FEE WAIVER & SPACE REQUEST PROGRAMS

Applications open august 7 - 30

At East Bay Open Studios, we believe all artists deserve the opportunity to share their work, regardless of their financial and environmental needs.  Our Fee Waiver and Space Request Programs ensure that more artists can participate in East Bay Open Studios, bringing their creativity to new spaces and communities.  Our Fee Waiver Program offers fee waivers to artists who face financial barriers to participation. Our Space Request Program connects artists who do not have their own studios with Community Hubs—galleries, art spaces, and community venues that offer exhibition space during EBOS.

These programs ensure that more artists can participate in East Bay Open Studios, bringing their creativity to new spaces and communities. If you are an artist in need of a space or a venue interested in hosting, we encourage you to apply or reach out for more information!

Please complete the application below and submit all required materials by Sunday, August 30, 2026, 11:59pm.  Late applications will not be accepted, so please work on your application in advance of the deadline.  For application questions, email us by Thursday, August 27, 2026 at ebos@oaklandartmurmur.org. We won't be available after 5pm or over the weekend. Your submitted application will be emailed to you once you successfully submit. If you do not receive your responses, we did not receive your application.

Accepted applicants will be notified by Sept 11, so you can complete registration by the Sept 14 deadline. Please be ready to review and sign the Special Program Artist Agreements that we will send.

Fee Waivers

  • For artists where the registration fee is a barrier to participation, apply for our Fee Waiver program

  • Fee Waivers cover the full or partial participation fee for each event

  • Application Dates:

    • Opens: August 7, 2026

    • Closes: August 30, 2026

  • You must participate in both weekends of EBOS to be eligible. Artists must be present at the exhibition space during open studios hours.

  • You must reapply for each event

  • OAM will distribute approximately 12 waivers per event to East Bay Artists

  • In seeking to make EBOS more inclusive, we will prioritize applicants who represent systematically excluded communities. This also includes artists from smaller cities that have less resources available for artists.

Or! Volunteer to offset registration fees: there are opportunities to volunteer to offset registration fees including art installation, art space sitting, advertising outreach, guide proofing. We request 4 hours of volunteer time in exchange for a fee waiver  (per weekend, 8 hours for two weekends). If interested, please contact us at ebos@oaklandartmurmur.org.

Apply Here

SPACE REQUEST

  • For artists who do not have their own studio space, please request to be shown at one of our Community Hubs

  • Community Hubs show multiple artists' work. No commission is taken

  • Request Dates:

    • Opens: August 7, 2026

    • Closes: August 30, 2026

  • You must participate in both weekends of EBOS to be eligible. Artists must be present at the exhibition space during open studios hours.

  • You must reapply for each event

  • It is up to the artists to work with the designated contact at the Community Hub regarding installation and removal timing.

  • Artists are still expected to promote their open studio event independent of the venue.

  • Artists must be registered to participate in the open studios event to be able to take advantage of this opportunity.

Apply Here