2027 Sankofa Art Residency

A six-week hybrid art residency rooted in the West African principle of Sankofa, inviting artists to explore personal and ancestral narratives while developing new or ongoing work. The program combines five weeks of virtual workshops, cohort circles, artist talks, studio prompts, and creative development with an overnight gathering in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, August 14–15, 2027. Artists work from their home studios during the virtual phase and may contribute work to the Sankofa Virtual Gallery.

Sankofa: renewal, cultural grounding, personal and ancestral narratives, and reclaiming what was forgotten.

Open to all disciplines and artists anywhere in the world. Apply through the online application form; there is no application fee. Accepted artists pay $1,000 for the full six-week hybrid residency. Payment is due within 48 hours of receiving the acceptance email; a place is not guaranteed until payment or the first payment-plan installment is received. Payment plans are available at adjusted rates. All fees and installments are 100% nonrefundable, including for withdrawal, schedule conflicts, emergencies, travel issues, or inability to attend the in-person ceremony. No internal scholarships are currently offered; letters of support, guidance on external micro-grants, and flexible payment options are available. The fee includes virtual programming, access to Microsoft Teams, required creative materials, shared overnight lodging, communal meals, ceremonial gifts, and round-trip transportation between Denver International Airport and the accommodations. Artists work from their own home studios during the five-week virtual phase. Attendance at weekly virtual sessions, cohort discussions, reflective practices, and sharing works-in-progress is encouraged. No finished artwork is required; artists may develop new work or continue ongoing projects at their own pace. Contribution of one work or work-in-progress created during the residency to the Sankofa Virtual Gallery is strongly encouraged, with freedom over its form, medium, and level of completion. Public engagement and virtual artist talks are optional. Artists are expected to attend the core in-person overnight graduation gathering August 14–15, 2027, at a private location in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.