APAture 2026

You have questions. We have answers.

If by chance our tome below doesn’t address your questions, please email us at apature@kearnystreet.org, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!

A Festival Built With Artists

APAture 2026 marks an exciting year for Kearny Street Workshop’s annual festival. As we look toward the future, we are focusing this year's APAture on strengthening community solidarity and deepening the relationships that sustain our creative ecosystems. APAture has always celebrated emerging Asian American and Pacific Islander artists across the Bay Area.

Selected artists not only just present work, but also help shape the energy, relationships, and spirit of the festival.

We are excited to offer professional development opportunities designed to support artistic growth, social gatherings and meet-ups to build meaningful connections and cross-genre exchanges between Literary, Visual, and Film cohorts, and more opportunities for artists to feel ownership and agency within the festival. Interested applicants should consider APAture a space where individual work is celebrated—and where collective work contributes to being rooted in a larger artistic community.

Showcases

In order to put the best use of our efforts toward community solidarity, APAture 2026 will feature three showcases:

• Literary Arts

• Visual Arts

• Film

We welcome artists working in these forms who are excited about connecting across disciplines and participating in a shared creative process.

What Participation Looks Like

APAture is a collective effort. We invite artists who are interested in being active members of the festival community.

Participation means:

• Attending artist gatherings and community events

• Contributing ideas to the development and presentation of your showcase

• Supporting the festival through shared volunteer efforts

• Making authentic connections: building community is about giving as well as receiving. Building community, within your capacity and with your authentic voice.

Our Values

APAture continues its commitment to uplifting Asian American and Pacific Islander voices, especially those who are often marginalized within broader narratives, including Pacific Islanders and artists outside dominant East and Southeast Asian frameworks. Our APAture values are connected to the values we caretake and uphold in our Organizing Principles. Values shaped by and for KSW artists and community members.

We are especially interested in artists who:

• See art as a tool for care, connection, and collective resilience

• Are invested in strengthening community relationships

• Are curious about how their work contributes to shared cultural futures

About APAture

Now in its 27th year, APAture has long been a space for experimentation, visibility, and artistic growth. In 2026, we are recommitting to what makes the festival most powerful: community connection, shared responsibility, and celebrating emerging artists at pivotal moments in their journeys. We warmly invite you to apply and be part of shaping the next generation of APAture. Let’s build this together.

Eligibility

What kind of art are you looking for? 

APAture 2026 will  feature the following kinds of work:

• Visual Arts: Painting, photography, sculpture, installation, multimedia, etc.

• Literary Arts: Poetry and Prose 

• Film: Animation, documentary, experimental, music video,  etc.

What About Performing Arts, Theater, and Music?

For 2026, APAture is focusing on the above noted disciplines as we accommodate changes to our festival format. We hope to bring performing arts, theater, and music back in future years.

What About “Showcase” vs. “Featured” Artists?
While APAture has distinguished between “showcase” artists and “featured” artists in past iterations of the festival, we are pivoting toward a more inclusive designation of APATure artist. Our selection process remains rigorous and highly selective and includes jurying and curatorial input from KSW staff, mentees, and General Planning Committee volunteers.

What do you mean by “emerging artist”?

We’re looking to feature new artists with fresh points of view. For example, any of the following might describe you:

• You do your art on the side, frequent open mics, and work on collaborative projects. For your efforts, you’re compensated modestly, if at all.

• You’re an art student and just starting to build your portfolio and expand your skill set.

• You take classes, workshops, and other events that help you hone your craft.

• You’re looking for more places and opportunities to showcase your stuff and to meet other artists who could help you make more with what you’ve got!

And while KSW is grateful for our collaborations with established artists, APAture doesn’t focus on artists who can be described as follows:

• You work on your art full-time, make a pretty penny, and show your work frequently both in and outside the Bay Area.

• Your resume is pages long and may include a long list of publishing credentials, getting press in major publications, and/or winning multiple awards (although a few of those accomplishments would be okay!).

• Your reputation in the arts community precedes you!

• We’ve shown your stuff at multiple APAture events in the past. However,  if you have established yourself in one discipline (including past featured artists), and consider yourself emerging in a different discipline (i.e. a published poet who is starting to establish themselves as a visual artist), then we’re happy to consider you for the festival.

What do you mean when you say Asian/Pacific Islander artists?

By that we mean artists whose ancestry is from one or more of the following regions: East Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Southwest Asia, West Asia, North Africa, and Oceania. We include multi-ethnic and multi-racial artists with Asian and/or Pacific Islander heritage in our definition. Though we understand terms like API or APA have been a source of contention in our communities, and we acknowledge that the Pacific Islander identity is often underrepresented and erased under the API or APA umbrella along with many Southeast Asian, South Asian, and SWANA communities, our usage in this festival is not to presume a singular identity, but rather to center rich and varied art coming from all the communities in this region who are living in the Bay Area.

Are we still eligible to apply if I’m of Asian and/or Pacific Islander descent but other folks in my group aren’t?

While we value diversity, community building, and collaboration across ethnic and racial lines, the group member of Asian or Pacific Islander descent must have a prominent or at least equal role in the group’s work and presentation.

I’ve applied to APAture before. Can I apply again?

If you still consider yourself an emerging artist, yes!

Do I have to live and work in the San Francisco Bay Area?

Yes. Only those who live and/or work in the Bay Area are eligible for the festival. In rare cases, we’ll consider artists who maintain strong ties to the area or live just outside of the region.

Why is your target age range 21+?

APAture focuses on adult artists and we sometimes hold events in venues that are not accessible for youth. We have discussed youth focused programming at APAture, but it is important for us to make sure we do so thoughtfully and responsibly with appropriate resources and support before proceeding.

The Application Process

How do I apply and submit my work?

By heading to our submissions page, filling out the appropriate form, and including your work and submission fee in the process (the application will tell you how!). We prefer online submissions, but if absolutely necessary, you can print out the application and mail it to us, along with your work (please do not send originals, only copies!) and submission fee, to:

• Kearny Street Workshop

• Attn: Jason Bayani, Co- Director

• P.O. Box 14545

• San Francisco, CA 94114

Can I submit more than one application?

Yes, but please note that each unit of art submission will require its own application and submission fee. To read more on what counts as a unit of art, scroll to the Submitted Work section.

When are submissions due?

11:59pm, June 21, 2026.

What does each showcase require for participation?

If your application is accepted in:
Film you will participate in a short film showcase with a cohort of other accepted artists.
Literary Arts you will participate in a one night reading with a cohort of other accepted artists.
Visual Arts you will participate in two events: a Visual Arts Opening Reception and Visual Arts Closing Reception. Your artwork will remain on display at Arc Gallery for the duration of the festival. Please note: You will be required to deliver your work on one of two possible delivery days before it is installed and will be required to pick up your work immediately following the Closing Reception. We unfortunately do not have the capacity to store artwork.

When will I find out whether or not I’ve been accepted?

We’ll get back to you with a decision by July 31st. If accepted, more information will be sent. If not, please consider applying next year! We do get a large number of submissions, so we unfortunately won’t be able to update you on the status of your application until July 31st. Thank you for understanding.

What are my chances of getting accepted into the festival?

We anticipate receiving anywhere between 100-150 applications. Of this number, we anticipate on selecting between 30-40 applicants.

What if I'm not selected?

If you are not selected to showcase in APAture 2026, we encourage you to keep an eye out for other opportunities from Kearny Street Workshop. We have a robust calendar year of presentations and workshops. We hope you will consider participating as an audience member or volunteer. It's a great way to experience local art and strengthen your application for next year.

Submitted Work

How do I apply and submit my work?

By heading to our submissions page, filling out the appropriate form, and including your work and submission fee in the process (the application will tell you how!). We accept online submissions via our submission page only.

Can I submit more than one application?

Yes, but please note that each unit of art submission will require its own application and submission fee. To read more on what counts as a unit of art, scroll to the Submitted Work section.

What does each discipline require for showcase participation?

If your application is accepted in:

Film you will participate in a short film showcase with a cohort of other accepted artists.

Literary Arts you will participate in a one night reading with a cohort of other accepted artists.

Visual Arts you will participate in two events: a Visual Arts Opening Reception and Visual Arts Closing Reception. Your artwork will remain on display at Arc Gallery for the duration of the festival. Please note: You will be required to deliver your work on one of two possible delivery days before it is installed and will be required to pick up your work immediately following the Closing Reception. We unfortunately do not have the capacity to store artwork.

When will I find out whether or not I’ve been accepted?

We’ll get back to you with a decision by July 31st. If accepted, more information will be sent. If not, please consider applying next year! We do get a large number of submissions, so we unfortunately won’t be able to update you on the status of your application until July 31st. Thank you for understanding.

What are my chances of getting accepted into the festival?

We anticipate receiving anywhere between 150 and 200 applications. Of this number, we anticipate selecting around 30 applicants.

What if I'm not selected?

If you are not selected to showcase in APAture 2026, we encourage you to keep an eye out for other opportunities from Kearny Street Workshop. We have a robust calendar year of presentations and workshops. We hope you will consider participating as an audience member or volunteer. It's a great way to experience local art and strengthen your application for next year.

Submitted Work

Why do you only accept recent works?

We’re looking to feature both new artists and new work, so we require all submissions to have been created within the past three years.

Does my work need to be relevant to the theme?

Not necessarily. We’re more interested in curating work that we can get excited about. We understand there is a wide range of styles and aesthetics within all of our communities. Our themes are intended to be broad and open to interpretation, so consider the theme as an invitation to explore how your work relates to it.

What do you consider to be a “unit of work” in each discipline?

We define a unit of work as:

Film: A short film up to 15 minutes in length. In rare cases, slightly longer films may be accepted, depending on programming limitations.

Literary Arts: A piece of writing that can be read within 7 minutes.

Visual Arts: A single gallery piece or a small series of related works. 

For 2-D work, please submit 1-3 pieces no larger than 40” x 60” each.  If accepted, 2-D work should be ready to install (framed pieces are required to have hanging hardware attached and ready to hang, while unframed work is required to have hanging hardware included). 

3-D work should either be free-standing or able to be installed on a pedestal (or grouping of pedestals), with a maximum dimension of 3’x6’. We accept installations, but we do have limited space. See venue information below.

For multimedia installations, you will need to provide your own equipment.  

The Visual Arts Showcase will be exhibited at Arc Gallery.  We prioritize creating an exhibition that showcases more artists with smaller works than fewer artists with larger works. See the Arc Gallery Floorplan for an overview of the space available for a group show. See photos of Arc’s Main Gallery and Project Gallery for a look at existing shows.

We welcome submissions of multiple showcases, but please note that each showcase will require its own application and submission fee.

Can I make changes to the work I submit?

Please plan on showcasing the work that you submit in your APAture application at the festival.  Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to curate additional work other than what is in your application. We do accept works in progress. Please use the “description of your work” section to explain what the finished product will look like, and include as much as you are able to submit for the work sample.

How do I get my work back after the festival?

Visual artists whose work is accepted will need to pick up their work on the day of de-install, immediately following the Visual Arts Closing Reception. Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to store artwork.

Money Questions

Why do I have to pay a submission fee?

The submission fee is a standard processing fee that helps cover administrative costs. We will happily provide waivers to anybody who requests them. No questions asked.

How do I pay the submission fee?

The application includes instructions and options on how to pay.

Will I be paid if my work is shown?
All accepted showcase artists will receive a small honorarium. 

If my work is shown, will you cover the cost of my transportation to festival events and shipping costs for my work?

No. Artists are responsible for these costs, but we will provide space and certain equipment so that you can present your work during the festival.