Keke Palmer, PC: Wikipedia
Keke Palmer ’s five-year collaboration with the University of California, Los Angeles School of Theater, Film and Television is moving into its first academic-year programme, with three sessions planned for students during 2026–27. The Emmy-winning actor, producer and entrepreneur, Lauren Palmer, known professionally as Keke Palmer, has been named the University of California, Los Angeles School of Theatre, Film and Television’s artist in residence for the 2026–27 academic year. The residency forms part of a five-year partnership with Palmer’s digital media network, KeyTV, announced by UCLA in June 2026. The fall 2026 session, “Your Voice. UCLA’s June 11 announcement describes KeyTV as the distribution platform for selected student projects, connecting work developed through the partnership with audiences beyond the classroom. The June announcement also outlines a fully sponsored studio course planned for the 2027–28 academic year.
Because the collaboration combines university instruction with the distribution of creative work through an external media platform, these questions matter.
UCLA TFT’s August 18 announcement outlines three quarterly sessions under the title “Know Yourself, Own Yourself, Free Yourself to Build New Frameworks for Change”. The winter 2027 session, “Owning Your Creative Power”, will focus on Palmer’s experience building KeyTV and responding to gaps in the entertainment industry. The spring 2027 session, “The Modern Multi-Hyphenate: Freedom Through Community”, will explore her work across acting, producing, entrepreneurship, media and authorship, with an emphasis on creative independence and community.
The sessions will explore artistic identity, creative ownership and community, and will take place at Freud Playhouse on campus. Dean Celine Parreñas Shimizu will curate and moderate the sessions, which are open to TFT students. The sessions will be held at Freud Playhouse on campus and are open to TFT students. Dean Celine Parreñas Shimizu will curate the programme and moderate the sessions, which will include assigned readings. Our Story.”, will examine self-perception, public perception and artistic voice. The collaboration brings together UCLA’s production training and Palmer’s experience in entertainment and digital media. With Palmer mentoring students, the course is expected to support projects including video podcasts, television pilots, music videos and musical or dance-theatre productions. KeyTV is intended to provide a distribution route for selected work produced through the collaboration. The programme’s eventual value to students will depend not only on access to mentorship and production experience but also on how project selection, ownership and distribution are handled.