Artist Residencies in San Francisco

FOR SITE Foundation

San Francisco, United States

FOR-SITE Foundation, established in , supports the creation and presentation of art about place through exhibitions, commissions, artist residencies, and education programs, primarily in collaboration with national parks in the San Francisco area. Its residency program previously offered artists space and funding at a 50-acre site near Nevada City, California, culminating in exhibitions with museum partners, featuring past residents like Pae White and Mark Dion. The organization has evolved to focus on site-specific commissions in public realms such as the Presidio and Alcatraz.

SOMArts The Commons Curatorial Residency

San Francisco, United States

SOMArts The Commons Curatorial Residency is a program in San Francisco that supports emerging and mid-career curators and artists through a 9-month incubator, providing mentorship, planning support, a project grant, and a month-long exhibition in a 3,100 sq ft gallery. It prioritizes historically underrepresented voices to address social issues via multi-faceted exhibitions and public programming that promote community engagement and cultural equity. Launched in , it awards four residencies per season via open call to foster curatorial practice and collaborative innovation.

The San Francisco Film Society’s FilmHouse

San Francisco, United States

SFFILM’s FilmHouse Residency is a year-round program in San Francisco that provides Bay Area-based filmmakers with 12-month residencies, offering free office space, artistic guidance, mentorship from industry professionals, and a vibrant community for collaboration on narrative, documentary, hybrid feature-length films, shorts, and series. Located in the SoMa neighborhood, it supports filmmakers at all production stages from research to post-production, hosting around 20 residents and 10-20 visiting filmmakers. The program fosters peer-to-peer feedback, workshops, screenings, and networking events.