Submission Deadline: March 31, 2026
Timeline: May 1, 2026 – July 31, 2026
Budget: $1,334 monthly stipend
OPPORTUNITY
The BelRed Arts District Community Alliance announces their second Artist-In-Residence Program of the year, in partnership with Densho. For 30 years, Densho has been the leading digital archive for Japanese American incarceration history; whose mission is to preserve and share history of the World War II incarceration of Japanese Americans to promote equity and justice today.
This round’s theme aims to help educate general audiences about Bellevue's Japanese American Community that was incarcerated during World War II and connect this history to current instances of racial injustice, inequity and erosion of civil liberties. As we think about these connections, constitutionality and human rights are at the center of the Japanese-American incarceration story and have continual importance today.
We encourage all applicants to attend an artist residency orientation before they apply. You can sign up for a session here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/artist-residency-orientation-what-to-know-before-applying
The selected artist will have access to a fully funded private studio at BelRed Arts Studio in the BelRed Arts District in Bellevue. It also connects the artist with historical expertise and community members including Densho's staff, who can guide artists in utilizing the Densho Digital Repository and content resources. The chosen artist will also have the opportunity to join Densho's 30th Anniversary Gala.
The residency will take place from May 1, 2026 and end on July 31, 2026 with a public event on Sunday, July 26, 2026 where the artist will have the opportunity to showcase the work they’ve accomplished throughout the residency at a public artist exhibition and program held at the BelRed Arts Studio. The artist will receive a monthly stipend of $1334, $4000 in total.
During this residency, artists are encouraged to spend roughly 15-20 hours per week completing the expected project. The artist will also have a choice to donate the artwork to the BelRed Arts District Community Alliance’s permanent collection or loan it to us for two years. The artwork may be showcased across various locations around Bellevue, the Arts District and Densho’s site at 1416 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98144.
The BelRed Arts Studio offers 24/7 access to the chosen artist, and features free parking, kitchen access, private studio space and connections with other working artists within the community.
ABOUT THE CALL
The goal of this project is to highlight the undertold story of Bellevue’s Japanese American community, who—along with 120,000 Japanese Americans—were unjustly incarcerated during World War II, forced from their homes and put into incarceration camps, with many living within them throughout the duration of the War. Prior to WWII, Japanese Americans made up 15% of Bellevue’s population and 90% of its agricultural industry. 60 family farms dotted the Eastside and through their hard work cultivating farmland, transformed the landscape of the city. Despite their contributions, there was antipathy towards them before WWII, and after leaving the camps many had difficulty returning back to their lives on the Eastside.
The hope for this project is to honor their experiences while connecting their histories to the contemporary moment. As we consider what Japanese Americans endured during WWII, there are many red flags and warning signs from their histories that parallel the current experiences of Americans and immigrant communities. A strong proposal could include personal or societal reflections and connections from the artist that would bridge the past to the now.