Ann Chamberlain Artist in Residency

The School of Art at San Francisco State University is proud to offer this artist in residency opportunity for Bay Area women and non-binary artists for a part-time (20 hours/week) residency during 2026 and 2027. To be eligible, artists must be living in one of the following Bay Area counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma. 

Overview of the Residency

Sponsored by the Harker Fund of the San Francisco Foundation, the Ann Chamberlain Artist in Residency at San Francisco State University will support an artist working in public and environmental interdisciplinary arts such as — but not limited to — sound art, visual, media and performance arts. The intent of the award is that the artist work cross departmentally at SFSU, with the School of Art and another partner discipline to be identified by the artist, such as Ethnic Studies or Environmental Studies. 

The School of Art at San Francisco State University offers B.A. degrees in Studio Art and Art History, and an M.F.A. in Art. The School has 13 full-time faculty and over 450 majors. The Ann Chamberlain Artist in Residency will have a studio space, and access to the School of Art's production facilities that include printmaking, photography, textiles, painting and drawing, ceramics, and sculpture/expanded practice.

Program Timeline

  • Two months of program development from May through June 2026. The expectation is that the planning period will be used to identify partners at SFSU, build alliances, develop curriculum, and plan for the in-person portion of the residency. 
  • Nine months of serving as a resident artist, September 2026 through May 2027.  
  • Final public project that could include an exhibition, performance, or temporary installation of public art to take place after the close of the residency. 

The total award to the artist is $75,000, inclusive of salary and benefits. No additional support is offered for housing or transportation. There are additional budgets for materials for classes and workshops, administrative assistance, and paid student assistants. 

Application Process

This will be a two-round process. For the second round of this selection process, we will invite 3 artists to submit full proposals. Each finalist will receive a $500 stipend to support this work.

To Apply

Applications will be submitted digitally. Each artist will apply with a single PDF to include: 

  • Artist statement (250 words max)
  • Abstract of proposed project (250 words max)
  • 5 – 10 images with slide scripts that include artwork details (title, year, media, dimensions) and an optional 50 word maximum description of each work. Artists working in time-based media can substitute 1 minute of video for one image.
  • Artist portfolio website
  • 3 references

Send PDF to: SFSU.AIR.2026@gmail.com
Application Deadline: 11:59 p.m. on January 31, 2026 

Contact

Questions?

Please contact Sharon Bliss at sebliss@sfsu.edu.

Past Artist in Residence

Liz Hernández, 2024 – 2025

Liz Hernandez Office for the Study of the Ordinary ID badge
Colorful posters displayed at the Objects of Inquiry exhibition
Students outside the Cesar Chavez Student Center with pickets for March of the Gator.
March of the Gator drawing
O.S.O. researchers in white lab coats lie on the grass in a circle

Objects of Inquiry Exhibition

February 22 – April 5, 2025

The Office for the Study of the Ordinary materializes. The office brings together a group of unconventional researchers trained to understand the poet’s mission: summoning beauty where it seems to have no right to exist. Learn more about the final exhibition for Liz Hernández's residency.

Liz Hernández and her residency

March 6, 2024

San Francisco State University’s School of Art has named Liz Hernández as the Harker Artist-in-Residence, a 12-month appointment in which she will create a “fictional research organization” on campus, The Office for the Study of the Ordinary. Read the full article on SF State News.