Arts Commission unveils NEA-backed Mentorship and Exhibition Fellowship; selects two emerging artists

The San Francisco Arts Commission heard a presentation April 1 about a new Mentorship and Exhibition Fellowship for emerging Bay Area artists funded in part by a National Endowment for the Arts grant.

Carolina Aranobar Fernandez, Director of Galleries and Public Programs, said the program will select two artists — one based in San Francisco and one from the broader Bay Area — to receive mentorship, professional development resources and culminating exhibitions at the SFAC main gallery in September 2024. "We're excited to announce a new program for the San Francisco Arts Commission and Galleries," Fernandez said, noting the program received 169 applications.

The selected artists are Sun Park, a visual artist and writer based in San Francisco, and Shareen Khaladbari, an artist and educator based in Berkeley whose work explores the consequences of colonialism in West Asia. Fernandez identified Shireen Macaremi as curator and mentor for the fellowship.

Commissioners expressed appreciation for the NEA support and for centering emerging Bay Area artists; there was no substantive discussion or vote required for the presentation. Next steps include programming schedules and exhibition planning leading to the September opening.