Contemporary at Blue Star Berlin Residency Program<
Exterior view of Künstlerhaus Bethanien
Apply to the 2025–2026 Berlin Residency Program
Contemporary at Blue Star is excited to invite artists to apply for the 11th cycle of our Berlin Residency program in partnership with Künstlerhaus Bethanien in Berlin, Germany. Since its inception, the Berlin Residency has been an invaluable resource for artists to expand their practice, with its impact continuing to influence alumni artists today. In 2024, 2015–2016 Berlin artist alum Leigh Anne Lester exhibited work influenced by her residency at a solo exhibition at Ruiz-Healy Art, demonstrating the program’s lasting effect on artists’ careers.
Application Open: January 3–February 10, 2025
Application Deadline: February 10, 2025 at 12pm (Noon) CST
Residents Announced: Friday, March 7, 2025 at 6pm during the Contemporary’s Spring exhibition opening and CAM Kick-Off
Contemporary at Blue Star Berlin Residency Program
Often the sole U.S. partner of the Künstlerhaus Bethanien, the Contemporary annually selects four artists residing in Bexar County to take part in three-month residencies in Berlin, Germany.
A non-profit organization that has earned a worldwide reputation for its international residency studio program, KB gives 25 artists from around the world residencies at their fully-appointed facility in the heart of Berlin’s vibrant art scene. It aims to establish a lively dialogue between artists from various backgrounds and disciplines and the public at large. More information about the Künstlerhaus Bethanien can be found at bethanien.de/en/
The Contemporary recognizes Dr. Angelika Jansen Brown for her integral role in establishing the program.
Annually, the Contemporary hosts an online Open Call process for artists to be considered for the Berlin Residency Program. The selection process is highly competitive, with a panel of jurors evaluating a pool of talented Bexar County artists.
Why Apply?
The Contemporary offers artists exclusive access to the Künstlerhaus Bethanien’s renowned international residency program.
Each artist receives a $2,000 stipend to aid with travel to residency and living costs.
Resident artists will also travel to Darmstadt, Germany (a sister city of San Antonio) to meet with fellow artists and cultural leaders and visit cultural institutions. An additional stipend is provided for this trip. Since 2019, the City of San Antonio’s Global Engagement Office began providing additional support for each selected Berlin Residency Program artist to travel to Darmstadt.
The Contemporary covers costs of all program fees associated with residency: studio and living space, inclusion in the internationally-distributed BE magazine, curatorial visits, workshop access, etc.
Each selected artist will participate in a public program following the completion of the residency.
Artists reside in individual live-work studio spaces and have shared bathroom and shower facilities on each floor and shared laundry. For questions about building accessibility please contact KB.
Eligibility
Must currently reside in Bexar County and conduct a significant portion of your artistic practice/outreach in San Antonio.
Artist must have established residency for 12 months prior to application period.
Must have at least five years of relevant work experience and/or specialized arts training, such as a degree or certificate, or intensive period of time developing their skill and knowledge base.
Demonstrate a clear investment of time and resources into your artistic practice and/or derive a portion of individual earned income from your artistic practice or areas related to the field.
Have a professional portfolio that includes publicly displayed and possibly published works.
Must be able to attend during any of the residency cycle dates.
Students are not eligible to apply.
Artist collaborative teams/collectives not eligible to apply.
Alumni Artists
2024–2025 Artists
2023-2024 Artists
The 2023-2024 cycle is made possible in part by the support of the Liberty Bar and our Berlin Brunchers, the Guillermo Nicolás and Jim Foster Art Fund, the City of San Antonio’s Department of Arts and Culture, and the City of San Antonio’s Global Engagement Office..
2020-2021 Artists
The 2019-2020 cycle is made possible in part by the support of Berlin Brunchers, Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation, the City of San Antonio Department of Arts and Culture, and Guillermo Nicolás.
2019-2020 Artists
The 2019-2020 cycle is made possible in part by the support of Berlin Brunchers, Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation, the City of San Antonio Department of Arts and Culture, and Guillermo Nicolás.
2018-2019 Artists
The 2018-2019 cycle is made possible in part by the support of Berlin Brunchers, Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation, the City of San Antonio Department of Arts & Culture, and Guillermo Nicolás.
2017-2018 Artists
The 2017-2018 cycle is made possible in part by the support of the City of San Antonio Department for Arts & Culture, Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation, Michael McGowan, and Berlin Brunchers.
2016-2017 Artists
The 2016-2017 cycle is made possible in part by the City of San Antonio Department for Arts & Culture, Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation, and 1010 S. Flores Lofts and 1111 Austin Highway Lofts.
2015-2016 Artists
The 2015-2016 cycle is made possible in part by the support of City of San Antonio Department for Arts & Culture and 1010 South Flores Lofts and 1111 Austin Highway Lofts.
2014-2015 Artists
The 2014-15 cycle is made possible in part by the support of City of San Antonio Department for Arts & Culture, 1010 South Flores Lofts and 1111 Austin Highway Lofts, Ann and Bill FitzGibbons, Ruth Chang and Russell Nadeau, and Ruiz-Healy Art.
2013-2014 Artists
Special thanks to the inaugural funders of the Contemporary’s Berlin Residency Program, including the City of San Antonio Department of Arts & Culture, the University of Texas at San Antonio, Palo Alto College, and 1010 South Flores Lofts and 1111 Austin Highway Lofts.