BelRed Arts District & Densho: Artist-in-residency call
Supporting emerging artists to create artwork about WWII Japanese American incarceration history in Bellevue.
Submission Deadline: March 31, 2026 11:59 PM
Timeline: May 1, 2026 - July 31, 2026
Budget: $1,334 monthly stipend
Application:https://form.jotform.com/260325470282149
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.
More information about Japanese-American Incarceration ➜
ELIGIBILITY
The BelRed Arts District’s Artist Residency is open to local, career-level artists living in the Greater Seattle Area, preferably on the Eastside, who are working in any style or medium (the BelRed Arts Studio does not offer a kiln or hot shop currently). We strongly encourage artists who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and others from historically underrepresented communities to apply for this opportunity.
Artists applying to the residency are invited to join webinar with Densho staff to provide background content and history. The orientation will share Densho's interpretation of Japanese American wartime incarceration and learn about Densho’s history, key resources and approach to their work that can support the creative process. Artist are not expected to be Japanese American content experts but willing to learn the history and stories. The selected artist will be connected with a Densho staff to provide content insights, resources and historical support
Participating artist will exercise complete control over the creative process, and all creative ideas and expressions will originate from the artist. However, BelRed Arts District Community Alliance and Densho reserve the right to reject artwork that is offensive or unacceptable for display to the general public. The artist must supply original artwork. The artwork must be suitable for display in public spaces and viewing by a general audience, containing no advertising, branding, or graphic depictions of violence or sexually explicit material (including nudity).
Such materials may include but it not limited to:
Overtly pornographic or libelous content
Overtly offensive religious or political content
Content that portrays discrimination, harassment, or any form of abusive behavior based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status
Content that includes any personally identifiable information
PROJECT TIMELINE
| Dates | Scope of Work |
|---|---|
| March 11, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM March 25, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM | Artist Residency Orientation: What to know before applying SIGN UP FOR A SESSION ➜ |
| April 2026 | Panel review |
| April 27, 2026 | Artist selection notification |
| May 2026 | Selected artist orientation with Densho |
| June 2026 | Concept design check-in |
| July 17, 2026 | Final progress check-in |
| July 26, 2026 | Public showcase of artwork + exhibition and programming |
*Please note that dates are tentative and subject to change.*
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Artist application: Complete all required fields in the online application, including primary location, artistic medium, and the items below.
Contact information: Name, address, phone number, email address
Website
Resume
Artist bio: summarize your background as well as artistic influence, training and significant achievements.
Statement of Purpose
With this residency centering Japanese American experiences and specifically focusing on the Bellevue Japanese American community, what excites you about centering that story?
What connections in your own experiences might you plan on bringing to the residency? Densho and BelRed Arts District are committed to sharing pertinent histories and providing historical context and framework to help inform your residency. Applicants are not expected to be content experts but open to learning more.
Do you have any initial plans for your Artist-in-Residency project given the content and your arts practice? What medium do you generally work in?
Example artwork: Submit up to five (5) images of example work. Please submit high quality JPEG or similar format. Use DropBox or similar link if images are too large to attach.
Upload resume.
HOW TO APPLY
Complete the online applications by March 31, 2026, 11:59 PM. Link to call submission: https://form.jotform.com/260325470282149
SELECTION CRITERIA AND PROCESS
Artists must meet eligibility requirements and submit a complete application. Artists will be selected based on the on the artists’ demonstrated commitment to theme, artistic merit, craftsmanship, the quality of previous work, and the artist’s application. Our selection committee will be composed of art professionals, BelRed Arts District Community Alliance board and/or staff, and Densho staff. They will review application packets and select one finalist to participate in the program. The BelRed Arts District Community Alliance and Densho reserve the right to not choose any applicants.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Questions? Contact us:
Sandy Vo
Executive Director
BelRed Arts District Community Alliance
Maya Hayashi
Event Manager
Densho
ABOUT BELRED ARTS DISTRICT COMMUNITY ALLIANCE
The BelRed Arts District Community Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to leading the strategic and sustainable growth of the BelRed Arts District in Bellevue. We unite artists, creative businesses/organizations, and community partners to elevate the District’s visibility, fuel local economic vitality, and shape a lasting cultural destination on the Eastside. Our mission brings together the power of arts, culture and innovation to build a vibrant Arts District that will inspire and thrive for generations.
ABOUT DENSHO
Densho documents the testimonies of Japanese Americans who were unjustly incarcerated during World War II before their memories are extinguished. We offer these irreplaceable firsthand accounts, coupled with historical images and teacher resources, to explore principles of democracy and promote equal justice for all. Densho is a Japanese term meaning “to pass on to the next generation,” or to leave a legacy. The legacy we offer is an American story with ongoing relevance: during World War II, the United States government incarcerated innocent people solely because of their ancestry.
Densho is a nonprofit organization started in 1996, with the initial goal of documenting oral histories from Japanese Americans who were incarcerated during World War II. This evolved into a mission to educate, preserve, collaborate, and inspire action for equity. Densho uses digital technology to preserve and make accessible primary source materials on the World War II incarceration of Japanese Americans. We present these materials and related resources for their historic value and as a means of exploring issues of democracy, intolerance, wartime hysteria, civil rights and the responsibilities of citizenship in our increasingly global society.