Keke Palmer is adding ‘professor’ to her resume with new artist-in-residence program at UCLA

 by Mildred Europa Taylor, Face2FaceAfrica.com

eke Palmer is partnering with the University of California’s School of Theater, Film and Television on a new five-year artist-in-residence program that will bring the actress and entrepreneur to campus quarterly to lead workshops for students. 

Palmer’s digital media platform, KeyTV, which she launched in 2022 and has already produced 29 original projects from BIPOC-led creators, is central to the program.

Titled “From Blocking to Broadcast” and launching in the 2026-27 academic year, the program will bring the multi-hyphenate to campus to lead quarterly workshops covering pitching, distribution strategy, business ownership, career sustainability and personal brand development, according to a release by the school.

Her production company, Key TV,  will distribute a minimum of three student projects annually, pending quality review, and will provide students with direct experience in packaging, marketing and digital audience engagement, the release added.

“UCLA TFT is a place where artists learn to be in practice, to experience trial and error, to take projects off the page,” Palmer said. “That is also the mission of KeyTV. We know that education is key to democratizing opportunities and I am eager to both learn from and support UCLA TFT students. It is no small feat to pursue higher education, especially at a prestigious institution. I look forward to listening, encouraging and offering them more than one chance to succeed.” 

Palmer started as a child actor and has since built a career in television, film, producing, music and entrepreneurship. Under the UCLA program, her KeyTV’s distribution platform will connect student work with real audiences. Each year, students will develop and produce original multimedia projects through a fully sponsored studio course starting in 2027-28, guided by faculty and mentored by “The ‘Burbs” star Palmer, the release said.

“Project formats will be selected in alignment with faculty expertise, curricular priorities and Palmer’s areas of artistic practice, and may include video podcasts, television pilots, music videos and musical or dance theater,” it added.

KeyTV recently launched KeyTV Days at Special Academy, a six-week immersion program for young creatives from underrepresented communities. 

“Diverse voices matter more than ever,” said Dean Celine Parreñas Shimizu. “People of color and the underrepresented have always made counter cinemas and birthed social movements grounded in cinema as technology of resistance. Bringing an artist of Keke’s caliber into the spaces where our students are learning to develop their stories will inspire them to see and believe what is possible when you are willing to work hard and are committed to educating and uplifting one another. Keke Palmer has built a multifaceted career through tenacity and with the conviction that great artists create space for others to succeed alongside them, and that is one of the things we want our students to inhabit as they bring their stories to life. To develop their singular voices while collaborating with and lifting each other up!”