CAMERA OBSCURA ART LAB (COAL) STUDIO RESIDENCIES
2025-26 CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
Natalie.Marrero@santamonica.gov | 1-310-968-8904
Application Deadline: Friday, March 28, 2025, 12:59 PM PT
INTRODUCTION & PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The City of Santa Monica Cultural Affairs Division seeks proposals from L.A. County artists working in all disciplines for 14-week studio residencies between June 2025 and May 2026, at the Camera Obscura Art Lab in Palisades Park, Santa Monica.
The Studio Residencies offer artists a glass-walled studio with a spectacular ocean view in an iconic midcentury building overlooking the Santa Monica Pier, along with a $2,500 honorarium and $500 materials budget for public workshop(s). Residencies are for artists who need a place to practice and create, and who are deeply invested in sharing their work for the public’s benefit.
RESIDENCY DETAILS
Each Studio Residency is 14 weeks and hosts two artists. There are three terms available*:
June – August 2025
September – December 2025
February – May 2026
*The term dates are approximate and may be adjusted on a case-by-case basis to accommodate artists’ schedules.
Selected residents will receive an honorarium of $2,500, a materials budget of $500 for public workshops and use of the facility and parking permits will be provided for parking meters in front of the building or in a nearby parking structure.
A 46’x16’ dividable studio space is available during each residency period. The space can be shared by either two individual artists, one collective, or a combination.
The studio is a work-only space, and the hours of usage for the artist are 8 AM – 8 PM and access is based on Palisades Park’s hours of operation 5:30 AM – 11 PM.
Residents are required to offer up to two participatory workshops for the public, and a final presentation and panel conversation with the resident artists from the 2025-2026 cohort (locations for classes/workshops and final presentation are TBD). Classes and workshops will be offered free of charge to the public and will run from 2-3 hours. Workshops are to be active and participatory rather than presentational and should focus on arts and crafts skills, community building, and hands-on participation for adults. They do need not need to relate directly to the residency project. Additionally, it is up to the discretion of the artist if workshops will be geared toward certain age groups or if they will be multi-generational.
ELIGIBILITY
The residency is open to all artists, artisans and makers who reside in Los Angeles County.
Artist teams will be considered; partnerships and groups should apply through one coordinating member.
MFA students in their final year are eligible to apply.
All forms of artistic production are eligible. Previous residents have employed quilting, printmaking, painting and drawing, choreography, puppetry, sculpture, illustration, music, opera, social practice, performance, videography, and animation among other forms.
NOT ELIGIBLE: Applicants who have received a Studio Residency or Fellowship in the past two years, or current grantees or resident artists through another City of Santa Monica program or are currently employed by or serve on a Board or Commission of the City of Santa Monica.
REVIEW PROCESS
COAL applications will be:
Vetted by City staff for satisfaction of eligibility and criteria requirements
Applications will be reviewed by a panel of arts professionals, that will rate and make the final selections according to the criteria
Finalists will be presented to the Santa Monica Arts Commission
2025 - 2026 COAL residency artists will be notified by May 2025.
REVIEW CRITERIA
Quality of previous work
Applicant’s proposed plan for the residency period
Ability of applicant to design and implement effective interactive classes/workshops/activities with the public
Suitability of the artist’s practice for the space
Artist’s alignment with the City of Santa Monica’s current Strategic Priorities, listed below:
Clean & Safe: Helping the city to maintain and enhance an atmosphere marked by clean and safe public spaces and neighborhoods.
Addressing Homelessness: Advocating for regional capacity to address homelessness.
Economic Growth & Cultural Vitality: Cultivating economic opportunity and recovery and investing in amenities and programs for all community members.
Justice, Equity & Diversity: Advancing racial equity, justice and social diversity to improve the wellbeing of people who live, work, learn, play and do business here.
Sustainable & Connected: Enhancing our resources, preventing and remedying harm to natural environment and human health, and benefiting the social and economic wellbeing of the community.
NOTE: For the 2025-26 cycle
In response to the devastating Palisades and Eaton wildfires and the significant financial hardships caused by this federally recognized "qualified disaster," some residency spots may be prioritized for artists directly impacted by the recent fires. Applications however are open to all eligible artists.
Directly impacted artists include:
who have lost their homes or artmaking studios,
whose homes or artmaking studios have severe damage,
who have lack of or limited access to their home, artmaking studio, or both.
The City of Santa Monica may request additional information from, or schedule initial interviews with selected applicants. The City also reserves the right to not invite applicants and recall and/or cancel the Call for Applications at any time at its sole discretion.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
The Camera Obscura Art Lab building (1450 Ocean) is in transition and may not be open to the public during the residency sessions. Applicants are expected to be flexible and work with staff as the building and its use evolves. If the building has opened to the public by the time residency begins, resident artist may host their workshops in-person at the Camera Obscura. Otherwise, artists will work with staff to provide workshops or classes at other city buildings during their residency including, but not limited to: The Miles Memorial Playhouse, the Airport Arts Center, The Annenberg Community Beach House, Virginia Avenue Park, Santa Monica Main Library Courtyard.
Resident artists are responsible for preparing classes and workshops such as creating materials lists, class descriptions, and providing images to advertise class.
Resident artists are required to promote classes via various personal channels, i.e. social media, emails, etc.
Resident artists must be available to teach on weekdays or weekends.
Resident artists must utilize the studio at least three times per week in addition to offering their classes/workshops.
Equipment available: tables, chairs, piano, whiteboard, video projector/screen, relief printing press, and various craft equipment.
Also provided: electricity, free City Wi-Fi and access to a kitchen with refrigerator/sink/ microwave/filtered water. Slop sinks available for nonhazardous cleanup, but not for clay or other intensive uses.
If the building is open during the session, work in the studio will be in public view and should be appropriate for a general audience. Due to it having a lot of glass walls, even when closed to the public, your work will be in public view.
The studio, though lockable, is part of a shared space; use of fragile, hazardous or very valuable materials is not allowed, and a waste removal plan is required for any proposed waste generation.
Depending on the artistic practice, resident is responsible for covering the floor of the studio to protect it from damage.
Artist can have onsite studio visits by gallerists and collectors. Requests must be made in writing to camera@santamonica.gov at least one week prior to scheduled visit as the building is not yet open to the general public.
CONTACT
For questions about the Residency Program, please write to: Attn: Natalie Marrero, Cultural Affairs Supervisor, at camera@santamonica.gov or (310) 968-8904 Monday – Friday between 9 AM – 5 PM.
For information about the Art Lab and its activities, visit https://www.santamonica.gov/places/cultural-venue/camera-obscura-art-lab
DUE DATE
Applications must be received by 12:59 PM PT on Friday, March 28, 2025.
Camera Obscura Art Lab: Artist in Residence
CAMERA OBSCURA ART LAB (COAL) STUDIO RESIDENCIES
2025-26 CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
Natalie.Marrero@santamonica.gov | 1-310-968-8904
Application Deadline: Friday, March 28, 2025, 12:59 PM PT
INTRODUCTION & PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The City of Santa Monica Cultural Affairs Division seeks proposals from L.A. County artists working in all disciplines for 14-week studio residencies between June 2025 and May 2026, at the Camera Obscura Art Lab in Palisades Park, Santa Monica.
The Studio Residencies offer artists a glass-walled studio with a spectacular ocean view in an iconic midcentury building overlooking the Santa Monica Pier, along with a $2,500 honorarium and $500 materials budget for public workshop(s). Residencies are for artists who need a place to practice and create, and who are deeply invested in sharing their work for the public’s benefit.
RESIDENCY DETAILS
Each Studio Residency is 14 weeks and hosts two artists. There are three terms available*:
June – August 2025
September – December 2025
February – May 2026
*The term dates are approximate and may be adjusted on a case-by-case basis to accommodate artists’ schedules.
Selected residents will receive an honorarium of $2,500, a materials budget of $500 for public workshops and use of the facility and parking permits will be provided for parking meters in front of the building or in a nearby parking structure.
A 46’x16’ dividable studio space is available during each residency period. The space can be shared by either two individual artists, one collective, or a combination.
The studio is a work-only space, and the hours of usage for the artist are 8 AM – 8 PM and access is based on Palisades Park’s hours of operation 5:30 AM – 11 PM.
Residents are required to offer up to two participatory workshops for the public, and a final presentation and panel conversation with the resident artists from the 2025-2026 cohort (locations for classes/workshops and final presentation are TBD). Classes and workshops will be offered free of charge to the public and will run from 2-3 hours. Workshops are to be active and participatory rather than presentational and should focus on arts and crafts skills, community building, and hands-on participation for adults. They do need not need to relate directly to the residency project. Additionally, it is up to the discretion of the artist if workshops will be geared toward certain age groups or if they will be multi-generational.
ELIGIBILITY
The residency is open to all artists, artisans and makers who reside in Los Angeles County.
Artist teams will be considered; partnerships and groups should apply through one coordinating member.
MFA students in their final year are eligible to apply.
All forms of artistic production are eligible. Previous residents have employed quilting, printmaking, painting and drawing, choreography, puppetry, sculpture, illustration, music, opera, social practice, performance, videography, and animation among other forms.
NOT ELIGIBLE: Applicants who have received a Studio Residency or Fellowship in the past two years, or current grantees or resident artists through another City of Santa Monica program or are currently employed by or serve on a Board or Commission of the City of Santa Monica.
REVIEW PROCESS
COAL applications will be:
Vetted by City staff for satisfaction of eligibility and criteria requirements
Applications will be reviewed by a panel of arts professionals, that will rate and make the final selections according to the criteria
Finalists will be presented to the Santa Monica Arts Commission
2025 - 2026 COAL residency artists will be notified by May 2025.
REVIEW CRITERIA
Quality of previous work
Applicant’s proposed plan for the residency period
Ability of applicant to design and implement effective interactive classes/workshops/activities with the public
Suitability of the artist’s practice for the space
Artist’s alignment with the City of Santa Monica’s current Strategic Priorities, listed below:
Clean & Safe: Helping the city to maintain and enhance an atmosphere marked by clean and safe public spaces and neighborhoods.
Addressing Homelessness: Advocating for regional capacity to address homelessness.
Economic Growth & Cultural Vitality: Cultivating economic opportunity and recovery and investing in amenities and programs for all community members.
Justice, Equity & Diversity: Advancing racial equity, justice and social diversity to improve the wellbeing of people who live, work, learn, play and do business here.
Sustainable & Connected: Enhancing our resources, preventing and remedying harm to natural environment and human health, and benefiting the social and economic wellbeing of the community.
NOTE: For the 2025-26 cycle
In response to the devastating Palisades and Eaton wildfires and the significant financial hardships caused by this federally recognized "qualified disaster," some residency spots may be prioritized for artists directly impacted by the recent fires. Applications however are open to all eligible artists.
Directly impacted artists include:
who have lost their homes or artmaking studios,
whose homes or artmaking studios have severe damage,
who have lack of or limited access to their home, artmaking studio, or both.
The City of Santa Monica may request additional information from, or schedule initial interviews with selected applicants. The City also reserves the right to not invite applicants and recall and/or cancel the Call for Applications at any time at its sole discretion.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
The Camera Obscura Art Lab building (1450 Ocean) is in transition and may not be open to the public during the residency sessions. Applicants are expected to be flexible and work with staff as the building and its use evolves. If the building has opened to the public by the time residency begins, resident artist may host their workshops in-person at the Camera Obscura. Otherwise, artists will work with staff to provide workshops or classes at other city buildings during their residency including, but not limited to: The Miles Memorial Playhouse, the Airport Arts Center, The Annenberg Community Beach House, Virginia Avenue Park, Santa Monica Main Library Courtyard.
Resident artists are responsible for preparing classes and workshops such as creating materials lists, class descriptions, and providing images to advertise class.
Resident artists are required to promote classes via various personal channels, i.e. social media, emails, etc.
Resident artists must be available to teach on weekdays or weekends.
Resident artists must utilize the studio at least three times per week in addition to offering their classes/workshops.
Equipment available: tables, chairs, piano, whiteboard, video projector/screen, relief printing press, and various craft equipment.
Also provided: electricity, free City Wi-Fi and access to a kitchen with refrigerator/sink/ microwave/filtered water. Slop sinks available for nonhazardous cleanup, but not for clay or other intensive uses.
If the building is open during the session, work in the studio will be in public view and should be appropriate for a general audience. Due to it having a lot of glass walls, even when closed to the public, your work will be in public view.
The studio, though lockable, is part of a shared space; use of fragile, hazardous or very valuable materials is not allowed, and a waste removal plan is required for any proposed waste generation.
Depending on the artistic practice, resident is responsible for covering the floor of the studio to protect it from damage.
Artist can have onsite studio visits by gallerists and collectors. Requests must be made in writing to camera@santamonica.gov at least one week prior to scheduled visit as the building is not yet open to the general public.
CONTACT
For questions about the Residency Program, please write to: Attn: Natalie Marrero, Cultural Affairs Supervisor, at camera@santamonica.gov or (310) 968-8904 Monday – Friday between 9 AM – 5 PM.
For information about the Art Lab and its activities, visit https://www.santamonica.gov/places/cultural-venue/camera-obscura-art-lab
DUE DATE
Applications must be received by 12:59 PM PT on Friday, March 28, 2025.