Description

The theme for this open call is ‘MAHAL’, Mahal is a Tagalog word with roots influenced by Arabic, reflecting precolonial trade and cultural exchange. It carries the dual meaning of both ‘beloved’ and ‘valuable,’ suggesting that what we love is inherently precious.

Mahal—meaning love, care, and value—feels especially urgent now. In a world shaped by loss, burnout, and widening inequities, Mahal invites us to reconsider what we protect, what we nurture, and what we hold dear beyond profit or prestige.

For Kreative Growth 2026, Mahal is not just a theme, but a practice. We’re asking artists what Mahal means to them. How do you imagine love as an action, care as a cultural responsibility, and creativity as a means of tending to one another and the places we call home.

As we look back on ten years of community-rooted work and towards the future of Balay Kreative, Mahal grounds this next chapter—honoring where we’ve been while shaping what comes next.

Artists are invited to explore Mahal as:

• A creative expression

• An emotional and cultural practice

• A vision for how we care for one another and our city
  

Eligible Locations

San Francisco Bay Area

Eligibility

Who can apply:

Artists working in visual arts

Traditional/Fine Arts:

• Painting (oil, acrylic, watercolor)

• Drawing (graphite, charcoal, ink, pastels)

• Printmaking (screen printing, lithography, etching)

Contemporary/Digital:

• Digital art and illustration

• Photography

• Graphic design

• Animation and motion graphics

• 3D modeling and digital sculpture (video)

Mixed Media/Other:

• Collage and assemblage

• Textile arts (weaving, fiber art)

• Calligraphy and lettering
  

*For this exhibition we are not accepting finished AI generated art. While AI can be used for ideation and iteration of your artistic concepts, we are requesting that all finished art be generated by the artists themselves.

Applicant submissions will be reviewed by a panel of artists and community stakeholders. Two finalists will be selected to present their work at a location TBD.

The selected artists will be part of the group exhibition held June 2026.

Exhibition dates: June 2026.

How to apply:

Fill out application here
Link: https://kultivatelabs.typeform.com/to/TN5fcRtR

For questions, email dre@kultivatelabs.org

*no later than 27 of March 2026.

THE KREATIVE GROWTH PROGRAM ARE GENEROUSLY FUNDED BY