The PSPSH Artist in Residence Program is an ongoing initiative for artists who are passionate about architecture, the desert environment, storytelling, cultural preservation, and creative exploration.
Call for Photographers | Fall 2026 – Summer 2027
Launching in Fall 2026, the Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels Artist in Residence Program is a new creative initiative celebrating the relationship between art, architecture, hospitality, landscape, history, and placemaking.
Developed in partnership with the boutique hotel community of Palm Springs,
the residency invites artists to document and interpret the city’s celebrated small hotels through their own unique artistic lens.
It launches with a 2026/2027 photography residency. Future residences will focus on other artistic mediums of expression.
Creative people have always been drawn to Palm Springs. The desert light, dramatic mountain landscapes, iconic midcentury architecture, and vibrant creative culture have inspired generations of artists, photographers, designers, writers, and filmmakers.
Preserve a Moment in Palm Springs History
The Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotel Artist in Residence Program offers photographers more than a residency. It offers an opportunity to help document a singular place at a singular moment in time.
Through architecture, landscape, storytelling, and visual experimentation, artists will contribute to an evolving portrait of Palm Springs and the boutique hotels that continue to shape its cultural identity.
Palm Springs boutique hotels are more than places to stay. Many are historic, independently owned properties shaped by midcentury architecture, desert design, and the creative spirit of the city.
Through this residency, selected photographers will document the architecture, landscape, history, and personality of participating boutique hotels, creating a visual record of the properties that continue to define Palm Springs hospitality and culture.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Focus 26-27 | Photography Residency |
| Program Dates | Fall 2026 through Summer 2027 |
| Location | Palm Springs, California |
| Residency Length | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Lodging | Provided at participating boutique hotels |
| Stipend | $250 weekly living stipend |
| Application Platform | CaFÉ Call for Entry |
| Application Window | June 15, 2026 through August 15, 2026 |
An honorarium plus complimentary stays across the participating boutique hotels.
Unhurried access to document the architecture, light, and life of each property.
A juried exhibition and a permanent place in the program's photographic archive.
Community & Cultural Partnerships
The residency is designed to document, celebrate, and preserve the architecture, history, design, and cultural identity of Palm Springs’ boutique hotel community. These Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels are independently owned, visually distinctive, and deeply connected to Palm Springs’ creative identity.
The Palm Springs Boutique Hotel Artist in Residence Program is a creative initiative from Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels that invites selected photographers to document and interpret the city’s boutique hotels through their own artistic perspective.
The inaugural residency is designed for photographers with an interest in architecture, preservation, desert landscapes, hospitality, cultural storytelling, and creative visual exploration.
Selected photographers receive lodging at participating Palm Springs boutique hotels, a $250 weekly living stipend, transportation reimbursement support, passes to local attractions, and opportunities to connect with regional artists and cultural organizations.
Photographers may participate in a residency lasting between 1 and 2 weeks during one of the planned 2026/2027 residency sessions.
Applications must be submitted through the CaFÉ Call for Entry platform during the application window.
Participating photographers’ work is planned to be featured through public exhibitions, sales showcases, multimedia installations, archival projects, and an online interactive exhibition hosted by Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels.
Applications for the 2026 photography residency open June 15 and close August 15, 2026.