Sankofa Hybrid Art Residency 2026

The Sankofa Art Residency is a six-week hybrid creative incubator for artists seeking renewal, cultural grounding, and transformative community. Rooted in the West African principle of Sankofa, the practice of returning to the past to reclaim what was forgotten, the residency invites artists to explore personal and ancestral narratives while developing new work within a supportive global cohort.

Format

• Five weeks virtual. Weekly live workshops, cohort circles, artist talks, creative prompts, and professional development sessions hosted on Microsoft Teams. Artists work from their own home studios.
• Week six in person. An overnight graduation ceremony at a private retreat space in Atlanta, Georgia, where the cohort gathers for reflection, ritual, and celebration. A graduation exhibition runs November 7 to 8, 2026, with an opening reception on November 7 at 6:00 PM.

Dates

• Residency: October 3 to November 8, 2026
• Graduation exhibition: November 7 to 8, 2026

Who can apply

Open to artists worldwide across all disciplines, including visual arts, digital media, photography, film, writing, performance, sound, craft, textile arts, social practice, and hybrid forms. Emerging, mid-career, and returning artists are welcome, with no academic prerequisites.

Fees and what's included

The application is free, and artists may apply from anywhere in the world at no cost. Accepted artists pay a flat $550 fee covering the full six-week program: all virtual workshops, artist circles, and professional development sessions; the in-person overnight graduation ceremony; round-trip transportation between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and the accommodations; shared lodging; communal meals; ceremonial gifts; and all required creative materials. Letters of support, guidance on external micro-grants, and flexible payment options are available.