In search of an artist grant or opportunity? We have you covered.
These opportunities can help keep your art business running—whether it’s an emergency grant, call for a future exhibition (maybe an online one!) or even a residency down the road—so when the day comes that things return to normal, you aren’t left without any irons in the fire.
To save you time searching, take a look at some of the opportunities for artists we’ve found with deadlines coming up in the month of June.
And, don't forget to download the Complete Guide to 2020 Artist Opportunities and save a copy of all the best opportunities this year to your desktop.
Ready to find the next big opportunity for your art business? Check out our June guide for artists (sorted by those deadlines coming up first):
Artist Grants:
TILA Studios COVID-19 Fund
In an effort to sustain black women’s contributions in the art industry during the COVID -19, TILA Studios is launching a recurring monthly fund beginning at $1,000 to support black women artists nationwide.
WHO: Black women artists
AMOUNT: Beginning at $1000
DEADLINE: June 1, 2020
FINE PRINT: The funding will occur monthly from April 2020 until August 2020. If we continue to witness and experience the economic impact of the COVID-19 we will continue awarding an unrestricted financial award until January 2021. Learn more here.
Artists' Fellowship, Inc.
The Artists’ Fellowship provides emergency aid to professional fine artists and their families in times of sickness, natural disaster, bereavement or unexpected extreme hardship.
WHO: U.S. artists
AMOUNT: TBD
DEADLINE: Meeting monthly from September to June, the Board of Trustees reviews all applications to determine if they have been properly submitted and if they are eligible. Applicants are encouraged to submit early in the month.
FINE PRINT: “Professional” is defined as those visual artists who make their livelihood through sales as reported on a Schedule C with a U.S. Federal tax return. An active exhibition history is also an important part of documenting “professional.” Learn more here.
Artadia Awards - Chicago
Artadia is now accepting applications for the 2020 Chicago Awards from all visual artists who have lived and worked within Cook County, IL for a minimum of two years. Individual artists and collaboratives working in all visual media and at any stage in their career are strongly encouraged to apply. Awardees will be selected through a two-tier jury process that employs a panel of prominent curators in the summer of 2020.
WHO: All visual artists living and working in the current award city of Chicago
AMOUNT: $10,000
DEADLINE: June 1, 2020
FINE PRINT: Awards are based on merit. The award money can be used however the artist sees fit. Learn more here.
The Orphan We Video Story Grant
The Orphan We grant is open to applicants who have an interesting life story to tell. We accept video stories up to 10 minutes long. Special consideration will be given to applicants who are a part of marginalized groups.
WHO: All artists and activists are welcome to apply
AMOUNT: $300
DEADLINE: June 14, 2020
FINE PRINT: Complete all parts of our simple application to be considered. You can use a phone or basic recording device. A selfie video is perfectly fine. Be aware of your lighting. Do not submit a vague story with limited detail. Learn more here.
Rauschenberg Emergency Grants
New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) is proud to partner with the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation to administer a new emergency grant program called Rauschenberg Emergency Grants.
WHO: U.S. artists
FIELD: Visual arts, media arts, and choreography
AMOUNT: The program will provide one-time grants of up to $5,000 for unexpected medical emergencies.
DEADLINE: June 15, 2020
FINE PRINT: Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to: hospital and doctor bills (including insurance co-pays), tests, physical/occupational therapy, prescription drugs specifically for the emergency medical condition, and emergency dental work. Learn more here.
Artist Relief Emergency Grants: Cycle III
To support artists during the COVID-19 crisis, a coalition of national arts grantmakers have come together to create an emergency initiative to offer financial and informational resources to artists across the United States. Artist Relief will distribute $5,000 grants to artists facing dire financial emergencies due to COVID-19; serve as an ongoing informational resource; and co-launch the COVID-19 Impact Survey for Artists and Creative Workers, designed by Americans for the Arts, to better identify and address the needs of artists.
WHO: U.S. artists
AMOUNT: $5,000
DEADLINE: June 18, 2020
FINE PRINT: Please note that the Artist Relief coalition partners will make final eligibility determinations as needed. The fund will operate through September 2020 and will fund at least 100 artists per week. Learn more here.
ACS Studio Prize 2020
The Artists’ Collecting Society (ACS) is offering one student or recent graduate £6,000 to contribute to the cost of an artist’s studio in a UK city of your choice. The Studio Prize was established by ACS in 2017 to help artists with the costs of rising studio rents. It recognizes the need for studio space and financial stability for emerging artists at the pivotal stage of beginning their careers.
WHO: UK art students and recent graduates
AMOUNT: £4,500 for a UK artist studio
DEADLINE: June 30, 2020
FINE PRINT: The Prize is open to all final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students studying Fine Art and other creative courses. Artists who have graduated from such a course within the past four years are also invited to apply. Learn more here.
Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant
Established as part of Lee Krasner’s legacy, the Pollock Krasner Foundation Grant was set up to support and strengthen the creative lives of artists. A competitive grant for artists with extensive exhibition records, this grant has a long list of impressive alumni. Since its start in 1985, the foundation has granted over 65 million dollars in award money to artists in over 77 countries.
WHO: Mid-career professional artists with demonstrable financial need. Artists must be actively exhibiting their current work in professional artistic venues, such as gallery and museum spaces.
FIELD: Painters, sculptors, and artists who work on paper, including printmaking.
AMOUNT: Awards range from $5,000 to $30,000, depending on need and circumstance.
DEADLINE: Ongoing
FINE PRINT: Commercial artists, video artists, performance artists, filmmakers, crafts-makers, and computer artists are not eligible. Students not eligible. Detailed FAQ here.
CERF+ (Craft Emergency Relief Fund)
CERF+ provides rapid relief and career recovery loans through their own grants (for artists working in craft disciplines) as well as a list of emergency resources for artists in other disciplines. Additionally, CERF+ just launched the COVID-19 Response Fund to support artists working in craft disciplines.
WHO: Craft artists in the U.S.
AMOUNT: $3,000
DEADLINE: Ongoing
FINE PRINT: In light of the anticipated volume of requests for assistance, for the time-being, CERF+‘s emergency relief grants related to Covid-19 will focus on those infected with the virus that requires intensive medical care. It is a two-stage process. First, an inquiry process, then the application. Learn more here.
Foundation for Contemporary Arts
Emergency Grants are available by application to artists in all disciplines who have sudden opportunities or unexpected expenses to present work to the public. Artists should apply 6-8 weeks before funding is needed for last-minute support.
WHO: U.S.-based artists
AMOUNT: $500-$2,500 (Average $1,600)
DEADLINE: Ongoing
FINE PRINT: To meet artists' last-minute needs in a timely manner, FCA's Emergency Grants panel meets monthly to review requests. We recommend that artists review all of our eligibility guidelines and FAQs before applying. You may also complete our Eligibility Questionnaire, but please note that the questionnaire is not a substitute for a thorough review of program guidelines. Learn more here.
Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund
The Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund is intended to help those pursuing careers as artists or arts administrators whose income has been directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This fund is for those who self-identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color).
WHO: US-based BIPOC artists and administrators
AMOUNT: $200
DEADLINE: Ongoing
FINE PRINT: These one-time micro-grants will be disbursed on a first-come-first-served basis. Learn more here.
The Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant
The Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant program is intended to provide interim financial assistance to qualified painters, printmakers, and sculptors whose needs are the result of an unforeseen, catastrophic incident, and who lack the resources to meet that situation. Each grant is given as one-time assistance for a specific emergency, examples of which are fire, flood, or emergency medical need.
WHO: Artists must work in the disciplines of painting, sculpture or printmaking, and must be able to demonstrate a minimum involvement of ten years in a mature phase of his or her work.
AMOUNT: Average $5,000, maximum $15,000
DEADLINE: Ongoing
FINE PRINT: While we recognize the economic toll of the Covid-19 crisis, we regrettably are not able to assist with funds to replace lost or interrupted income. The Emergency Grant Program will continue to function as they have for the past forty years to assist mature visual artists. Learn more here.
Awesome Foundation Grant
A micro-granting organization, funding “awesome” ideas, The Awesome Foundation set up local chapters around the world to provide rolling grants of $1000 to “awesome projects.” Each chapter defines what is “awesome” for their local community, but most include arts initiative and public or social practice art projects.
WHO: Anyone is eligible for a grant — individuals, groups, and organizations alike.
FIELD: Any Field. Each chapter has its own requirements, most consider arts projects.
AMOUNT: $1000
DEADLINE: Ongoing
FINE PRINT: Grants not given for studio space or strictly salary or supplies. Needs to make the community more “awesome.” Think public works. More info here.
Mayer Foundation Grant
The Mayer Foundation offers economic relief grants to needy individuals who are distressed or suffering as a result of poverty, low income or lack of financial resources.
WHO: Artists living in the New York City area
AMOUNT: Average $2,000
DEADLINE: Ongoing
FINE PRINT: The Foundation may require additional information, an interview, or a site visit. If a proposal clearly is not within the giving interests of the Foundation, the applicant will be notified immediately. Learn more here.
For more regional grants for artists affected by COVID-19, see our full resource list here.
June Calls-for-Entry:
“10th Anniversary” Online Art Competition
Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery announces an art call for a very special competition in celebration of its 10th Anniversary. For this competition, all 2D and 3D artists (including photography & digital arts) from around the world are called upon to make online submissions for possible inclusion in to the Gallery’s “10th Anniversary” online group art exhibition.
WHO: 2D and 3D artists worldwide
DATES: June 10 - August 18, 2020
LOCATION: Online
DEADLINE: June 1, 2020
FINE PRINT: The gallery will choose and award the top 10 artists from each media category and from those media categories; the 10 best entries will be designated as the Overall Category Winning Artists. This is an “Open” (No Theme) online art competition. Learn more here.
2nd Annual Lines, Shapes & Objects Art Competition
Fusion Art invites submissions for the 2nd Annual Lines, Shapes & Objects online art competition. For this competition, both 2D and 3D artists, worldwide, are invited to submit their best representational and/or abstract art and photography depicting lines, shapes & objects.
WHO: 2D and 3D artists worldwide
DATES: June 5 - July 4, 2020
LOCATION: Online
DEADLINE: June 1, 2020
FINE PRINT: Cash prizes and an invitation to Fusion Art's 5th Annual Group Show in Palm Springs for Best in Show winners. Winners and finalists are provided with extensive worldwide publicity and promotion. Learn more here.
Still Life Online Art Competition
For this three-month group online exhibition, artists are encouraged to submit their best work depicting an arrangement of everyday inanimate objects. The still life works can be traditional or contemporary in nature, with the content exhibiting everyday objects which are natural (e.g., food, flowers, plants, rocks, shells, etc.) or which are manufactured (e.g., bottles, glasses, pottery, books, jewelry, coins, pipes, etc.).
WHO: 2D and 3D artists worldwide
DATES: June 15, 2020 - September 14, 2020
LOCATION: Online
DEADLINE: June 5, 2020
FINE PRINT: The work can range from realism to surrealism to abstraction and all artists, regardless of location or experience, are encouraged to submit their best representational or abstract art and photography. Learn more here.
Light
It’s all about the light! Light and shadow have been the foundation of photography since the beginning. While illumination is important, darkness is an equally compelling component and, together, the elements of a successful photograph. Show us your best light!
WHO: All photographers regardless of location, age or skill level
DATES: August 7 - 29, 2020
LOCATION: Greenville, SC
DEADLINE: June 7, 2020
FINE PRINT: The SE Center is looking for all forms of imagery, black-and-white, color, or toned photography- all subjects, analog, digital or antique processes, photographers of all skill levels and locations are welcome. Learn more here.
The 2nd Half – 50 and Over Show
As we grow older, the maturity and insight life has given us multiplies. The viewpoints and experiences that come with age are invaluable lessons to us all on how to live life - and live it well. This month we will celebrate the talent and wisdom of the artist over 50. Las Laguna Gallery is now accepting submissions of artwork by artists who are 50 years older in age.
WHO: Artists worldwide
DATES: July 2 - 31, 2020
LOCATION: Laguna Beach, CA
DEADLINE: June 7, 2020
FINE PRINT: No sculpture, video or jewelry at this time. Please note that if due to COVID-19 we are unable to hold the show at our brick and mortar location, it has been decided that all artists will have at least one of their works accepted for our online exhibition on our website, promoted on Facebook, Instagram, and other social media sites. Learn more here.
In My Head, In My Body
In this all-media group exhibition from the Torpedo Factory Art Center, the artwork delves into the human psyche to explore themes surrounding mental health and its relationship to your physical health. This exhibition will challenge common misconceptions about the topic as well as allow space for the selected artists to express their experiences, struggles, and triumphs through their work.
WHO: Artists worldwide
DATES: October 31 - December 13, 2020
LOCATION: Alexandria, VA
DEADLINE: June 7, 2020
FINE PRINT: Work should be less than 15 feet overall (height + width + length), with no one dimension measuring more than 7 feet. Learn more here.
Printmaking At The Edge
The Award-Winning Art Center in Dover, New Hampshire announces a Call for Entry to a juried art competition and exhibition featuring Printmaking… traditional techniques with a contemporary twist. Intaglio, lithography, serigraphs, and more, the techniques are age-old but the result is so new. If you like to experiment with your prints and want to exhibit your exciting results this is your show.
WHO: Printmakers worldwide
DATES: August 3 - 29, 2020
LOCATION: Dover, NH
DEADLINE: June 10, 2020
FINE PRINT: All printmaking techniques are accepted. Each artist can submit 2 prints maximum with the $20 entry fee. Works should measure no larger than 30 x 40 inches in paper size. Three-dimensional works will also be considered for the show. Learn more here.
“Xposed”- Naked & Not Afraid Second Annual Celebration of the Human Figure
We are looking for unique and expressive works of art that celebrates and explores the Human Figure, Human Sexuality & Identity. This is a Juried Exhibition.
WHO: Artists worldwide
DATES: July 4 - 25, 2020
LOCATION: Calgary, Alberta
DEADLINE: June 12, 2020
FINE PRINT: Accepted Media: Painting, Drawing, Photography, Sculpture, Fibre, Mixed Media Digital, and Prints. All the work must remain on display for the duration of the exhibition. Unsold works will be returned after the exhibition at the artist’s expense. Learn more here.
Genius Loci Weimar 2020 | Deadline Extended
Genius Loci Weimar is an annual festival for site-specific audiovisual art, especially the façade, space, and object projections. The festival combines the historical spirit of Weimar and the contemporary technique of video mapping, a projection technique that incorporates the object into the image design, giving objects multi-layered dimensions and audiovisual narratives.
WHO: Audiovisual artists
DATES: September 4 - 6, 2020
LOCATION: Weimar, Germany
DEADLINE: June 14, 2020
FINE PRINT: The three winning artists will be awarded prize money totaling € 45,000 for the realization of a 05–10 min high-resolution audio-visual production, to be presented during the festival as a video mapping on the respective facade. Learn more here.
Aptitude
Aptitude will be an open-themed, contemporary and fine art exhibition at thegallery8680. Eligible media include, but are not limited to: drawing, painting, photography, mixed media, oil/chalk pastels, block/ink print, hanging sculpture or assemblage, digital art, collage, metalwork, hanging fiber/textile art, woodwork and contemporary craft.
WHO: Artists worldwide
DATES: July 1 - 31, 2020
LOCATION: Frisco, TX
DEADLINE: June 15, 2020
FINE PRINT: If a genre, medium or material you specialize in is not listed, please email [email protected] to provide specifics about your work. Learn more here.
Americas 2020: All Media
Works in any medium, traditional or experimental, including photographs, qualify for the 26th Annual Americas 2020: All Media exhibition.
WHO: Artists worldwide
DATES: August 21 - October 2, 2020
LOCATION: Minot, ND
DEADLINE: June 15, 2020
FINE PRINT: Entries will be judged from high-resolution electronic images. Cash and purchase awards. Solo show for Best of Show. Learn more here.
109th Annual Exhibition
Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts’ 109th Annual Exhibition will be a virtual show hosted on the CAFA website.
WHO: All artists in North America
DATES: July 18 - September 5, 2020
LOCATION: Online
DEADLINE: June 18, 2020
FINE PRINT: All fine arts media: painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, graphics, fiber, ceramics, printmaking, mixed media, video installations. No prints from original work. Will accept all pieces that could reasonably be displayed within a gallery (i.e. no murals, outdoor sculpture, architecture, etc.). Learn more here.
Inner World - Call For Artists - Boomer Gallery
In times where our lives seem on the edge most of us take refuge in something where they can express their inner self, and nobody does that with more passion and struggle than artists. The aim of this exhibition is simple - to express our "Inner World" to the world, to show our commitment during the greatest single challenge of our generation and to prove that we are not "less" than the generations of great artists before us.
WHO: Artists worldwide
DATES: July 10 - 17, 2020
LOCATION: London, UK
DEADLINE: June 20, 2020
FINE PRINT: Eligible media but not limited to: painting, sculpture, photography, digital art, installation, performance, video, print. Important Note: The artworks should not exceed 150/150 centimeters. Learn more here.
Contemporary Realism
Only oil paintings will be considered in this call for submissions for Mills Pond Gallery’s juried exhibition. The subject matter is open and can range from portrait, landscapes, still life, etc. Paintings should be representational, ranging from impressionistic in style to highly rendered paintings.
WHO: U.S. artists
DATES: September 12 - October 17, 2020
LOCATION: St. James, NY
DEADLINE: June 22, 2020
FINE PRINT: Entries will be judged on the originality and insight with which they embody this theme visually. Awards: $1200 Best in Show, $800 Second Place, $400 Third Place. Learn more here.
Luminosity - The Impact of Light 2020
Light and its quality is the basic element of photography. Glare, flare, shadow, fill light all work as do lampshades aglow from an inside bulb, night lights in a city, streaming rays of sunlight on a floor or as seen passing through a dusty atmosphere. There are examples everywhere. For this call, they are looking for images where the presence, absence, and/or the location of light made the difference.
WHO: Photographers worldwide
LOCATION: Online
DEADLINE: June 23, 2020
FINE PRINT: Winners will receive $4,000 in cash awards, be featured in the NYC4PA Online Gallery, and in the Luminosity - The Impact of Light catalog. Learn more here.
New England Watercolor Society Juried Exhibition
Part of the 400th-anniversary celebration of the landing of the Mayflower, this juried show hosted by the New England Watercolor Society is open to paintings in water media.
WHO: U.S. artists
DATES: November 1 - December 5, 2020
LOCATION: Plymouth, MA
DEADLINE: June 24, 2020
FINE PRINT: The New England Watercolor Society primarily embraces traditional water media materials and practices. In view of the ever-broadening definition of the term "aqua media," we have developed the following framework of guidelines for our shows. Learn more here.
2nd Annual "Primary Colors" Online Art Competition
Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery invites artists to make online submissions for possible inclusion in the Gallery’s July 2020 online group art exhibition. The “Primary Colors” theme is one in which one of the primary colors (Red, Blue &/or Yellow) stands out as a primary artistic element in the artwork.
WHO: Artists worldwide
DATES: July 1 - 31, 2020
LOCATION: Online
DEADLINE: June 26, 2020
FINE PRINT: Any subject matter and any media are acceptable in this open theme competition, as long as the main colors in the artwork are at least one or more of the three primary colors – Red, Blue &/or Yellow. Learn more here.
Go Figure
Currently accepting 2D and 3D artwork, realistic and or abstract where the main theme of the artwork is the human body or figure.
WHO: U.S. artists
DATES: July 10 - August 8, 2020
LOCATION: DePere, WI
DEADLINE: June 26, 2020
FINE PRINT: Size limit on 2D work is no larger than 4ft on any side. 3D WORK: All 3D work must be able to fit through a door frame and any display method that accompanies the work. Learn more here.
Flora & Fauna
Summer is the perfect time of year to observe and immortalize all that is alive and in bloom around the world and in our own backyards. The Flora & Fauna multimedia exhibition by Arts Center East is designed to show off the color and complexity found in the natural world year-round.
WHO: All artists
DATES: July 19 - August 15, 2020
LOCATION: Vernon, CT
DEADLINE: June 28, 2020
FINE PRINT: If current gathering restrictions are lifted, this exhibit will be hung and displayed in the gallery, otherwise it will be a virtual exhibit. Learn more here.
Emerald II Art Exhibit
Emerald II will be Envision Arts’ second virtual installment of contemporary works of art that exemplify the color green. All submitted entries should be at least 25% or more any shade or tone of green.
WHO: Artists worldwide
DATES: July 1 - 31, 2020
LOCATION: Online
DEADLINE: June 28, 2020
FINE PRINT: All work must have been completed within the years 2015-2020 and not previously exhibited at any Envision Arts Exhibition. Eligible media include, but are not limited to: soft sculpture, weaving, macrame, tapestry, embroidery, felting, mixed media, vessels, sculpture, assemblage, jewelry design, fiber/textile art, and contemporary craft. Learn more here.
Artist Residencies:
Artist Residencies in Key West, FL
The Studios of Key West, the premier arts organization at the Southernmost Point of the United States, is now accepting residency applications from artists and writers from around the world. The Studios’ residency program is community-based and built upon the hope that visiting artists will take inspiration from Key West’s rich artistic past and present, and will engage with — and be inspired by — the remarkable people and culture that surrounds them.
WHO: Visual artists, writers, composers, performers, and interdisciplinary artists worldwide
DATES: October 16, 2020 - August 14, 2021
DURATION: One month
LOCATION: Key West, Florida
DEADLINE: June 8, 2020
FINE PRINT: Please note we do not have certain specialized facilities within our campus (photography darkrooms, pottery studios, wood shops) but there are opportunities for community connections if awarded a residency. All live/workspaces include a private bedroom and bathroom; some workspaces are detached from the artist’s living space, some are combined. We will work with you to set up your workspace with tables, easels, writing tables, stools, chairs, pin-up boards, or whatever else (within reason!) you need to work. Learn more here.
Wassaic Project 2020-2021 Winter Residency Program Open Call
The Wassaic Project accepts 1 – 6-month proposals for our Winter Residency program. The Wassaic Project cultivates and supports a community for emerging and professional contemporary artists, writers, curators, filmmakers, and other creatives. The Wassaic Residency seeks artists working in a diverse range of media who want to produce, explore, challenge, and expand on their current art-making practices while participating in a community-based arts organization.
WHO: Artists worldwide
DATES: November 1, 2020 - May 1, 2021
DURATION: One to six months
LOCATION: Wassaic, NY
DEADLINE: June 9, 2020
FINE PRINT: Housed in historic, landmark buildings, the residency program offers approximately ten artists each month the opportunity to live and work in the heart of a rural community. Thanks to the generous support of donors and grants, the artist’s contribution to an individual residency is $700 per month per person. Learn more here.
Are you ready to apply?
Don’t miss out on the perfect call for your art business just because you can’t get your application together in time.
With Artwork Archive, you can manage jury-ready photos of your work, their inventory details, and up-to-date documents like artist statements and bios that make submitting easy. Plus, track the locations of your artwork so you never submit a piece that’s supposed to be showing somewhere else.
The best part is you can add the application and show dates to the “My Schedule” feature and receive email reminders before it’s time to submit and send off your work. You’ll never forget these opportunities or appear unprofessional again.
And, don’t forget to check out our Call-for-Entry page!
We showcase the best opportunities for artists, from juried shows and artist grants to public art commissions and residencies, with more opportunities being posted each day.
It’s free to use for artists across the globe. And, you can filter by opportunity type, location, event dates, eligibility, and more to find exactly what your art career needs to thrive.
Download the Complete 2020 Opportunity Guide for Artists here.
