Veterans Residency Program
Veterans Artist Residency Program
Kala Veterans Artist Residency Program provides artist residencies to local, regional, and national artists. Veterans working in the arts, producing innovative work in mediums including printmaking, film and video, digital media, sculpture, textile, ceramics, and fiber arts, installation, social practice, photography, and book arts, are encouraged to apply here!
The 2025-2026 Veterans Artist Residency includes 1-4 months of a studio residency with 24/7 studio access, cash stipend: $1,000, 1 month of housing at Kala’s apartment for artists coming from outside the Bay Area, an individual project spaces (150-200 sq ft) or a large shared project space (400 sq ft) available to artists staying in Kala’s apartment; funded Kala class or workshop, community and network of approximately 75 artists working at Kala, participation in Kala events and support of Kala staff!
The Veterans Residency Program is funded in part by Creative Forces®: NEA Military Healing Arts Network, an initiative of the National Endowment in partnership with the U.S. Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. Creative Forces Community Engagement Grant program is managed by Mid-America Arts Alliance. Additional funding includes the California Arts Council Impact Projects and UC Berkeley Chancellor’s Community Partnership Fund.
HOW TO APPLY
The next Veterans Artist Residency application will be published on December 15th, 2025.
Visit kala.slideroom.com here after Dec !5, 2025 to begin your application.
December 2025 Residency Open Call – apply for:
– Veterans Artist Residency (national, regional, and local artists)
– Artist Residency (AIR) Program (international, national, regional, and local artists)
– Fellowship Program
– Complete application questions in SlideRoom
– Upload artist resumé or CV
– Upload work samples, up to 10 images and/or 5 minutes of video (include title, medium, size, year)
– No application fee from Dec 15, 2025 – Jan 15, 2026; $25 application fee from Jan 16 – March 1, 2026.
Questions & Application Fee Waivers: please reach out to Artist Residency Manager Leyla Rzayeva at kalaair@kala.org, T:510.549.2977 x 303 (Monday – Thursday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm PST).
2025-2026 VETERANS RESIDENCY INCLUDES
– 1-4 months of a studio residency with 24/7 studio access
– 1 month of housing at Kala’s apartment for artists coming from outside the Bay Area
– Individual project spaces (150-200 sq ft) or a large shared project space (400 sq ft) available to artists staying in Kala’s apartment
– Free Kala Art Class or Workshop
– Community and network of approximately 75 artists working at Kala
– Participation in Kala events and support of Kala staff
APPLICANT RESOURCES
– How to Apply
– Residency Experience
– Kala Facilities
2024-2025 Award Recipients:
Robert Hill (Harbor City, CA)
Javier Enrique Piñero (Long Island City, NY) (2024-25 Fellowship Artist)
Emilio Gallegos (San Jose, CA)
2023-2024 Award Recipients:
Emilio Gallegos (San Jose, CA)
John Yoyogi Fortes (Sacramento, CA) @jy4tes (2023-24 Fellowship Artist)
Phil Jones (El Cerrito, CA)
Amber Zora (Rapid City, SD) @amber.zora
2019-2020 Award Recipients:
Rodney Ewing
Dayton Grant
Rob Hill
Sara Stacy
2018-2019 Award Recipients:
Fanny Garcia
James Hardy
Michael Mokuau
David “DC” Spensley
Honorary AIR Awardees:
Phil Jones
2017-2018 Award Recipients
Adam Allegro
Roger Ourthiague Jr.
Gregory Rick
Ehren Tool
Honorary AIR Awardees:
Stephen Funk
Fanny Garcia