2026 Mentorship and Exhibition Fellowship with SFAC Galleries

SFAC staff will review all completed applications based on the selection criteria and develop a list of applications for presentation to the Artist Review Panel.  

The following criteria will be used when scoring applications: 

• The RFQ is open to practicing individual artists working primarily in visual arts who have not had any major institutional exhibitions.  
• Artists should be 18 years or older. 
• Artists that have recently graduated from a BFA or MFA program are welcome to apply.  
• Artists enrolled in a degree-seeking program at a university or higher-education institution during the eight-month fellowship period ARE NOT eligible. 
• Two artists will be awarded this fellowship: one of whom MUST reside in San Francisco and the other will be open to an artist residing in the San Francisco Bay Area. (Defined by the US census as the following nine counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma.)   
• Artists must be able to work with the curator and be available for monthly studio visits, at a minimum of once a month in the first four months.  
• Applicants are to submit their qualifications for consideration.  
• Any applications proposing a specific project will be disqualified.  
• Artistic merit will be considered and may be judged by such measures as originality of previous work and artistic vision. 
• Priority will be given to artists whose work reflects a significant or direct relationship between them and distinct racial or cultural communities.  
• Artists must demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly about their practice and the perceived benefit of this fellowship.  
• Application must be completed and submitted by the application deadline. Late submissions will NOT be considered. Incomplete applications or applications that do not follow the guidelines will be disqualified.  

FELLOWSHIP TERMS AND EXPECTATIONS 

• Artists must be available for a fellowship period of eight consecutive months. Please see Project Timeline for details.  
• During the Fellowship period, the artist must be available for studio visits or check-ins with the curator, at minimum for one meeting a month for the first four months and as needed leading up to the exhibition.  
• Artists will produce a body of work sufficient for a two-person exhibition in the Main Gallery. 
• Artists must manage the allocated budget for the creation of new work as needed.  
• Artists must meet all project deadlines and perform work in a timely and professional manner.  
• Artists must communicate clearly with the curator and SFAC staff on a regular basis.  

FINANCIAL AND LEGAL REQUIREMENTS 

• Artists must become an approved City Supplier in order to receive any payments. If the artist is unwilling or unable to become a City Supplier after selection, they are ineligible for participation in the Fellowship program.  
• Artists are expected to sign a legal letter of agreement outlining their participation in this program.