Headlands Center for the Arts - Artist in Residence (AIR) Program

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Program Purpose and Description: 

The Artist in Residence (AIR) program awards about 45 four-to-ten week residencies each year to local, national, and international artist. Residencies of four to ten weeks include studio space (100- to 2000-sq.-foot studios), chef-prepared meals, comfortable housing, and travel and an optional living stipend of $500. Arists in residence become part of a dynamic community of artists participating in Headlands’ other programs, allowing for exchange and collaborative relationships to develop within the campus' artist community.

Supported Fields: 

1. Writing (poetry, fiction, nonfiction, playwriting, screenwriting);

2. Performance / Dance;

3. Film / Video / New Media;

4. Music / Sound;

5. Arts Professionals (art writers, administrators, and curators);

6. Architecture / Environment;

7. Interdisciplinary Arts.

Application Process: 

A processing fee is required. Finalists are invited to present their work in a 20-minute phone or Skype interview to determine the final award selection.

Applicant Profile: 

Artists selected for this program are at all stages in their careers and work in all media, including drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, film, video, new media, installation, fiction and nonfiction writing, poetry, dance, music, interdisciplinary, social practice, and architecture.

Eligibility: 

Artists must not be enrolled in an academic program at the time of the residency. Artists enrolled in PhD programs will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Former Headlands’ Artists in Residence may not apply within five years of previous residency.

Obligations: 

Artists in residence participate in monthly “Show & Tell” nights and a seasonal Open House.

Selection Criteria: 

1. Merit of past work;

2. Readiness to engage with and benefit from the residency experience at Headlands;

3. Potential to develop creative practice and impact the community at Headlands and beyond.

Program Deadline: 

Usually early April through early June.

More information: 

There is a maximum four week stay for families in the Family House, by request only and subject to availability.

Artist collaboratives should apply together by submitting one application per group, specifying the number of individuals on the application form. For live-in Artists in Residence, Headlands can accommodate no more than three total artists in a collaborative group.

How To Apply: 

Graduating graduate students or alumni, as applicable, may apply directly to this program. Applicants are encouraged, however, to work with SF State's fellowship advisor well in advance of the program deadline to perfect their application essays and other materials.