on your previous experience with the media you wish to use at Kala)
-work samples (CD/DVD); maximum 20 works or 10 minutes of video (if sending by email, under 10MB total)
-image list
-artist statement

Materials will not be returned.

For more information, e-mail Program Manager Patrick Stockstill at patrick@kala.org.

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IF YOU ARE ACCEPTED TO THE PROGRAM

You will find out if you have been accepted approximately three weeks after the application deadline.
Artists who are accepted do an Initial Technical Review with the Studio and/or Electronic Media Center (EMC) Managers. The Managers sometimes require the artist to complete certain classes or technical tutorials before beginning the residency.

If this is the case, the artist is given a list of the classes/tutorials required. At this point the artist may accept or reject the offer of a residency.

If the offer is accepted, the artist completes the required conditions within a reasonable time frame (approximately 2 months), signs the residency contract, and pays a $100 security deposit and the first month's fee. The Studio and EMC Managers give the artist studio/equipment orientations.

DURING THE RESIDENCY

A month into the residency, the artist meets with the Artistic Director, Studio Manager, and/or EMC Manager for a Mid-term Technical Review. This informal check-in is a time to bring up any technical problems you may be experiencing in the residency, and to discuss the progress of your work. (Not applicable to 1-month residencies.)

When the 3-month contract is complete, the artist meets with the Executive and Artistic Directors for a 3-month Evaluative Review. They discuss the residency from the standpoint of artistic achievement and the relevancy of the relationship between the artist and Kala. This is an opportunity for the artist to evaluate the services of Kala. At this point both Kala and the artist agree on whether the artist can continue with a 6-month residency. (Not applicable to 1- and 2-month residencies.)

Residents should feel free to bring up any concerns with any of the staff. If we can't help with your concern, we will direct you to someone who can.

CONTRACT RATES

These below-market rates are made possible through generous donations from foundations and individuals. Rates are effective January 2010.

1) $250 per month – 1, 2, or 3 Month Contract - Part-Time
– 3 days per week studio access
– donation of one sample of work done at Kala

2) $390 per month – 1 Month Contract - Full-Time
– 7 days per week studio access
– donation of one sample of work done at Kala

3) $175 per month - 6 Month Contract - Part-Time
– 3 days per week studio access
– available only to artists-in-residence who have completed 3 months of residency
– donation of one print to Kala's Archive per 6 month period; maximum two prints per year

Single-day rate
(available to former artists-in-residence only)
$100 per day (no storage space)

INDIVIDUAL PROJECT SPACES

We are excited to launch Kala's Project Space Rental program. We have two private studio spaces for rent in our new gallery facility at 2990 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley. These studios facilitate the need of artist to complete a specific project which requires a private studio within Kala's active artist community. The tenant artists will be selected through an application process in which Kala review their proposed project and previous work. As well as the artists currently in the Kala's AIR and Fellowship programs, artists who are not currently affiliated with Kala are also eligible to apply. The tenant artist will have 24 hour access to the studios. Read through the basic information on the program below, download the Application form, and email all the material to Patrick Stockstill, Program Manager for Artist Residencies and Classes at patrick@kala.org.

Size of Studios
Studio 1: 124 sqf
Studio 2: 126 sqf

Rent
Current AIR: $150/month
Fellowship Artists: Free
Non-Kala Artist: $300/month
(anybody not currently affiliated with Kala, including former AIRs and former Fellowship Artists)

 

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