Level Ground creates purposeful and sustained spaces where visual, literary, healing, and moving image artists can learn, develop, produce, and exhibit work with and for each other and our communities. Our programs are designed to address the common barriers artists face by fostering non-extractive and regenerative practices around artist support and development and helping to remove economic barriers so that artists can sustain their work over time.
Our 8-month Residency Program, which enters its 7th cycle this year, will run from October 2026 through May 2027. The program is for emerging artists based in Los Angeles who are from communities that are underrepresented within the arts and supports the creation of a new body of work and a culminating solo show for each resident. Over the course of the program, residents will be expected to, with staff guidance, curate a syllabus of resources/media, which have informed their work.
WHO IS THE RESIDENCY FOR?
-LA-based artists
-Emerging artists
-Black and trans artists are highly encouraged to apply
WHAT IS AN EMERGING ARTIST?
We know this is a complicated term to define. For this residency, ’emerging’ is less about your experience in exhibiting work and more about your capacity and desire to engage in the program and in collaboration. At this time, we understand emerging to include one or more of the following:
-An artist who has been in their practice for less than 7 years.
-An artist who has had their work exhibited before, but not yet had a solo show.
-An artist who hasn’t had the opportunity or resources to show work.
-An artist that has found their way back to their practice after taking a pause.
Salary: A $2,000 artist stipend, a $1,000 stipend for project costs, which can be used at the artist’s discretion (for example: towards material costs, purchase of equipment, or compensation for collaborators)
Benefits:
-Access to the Level Ground Collective for support, community, studio visits, etc.
-Regular gatherings with fellow cohort members
-Mentorship catered to individual needs
-Assistance in planning and executing a solo show at the end of the residency
-Photo and video documentation of the artist’s work
Education requirements: None.
Deadline to apply: August 12, 2026
Documents required to apply: Resume, Work Sample/Portfolio, Other
REQUIRED MATERIALS INCLUDE
ARTIST INFORMATION:
-Contact information
-Artist Statement
-Resume/CV
-Portfolio Link or PDF
PROJECT INFORMATION:
-Description
-Monthly Benchmarks
-Proposed Project Budget
-Medium(s)
-5 Application Questions (which can be answered via written or recorded audio / visual response)
How to apply: Go to this form and provide the required materials. To learn more about the residency visit the Level Ground website.