OUT Residency 2026: Kokopelli Art Foundation Opens Call for Artists in Lagos

The Kokopelli Art Foundation in Lagos, Nigeria, organises the inaugural OUT Residency, a two-week intensive programme, and artists of African origin or heritage can apply for it. Held from August 25 to September 7, 2026, the residency will bring together four artists for a period of focused production, critical exchange, mentorship, and engagement with Lagos’s cultural landscape.

Titled Our Story First, Edition I marks the formal launch of Kokopelli Art Foundation’s residency programme and coincides with the fifth anniversary of Kokopelli Gallery. 

 

Eligibility Requirements for the OUT Residency

• The OUT Residency is open to artists of African origin or heritage, including artists based on the African continent and those in the diaspora. Applicants must have a minimum of two years of sustained artistic practice.
• There are no restrictions based on age, academic background, medium, or career stage. Artists working across disciplines are welcome to apply.
• However, selected residents must be able to participate fully in the programme in Lagos from August 25 to September 7, 2026. Residents are also required to attend the closing exhibition and related events on September 11 and 12.

 

About the OUT Residency

OUT Residency targets artists prepared for intensive work. Rather than functioning primarily as a retreat, the programme offers a structured environment centred on production, discovery, mentorship, and critical engagement.

The residency focuses on three main areas:

1. Unlearning and Discovery

Residents will take part in:

• Story excavation workshops
• Sessions on history, oral tradition, and research methods
• Discussions on identity, memory, and authorship

2. Making and Mentorship

The programme will include:

• Dedicated studio practice
• Weekly critiques
• Engagements with guest artists, historians, and curators

3. Translation and Presentation

Residents will also focus on:

• Producing new work
• Developing artist statements and storytelling approaches
• Documentation and archiving
• Preparing work for exhibition

No specific theme is imposed on the work created during the residency. Artists are encouraged to develop their own ideas and inquiries.

 

The Flash Apprenticeship

One of the distinctive components of OUT Residency is the Flash Apprenticeship. Each resident will be placed within the practice of an established artist, providing an opportunity to observe another creative process and return to their own work with new perspectives and knowledge.

 

Benefits of the OUT Residency

Four selected artists will receive:

• Accommodation
• A materials allowance
• Transportation within Lagos for programme activities
• Daily meals
• Structured studio time
• Scheduled critiques
• Facilitated group sessions
• Inclusion in the closing group exhibition at Kokopelli Gallery
• Full documentation of work produced during the residency
• Engagement with Kokopelli Gallery’s curatorial team and collector network

There is no application fee

 

Application Requirements

Applicants will be asked to submit portfolio images, an artist statement, a residency proposal, written responses to two questions, and one professional reference.

As you prepare your application materials, you may find these  resources useful: this guide on how to creatively write a resume can help you present your experience effectively, while these statement of purpose examples may offer useful guidance when developing a clear and compelling application statement.

 

How to Apply

Interested artists can submit their applications through the official OUT Residency application page.

Artists with questions about the programme can contact out@kokopelliafrica.com.