Call to Artists: Carnival as Folklore Residency in New Orleans

About the Open Call

Carnival as Folklore is a five-day, in-person collage artist residency at Kolaj Institute in New Orleans, complemented by virtual sessions on Wednesdays, 14 and 21 January 2026. The in-person segment runs from 4PM on Sunday, 25 January to 3PM on Friday, 30 January 2026. This residency invites collage artists to spend a week investigating Carnival as folklore and creating related art. Participants will learn a working theory of folklore, its function in communities, and the artist's role in activating, transmitting, and celebrating folklore as cultural expression and a strategy for community resilience. Artists will identify, document, and respond to folklore through art, building context and developing strategies for sharing their work with communities and the broader art ecosystem. Artwork produced during the residency will be considered for publication in Kolaj Institute’s Folklore Collage Society, a printed journal, and for an exhibition at Kolaj Institute Gallery in New Orleans from 31 January to 11 April 2026. The residency is intended for self-motivated artists, regardless of career stage, who wish to develop their practice by exploring a topic or working method, collaborating with others, and creating art embedded in non-traditional spaces for a general community. Residents are expected to attend all scheduled sessions, engage with guest speakers, complete readings, and use the time to create artwork. They grant Kolaj Institute permission to publish images of work created during the residency.

What is Offered

Consideration for publication in Kolaj Institute’s Folklore Collage Society and for an exhibition at Kolaj Institute Gallery in New Orleans.

Requirements

Residencies are open to any artist over the age of 21 from anywhere in the world. Applicants should have a developed sense of practice (even if emerging) and a strong connection to a community. People of color, indigenous people, and members of queer communities are encouraged to apply. Artists are expected to attend all scheduled sessions, engage with guest speakers, complete readings, and use the residency time to make artwork.

How to Apply

Submit your application HERE: https://kasini.submittable.com/submit/341238/call-to-artists-carnival-as-folklore-residency