GUIDE TO THE BEST ARTIST GRANTS & OPPORTUNITIES IN 2023
Each year the Artwork Archive team goes on a mission to find the best art opportunities, grants, and calls-for-entry for the upcoming year.
Below you will find a list of the top artist residencies, international open calls, artist grants, exhibition opportunities and art competitions that we believe will benefit artists in 2023!
This year, we added another new feature! You can now save the important deadlines for your favorite opportunities right in your Artwork Archive account.
When you find a call that interests you, simply click ‘Add to Schedule' and the call's deadline will be automatically added to your Schedule. You'll also receive weekly reminders to keep you on top of your game.
We will be updating this list throughout the year, so make sure to bookmark the page, check back often, and let us know if there is an opportunity that should be listed!
Are you in the US and looking for the best opportunities in your region?
You can find Artwork Archive’s guides to the artist opportunities in your region using the guides below:
Midwestern United States Guide
Southwestern United States Guide
May 1, 2023
Indiana University Kokomo Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit 2023
Exhibition
- Submission Deadline: May 1, 2023
- Award Info: Selected artists must be willing to enter into an Art Loan Agreement with IU Kokomo and will be awarded an honorarium of $2000 per piece
- Eligibility: Regional
- Categories: Sculpture
- Location: Kokomo, Indiana
Indiana University Kokomo invites you to participate in our 2023-2025 juried, on-loan, outdoor sculpture exhibit on the Kokomo, Indiana campus. . IU Kokomo is a regional campus of Indiana University with a vibrant arts program and extensive art collection. We have installed sculpture pads on our beautiful Kokomo campus to display public sculptures on a rotating basis. The third installment of this exhibit will be from July 2023 through July 2025.
May 1, 2023
Municipality of Anchorage: Solid Waste Services - Central Transfer Station
Public Art & Proposals
- Submission Deadline: May 1, 2023
- Award Info: $560,000; Location 1: $300,000, Location 2: $60,000, Location 3: $200,000
- Eligibility: National
- Categories: Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
- Location: Anchorage, Alaska
In accordance with AMC 7.40, the Municipality of Anchorage is inviting qualified artists to create public artwork proposals for the Department of Solid Waste Services’ (SWS) newly constructed Central Transfer Station (CTS), located in Anchorage, Alaska. Contact: Curator of Public Art, (907) 343-6473
May 1, 2023
The Halstead Grant
Grants & Fellowships
- Submission Deadline: May 1, 2023
- Award Info: $7,500
- Eligibility: National
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts
The Halstead Grant is an annual award for emerging silver jewelry artists. Applicants submit answers to 15 business questions in addition to their design portfolios. The experience is designed to help jewelry entrepreneurs create a strategy to kick-start their careers. The grand prize is a $7,500 cash grant plus other benefits.
The grand prize consists of $7,500 in start-up capital and $1,000 in merchandise as well as recognition in the industry. We also recognize up to 5 semi-finalists & finalists who receive $250 or $500 and help promoting their business. The most valuable reward the winner and finalists receive is a personalized feedback report complied with notes from all of the judges.
The Halstead Grant started in 2006 and has helped many talented jewelry artists gain a foothold in this challenging field. Past winners agree that receiving the award was a turning point early in their careers when they were wavering on whether or not the jewelry studio was the right place for them. Being singled out by the grant program affirmed their choices and gave them a push to make their business dreams a reality. We hear that the money helps a little bit too!
May 1, 2023
Village Art Plaza Entryway Sculptures
Public Art & Proposals
- Submission Deadline: May 1, 2023
- Award Info: $75,000 (plus stipend for shortlisted artists). The budget includes all costs, e.g., research, community and agency meeting cost, design, materials, permitting of the sculptures, fabrication, installation, photography, insurance, proposals, travel, sales taxes, lighting design for the sculptures, labor, structural engineering, and transportation.
- Eligibility: National
- Categories: Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Sculpture
- Location: Sunrise, Florida
The City of Sunrise, Florida (City) is seeking to commission an Artist or Artist team to create two vibrant entryway sculptures for the entrance to the City’s Village Art Plaza (Plaza) currently under construction, located at 2260 NW 68 Avenue, Sunrise. The sculptures should be vibrant, colorful, reflect the spirit of the City of Sunrise and invite and welcome people into the Village Art Plaza. The sculptures must be impactful to pedestrians and passerby traffic both day and night.
May 1, 2023
Happy Valley Sculpture Garden
Public Art & Proposals
- Submission Deadline: May 1, 2023
- Award Info: $1,000 Per Sculpture Selected
- Eligibility: Regional
- Categories: Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Sculpture
- Location: Oregon
The Happy Valley Public Art Committee seeks up to six artists to participate in the 2023 – 2025 Sculpture Garden Program at Happy Valley City Hall. Program artists to receive $1,000 per artwork exhibited.
The popular Sculpture Garden Program integrates outdoor art into public spaces, enhancing urban livability and inviting community appreciation of the arts. While on exhibit, artwork is leased to the City, allowing the program to exhibit many pieces over time.
May 1, 2023
City of Elgin: Call for Public Art
Public Art & Proposals
- Submission Deadline: May 1, 2023
- Award Info: Up to $7,000 per piece
- Eligibility: International
- Categories: Painting
The Elgin Cultural Arts Commission announces a call to artists for two murals at the Ed Shock Centre of Elgin's Parking Deck. Up to $7,000 per piece. This parking structure is the most trafficked parking deck in downtown Elgin, IL. As the main parking facility for the Ed Shock Centre of Elgin and the Hemmens Cultural Center. Seeking proposals for 2D work suited to the location. Application is open to artists of all backgrounds and levels of accomplishment, worldwide. No application fee. Deadline: May 1, 2023 @ 9am.
May 1, 2023
Summer Residencies
Residency
- Submission Deadline: May 1, 2023
- Event Dates: June 1, 2023 - September 30, 2023
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
- Location: Bohemia, Czechia
https://www.artmill.eu/artist-in-residence
Artists are invited to join us to create new works or continue their own inspiration in the beautiful lakeside studios at ArtMill. We are in the Bohemian countryside, near the huge forests of the šumava mountains, offering quiet solitude and reflection. Studio space provided and one meal per day with the community with fresh foods from our fields and gardens. Library, music room, and workshops are also available. Residencies run Two weeks-two months between June 1st - September 30th.
May 1, 2023
A to Z Wineworks Artist in Residence Program
Residency
- Submission Deadline: May 1, 2023
- Event Dates: August 27, 2023 - February 29, 2024
- Award Info: residency includes a monthly stipend of $800 for the duration of the residency
- Eligibility: National
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
- Location: Willamette Valley, Oregon
A to Z Wineworks, located at their REX HILL property in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, seeks an Artist in Residence for the Fall 2023.
The A to Z Artist in Residence program is an immersion in the natural cycle of a vintage from grapes to glass. The Artist in Residence will first work the 2023 vintage harvest as a paid cellar intern, working alongside our seasonal harvest crew and year-round winemaking and production staff. Following the conclusion of harvest, the Artist in Residence will receive support from A to Z and access to staff and properties for a period of artistic reflection and creation. The residency concludes with a public showcase of some of the artist’s work through a gallery showing, lecture, reading or performance.
The residency includes a monthly stipend of $800 for the duration of the residency, beginning after the completion of the harvest internship. Depending on the medium and artist’s proposed focus, limited additional consideration may be provided in support of furnishing project materials. Housing in the winery’s onsite gatehouse can be considered for inclusion in the residency; during harvest, this housing will be shared with other interns.
May 1, 2023
Polycopies & Co.’s Photography Publishing Grant
Grants & Fellowships
- Submission Deadline: May 1, 2023
- Award Info: The sum awarded will be €2,500, €5,000, or €10,000 depending on the project’s budget.
- Eligibility: International
- Categories: Photography
Polycopies & Co. wishes to help a photographer promote their work and photographic practices through the publication of a monograph. This grant is designed to encourage and showcase the photographic work of a professional photographer who needs financial support to produce a published work. The sum of the grant awarded to the candidate selected by the jury will be set each year by the administrative board in line with the association’s financial resources. Polycopies & Co. may award more than one grant per year.
May 1, 2023
Artist in Residence 2023 - 2024
Residency
- Organization: A to Z Wineworks
- Submission Deadline: May 1, 2023
- Event Dates: August 27, 2023 - February 29, 2024
- Eligibility: National
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
- Location: Newberg, Oregon 97132, United States
A to Z Wineworks, located at their REX HILL property in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, seeks an Artist in Residence for the Fall 2023.
The A to Z Artist in Residence program is a an immersion in the natural cycle of a vintage from grapes to glass. The Artist in Residence will first work the 2023 vintage harvest as a paid cellar intern, working alongside our seasonal harvest crew and year-round winemaking and production staff. Following the conclusion of harvest, the Artist in Residence will receive support from A to Z and access to staff and properties for a period of artistic reflection and creation. The residency concludes with a public showcase of some of the artist’s work through a gallery showing, lecture, reading or performance.
About the Harvest Internship
At A to Z Wineworks, harvest is intense and filled with opportunity as fruit arrives from around the state. This paid internship position typically runs from mid-August through early November, depending on the season. We value interns who share in our company culture of working hard, working smart, and learning together. Our winemakers approach winemaking from different perspectives and they are willing to share what they know.
The internship presents a unique opportunity to learn more about winemaking on different production scales and with different stylistic goals, providing a diverse work experience. Harvest interns work a demanding schedule, which will almost certainly include long hours, overtime, and weekend work. The role requires the ability to stand and move for at least ten hours; to lift, bend, rotate, move and carry up to 45 pounds over the course of the shift and on a repetitive basis, and to climb stairs, ladders and work on catwalks. We expect people to work well within a team environment and work with individuals in a respectful manner that is consistent with the company’s values.
About the Residency
Location: The Artist in Residence will primarily work at the REX HILL property in the Willamette Valley. The artist will have access to the winery, vineyards and staff throughout the course of the residency.
Duration: The residency begins with participation in the 2023 harvest as a Harvest Intern. Typically, harvest begins in mid- to late-August, and continues through early November. Following the conclusion of the harvest, the residency will commence.
Disciplines, work equipment and assistance: We are open to proposals from artists, writers and poets across all mediums and disciplines. To learn more about our current and past residents, visit our website at https://atozwineworks.com/our-company/artist-in-residence/ and view our short film about the program at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFjqByGC4VI
Support: The residency includes a monthly stipend of $800 for the duration of the residency, beginning after completion of the harvest internship. Depending on the medium and artist’s proposed focus, limited additional consideration may be provided in support of furnishing project materials. Housing in the winery’s onsite gate house can be considered for inclusion in the residency; during harvest, this housing will be shared with other interns.
Expectations of the artist: A to Z Wineworks supports people, places, and culture. It seems especially important now to support the liberal arts that help us find ways to expand vision and engage with diverse, thoughtful perspectives that help us grow as human beings. The artist will be expected to engage with the staff and contribute to the culture of the winery through interactions and presentations, including providing materials to feature in regular internal communications. The artist will engage with the community at the end of the residency through a public showcase of some of the year’s work in a gallery showing, lecture, reading or performance.
Application Information: Interested artists should submit the materials listed below by May 1, 2023:
• A cover letter, describing the artist’s interest in this residency
• A brief resume highlighting work history and relevant qualifications
• An artist’s biography
• A portfolio of relevant work
Interested candidates may submit their application and materials via our website at https://atozwineworks.com/artist-in-residence-2023-submissions/
About A to Z Wineworks
A to Z Wineworks captures “The Essence of Oregon” by carefully blending wines true to their variety exclusively sourced from Oregon vineyards. The family-owned company sets the standard for cool climate, food-enhancing Oregon Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay. In 2014, A to Z Wineworks became a certified B Corporation, earning recognition as a ‘Best for the World,’ top 10% B Corp every year since.
May 1, 2023
Call for Artists: Public Art for the Rhode Island State Police Southern Barracks
Public Art & Proposals
- Submission Deadline: May 1, 2023
- Award Info: $100,000
- Eligibility: Regional
- Categories: Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
- Location: Rhode Island
Artwork for the Rhode Island State Police Southern Barracks will be commissioned through Rhode Island’s Public Art Law, which mandates that 1% of all state capital construction and renovation funds be allocated to the purchase and maintenance of public art. Through this program, the State recognizes that “public art creates a more humane environment: one of distinction, enjoyment, and pride for all citizens”.
May 1, 2023
Kristiansand, Norway, AIR, Open Call – Fall 2023, and all of 2024
Residency
- Submission Deadline: May 1, 2023
- Eligibility: International
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
We offer a rent-free apartment and studio in the city center. Visual artists are invited to apply for a stay of one to three months at our residency.
May 1, 2023
Blue Cactus Art Residency
Residency
- Submission Deadline: May 1, 2023
- Award Info: Apartment is rent-free. All expenses related to electricity and internet are also covered by Kristiansand municipality.
- Eligibility: International
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
Blue Cactus is a rural Residency located in 12 acres of stunning countryside in the Alt Penedes, with pine forests and vineyards, with almond and walnut trees, all framed by the majestic mountain of Monserrat, a strong spiritual center. 2, 4, and 8-week residencies.
May 3, 2023
Fall Into Focus
Residency
- Submission Deadline: May 3, 2023
- Event Dates: September 1, 2023 - November 30, 2023
- Eligibility: International
- Location: Hämeenkyrö, Finland
The autumn residency period at Arteles Creative Center provides writers and artists with the optimal conditions for sustained concentration. The program offers flexible time and space to freely develop creative projects without external pressure. Residents also have the option to refine and improve their focus through daily scheduled meditation sessions. Periods of deep focus can be balanced with walks in pure Nordic nature, relaxation in the traditional Finnish sauna, and time around the bonfire with a supportive community of peers. All participation in group activities is voluntary.
Periods: 1 or 2 months in September / October / November 2023
May 3, 2023
CALI Catalyst
Grants & Fellowships
- Submission Deadline: May 3, 2023
- Award Info: $7500 unrestricted cash grant
- Eligibility: State
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
The Center for Cultural Innovation’s CALI Catalyst program provides unrestricted grants of up to $7,500 to California changemakers who are shifting the arts and culture sector in ways that tangibly give underrepresented voices more power and influence. Applicants can be individuals or teams of individuals, as long as they are artists or arts workers.
May 5, 2023
Fundación Botín Art Grant
Grants & Fellowships
- Submission Deadline: May 5, 2023
- Award Info: Endowment of 23,000 euros each
- Eligibility: International
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
The Fundación Botín offers six scholarships for artists of any nationality with an expected duration of nine months and an endowment of 23,000 euros each, in addition to medical insurance for recipients who need to travel to a country other than their country of residence. One of these grants will be given in priority to a Spanish artist or resident at least five years prior to the application to this grant, under the age of 30 who have a concrete project of relocating abroad to carry out their project (training, research and production).
Grants are awarded to individual artists (or established groups of artists) and are not transferable. They cannot be used for any other purpose than the carrying out of the project outlined in the grant application.
Applicants must demonstrate that the project they apply for is not funded by another institution, unless it is clearly stated that those funds are applied to a specific aspect of the project that this grant will not cover.
May 5, 2023
Velvet Park Residency
Residency
- Submission Deadline: May 5, 2023
- Eligibility: International
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
- Location: New York City, New York
Velvetpark’s Residency is open to anyone identifying as LGBTQ+. While Vp has been historically dedicated to queer women, lesbians, and those identifying as women, our residency is open to anyone on the spectrum of queer, gay male, bisexual, lesbian, non-binary, and transgender—male or female. This is a project-oriented application, which means applicant must propose a project to commence and/or complete during their term.Summer/Fall Residency 2023. Visual artists using any medium/s are invited to apply. Bear in mind the studio is limited in size, 114 sq ft (14’x 8′ ft), so the size of your work must fit within this space. Additionally, the studio is not soundproof, so anyone working with sound must use headphones or maintain low volume.
Residents will have 24/7 access to the studio, in a private secure building. Studio space is 114 sq ft––14′ x 8′, with 12′ ceilings, large 6′ x 6′ ft window, AC/Heat, and lofted storage area. Please Note: Studio is located on 2nd-floor walk-up of the converted factory building. There is a freight elevator access but no passenger elevator. The residency is for a 6-month term, You must have a primary residence. https://velvetparkmedia.com/contact-us/
May 5, 2023
CAC Emerging Artist Fellowship-Central CA (Monterey-San Benito-San Mateo-Santa Clara-Santa Cruz)
Grants & Fellowships
- Submission Deadline: May 5, 2023
- Award Info: $5,000
- Eligibility: Local
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
This San Benito Arts Council emerging artists program will support artists at key career stages. It is intended to recognize and increase artists’ capacity for continued contribution to the field and our state. Through unrestricted funding and state-wide recognition as a California Arts Council Artist Fellow, this program is meant to uplift individual artistic practice. Artists and cultural practitioners from all disciplines are eligible to apply, with the intention of supporting diverse geographies and communities
May 5, 2023
CAC Established Artist Fellowship-Central CA (Monterey-San Benito-San Mateo-Santa Clara-Santa Cruz
Grants & Fellowships
- Submission Deadline: May 5, 2023
- Award Info: $10,000
- Eligibility: Local
- Location: California
This San Benito Arts Council program will support established artists at key career stages. It is intended to recognize and increase artists’ capacity for continued contribution to the field and our state. Through unrestricted funding and state-wide recognition as a California Arts Council Artist Fellow, this program is meant to uplift individual artistic practice. Artists and cultural practitioners from all disciplines are eligible to apply, with the intention of supporting diverse geographies and communities
May 6, 2023
Sultan of Arts Competitions
Competition
- Submission Deadline: May 6, 2023
- Award Info: Various Cash Prizes per category
- Eligibility: International
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
- Online Only: Yes
Sultan of Arts is a series of unique International Virtual Art Competitions in the following categories:
Classical Music, Ballet, Pantomime and Fine Arts
May 8, 2023
CERN and Copenhagen Contemporary Residency
Residency
- Submission Deadline: May 8, 2023
- Award Info: A production stipend of CHF 15,000, all expenses covered during the residencies, and participation in an exhibition at Copenhagen Contemporary in 2025
- Eligibility: International
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
Arteles Creative Center invites artists from any country in the world are invited to submit their proposals for a fully-funded two-month residency, split between CERN and Copenhagen Contemporary. The selected artist or artistic collective will devote this period to artistic research and artistic exploration, working side-by-side with physicists, engineers, and laboratory staff, followed by a phase of production of new artwork, supported by the curatorial teams of Arts at CERN and Copenhagen Contemporary teams.
May 8, 2023
The Tournesol Award
Other
- Submission Deadline: May 8, 2023
- Award Info: The award supports a full year of artistic development, and includes a $10,000 stipend, a private studio, and a culminating exhibition or project of the artist’s choice
- Eligibility: Regional
- Categories: Painting
- Location: Sausalito, CA 94965
Since 2003, the Tournesol Award has recognized one local painter each year, supporting them in taking the first
major steps toward establishing a career in the Bay Area. The Award gives financial and professional support to a
dedicated painter in the critical early years of artistic development.
Designed to support the artist over a full year, the Tournesol Award provides a generous stipend, private studio, and
access to Headlands’ creative community. The award year culminates in a funded final project of the artist’s choice,
typically in the form of an exhibition or a publication.
The 2023-24 Tournesol Award year is July 1, 2023 – June 27, 2024. The application period runs March 24–May 8,
2023. Visit headlands.org/program/tournesol-award for details.
May 11, 2023
American Craft Council's Emerging Artists Cohort
Grants & Fellowships
- Organization: American Craft Council
- Submission Deadline: May 11, 2023
- Event Dates: July 6, 2023 - September 28, 2023
- Award Info: Virtual three-month program followed by $10K accelerator grant
- Eligibility: National
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts
- Online Only: Yes
The American Craft Council’s Emerging Artists Cohort is a virtual three-month intensive program, followed by continued monthly support, designed to help craft artists advance their professional careers. The program will support 11 innovative artists new to their careers who expand craft boundaries and challenge us to new perspectives. Through facilitated workshops, presentations, and conversations, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the professional skills and opportunities that will help them diversify revenue streams and thrive in their professional practice. After the program is complete, all participants will receive a $10,000 accelerator grant to help propel them to the next level of their profession.
May 14, 2023
Art in Odd Places 2023: DRESS / Open Call for Proposals
Exhibition
- Submission Deadline: May 14, 2023
- Event Dates: October 13, 2023 - October 15, 2023
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
Art in Odd Places (AiOP) 2023: DRESS scheduled for October 13-15, 2023, and curated by Brooklyn-based artist Gretchen Vitamvas, invites artists who are using dress as a medium and interested in using 14th Street as a runway to present, walk, and pose, to apply for its eighteenth annual outdoor public visual and performance art festival taking place along 14th Street in Manhattan. Works may take the form of a garment, textile, fashion design, costume, performance, sculpture or installation.
Find the faq here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Styoe36RS91bTU95JcyoZZlhTxU0XiZP/view
May 15, 2023
Intensest Rendezvous Scholarship for A-B Projects Ceramics Certificate (ABCC)
Grants & Fellowships
- Organization: A-B Projects
- Submission Deadline: May 15, 2023
- Eligibility: International
- Online Only: Yes
This is a $2,500 scholarship that covers the Foundation Hours of the A-B Projects Ceramics Certificate (ABCC). The ABCC is a unique, year-long, predominantly online program offering intense inquiry and fieldwork that is inspired and guided by a range of the most innovative practitioners in contemporary ceramics. Unlike traditional programs, the ABCC prioritizes ideas and process above technique or skill-based learning. The primary focus is facilitating new directions, approaches, and questions that expand a participant’s relationship to clay, and clay’s relationship to their broader practice as an artist. Those who self-identify as having financial need are particularly encouraged to apply.
May 15, 2023
Call for Curatorial Proposals
Competition
- Organization: Descanso Gardens, Los Angeles County, California
- Submission Deadline: May 15, 2023
- Eligibility: Regional
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
Descanso Gardens invites curators, artists, collectives, cultural producers, and thinkers of all kinds to submit preliminary proposals for exhibitions and programs. Descanso Gardens is committed to giving emerging, mid-career, and established curators and artists the opportunity to expand their portfolios. Curatorial proposals will be considered for Descanso’s Sturt Haaga Gallery, the Boddy House, and for satellite locations throughout the botanical gardens. Applicants must review the requirements below and submit their preliminary proposal by May 15, 2023.
About Descanso Gardens:
Descanso Gardens is a unique Southern California landscape distinguished by its specialized botanic collections, historical significance, and rare natural beauty. We are an urban retreat located 20 minutes from downtown Los Angeles, with principal collections including California native plants and oak woodlands; one of the largest collections of camellias in the Western Hemisphere; a rose garden with specimens from all corners of the globe; and significant presentations of lilacs, maple trees, cherry trees, and iris. Descanso Gardens has been designated an International Camellia Garden of Excellence by the International Camellia Society. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums as a museum of living collections, Descanso Gardens welcomes more than 950,000 visitors annually. The Gardens are operated by the Descanso Gardens Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, in a public-private partnership with Los Angeles County.
At Descanso Gardens, we connect people with nature and one another. Our mission is to practice exemplary stewardship of Descanso’s distinctive character and assets; offer people an experience close to nature; and cultivate an understanding of the natural world and people’s place in it through inspiration, education and example.
Curatorial Proposal Guidelines
Descanso Gardens presents a variety of exhibitions and programs each year including solo, group, traveling, and guest-curated displays. These are intended to broaden the education programs by presenting art, science, and relevant historical material to support the mission of Descanso Gardens “connecting people with nature and one another.” Through our exhibitions and programs, we strive to deepen our impact in our community, strengthen engagement with members and visitors, and create experiences of discovery and connection.
Descanso Gardens seeks curatorial proposals for the 2024-2026 calendar that will address the following requirements and selection criteria:
• Theme: Trees. Trees form the backbone of Descanso’s botanical collections and are key to the garden’s character. From the canopy above, to the roots underground, trees provide beauty, shade, shelter, habitat, food, connectivity, and movement at the Gardens. Around the world, trees are symbols, metaphors, landmarks, elders, part of legends, and people’s daily lives. What can we learn from trees? How can we celebrate them? How do they connect and protect us? What stories are revealed by careful study of trees?
• Curatorial Concept: The exhibition/ program concept must closely align with the mission of Descanso Gardens to connect people with nature and one another, reflect the latest knowledge on the subject matter, foster innovation, as well as inspire discoveries and creative contributions that respond to Descanso Gardens’ botanic collections. As an organization located in Los Angeles County, Descanso Gardens prioritizes the inclusion of diverse viewpoints, backgrounds, experiences, and community connections;
• Interdisciplinary Approach: Descanso Gardens seeks proposals that utilize a creative blending of disciplines, media, and diverse points of view;
• Media: The proposal may use any media type (artworks, installations, performances, projections, virtual reality, text, etc.). The exhibitions and programs must be appropriate in scale material, form, and content for the cultural and physical environment in which they are to be presented. The proposed works, displays, and programs don’t need to be new and may have been presented before;
• Scope: The exhibition will utilize the indoor spaces of the Sturt Haaga Gallery and/ or the Boddy House (The Gallery is 1750 sq ft in 3 rooms plus the front window area; The Boddy House is a historic building with 2220 sq. ft. of exhibition space ranging from a single room at 330 sq ft to 2220 sq ft for all 5 rooms). Outdoor use of the botanical gardens is welcome. Programs may utilize any of the indoor/ outdoor spaces of Descanso Gardens.
• Collaborative partnerships: Proposals that establish partnerships with other cultural organizations, educational and botanical institutions, community members, and Descanso Gardens visitors are preferred;
• Audience: Descanso’s visitorship has been growing over the past few years and the Gardens attract an audience that is more diverse in race or ethnicity than many other museums and gardens . However, many attendees may be first-time visitors to the Sturt Haaga Gallery or the Boddy House, and exhibitions and programs in these spaces should consider ways to engage “first-time visitors” as well as people who are already familiar with the garden’s gallery spaces and exhibitions;
• Accessibility and Engagement: Descanso Gardens strives to expand access, engagement, and education opportunities for a broader public. Preference will be given to proposals that prioritize opportunities for visitor participation, hands-on activity or response, as well as engaging diverse programming that reaches out to traditionally underserved groups. At Descanso, there is an opportunity and need to attract more visitors who identify as Hispanic or Latino/Latina/Latinx, Asian or Asian American, and other minority groups, so that visitorship reflects more closely the diversity of surrounding areas and Los Angeles County;
• Budget: Descanso Gardens rely on a range of budgets typically within $25,000-$60,000. Proposals outside of this range must include potential funding sources, such as grants, foundation support, or sponsorships. Budgets must include curator fees, artist/ collaborator stipends, collateral design and copy writing, installation and de-installation, framing if needed, photography, equipment rental, shipping, travel, reproduction rights, etc. Insurance is provided by Descanso Gardens.
• Group Applications: Curators are discouraged from submitting or including their own artwork; artistic collectives may be included within curatorial proposals but should not submit their work without a specific curator.
How to Apply:
Please submit your preliminary curatorial proposal to Descanso Gardens by May 15, 2023, by including the following information:
- The completed preliminary curatorial proposal form (available on the website: www.descansogardens.org/callforproposals)
- Curatorial statement
- Your Resume and CVs of curators, artists, and other key collaborators
- 5-10 images with captions (no more than 10 MB)
- Any other information that may be relevant to your proposal (essays, articles, etc.)
Application Schedule
Applications are due on May 15, 2023. To view the complete schedule, please visit www.descansogardens.org/callforproposals
If you have any questions about the Descanso Gardens Call for Curatorial Proposals, please contact Cristeen Martinez, Gallery Director, at [email protected].
May 15, 2023
Art@Climate2030
Competition
- Submission Deadline: May 15, 2023
- Event Dates: May 15, 2023 - August 15, 2023
- Award Info: The winning artworks will receive cash prizes (1000 EUR) and may be painted as murals, showcased on the competition website, and featured in various publications, exhibitions, and events in Gothenburg, Sweden.
- Eligibility: International
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
- Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Art@Climate 2030 is an art competition that encourages artists to explore the issue of climate change and its impact on the environment and people. The competition is open to all artists from around the world and will be judged by a panel of experts in the field of art and climate change. A professional jury will select 10 winners from the 50 entries that make it to the finals after public voting. No entry fee. A short description about the artist and the artwork will be displayed together with a QR time on the competition’s digital voting platform. This will run from 15 May until 15 August. During June, we will exhibit 30-50 of the entries, which we believe represent the theme of the competition well, in Gothenburg. The exact location of the exhibition will be announced before the event. Between 15 August and 1 September, a professional jury will be tasked with selecting 10 winners from the 50 entries that made it to the finals during the public vote on the platform. The final winners will be informed by us at the end of August and will be invited to a ceremony that will take place on 1 September.Contact: +46 722 364 401.
May 15, 2023
AI: The Next Evolution
Exhibition
- Organization: Chimaera
- Submission Deadline: May 15, 2023
- Event Dates: June 1, 2023 - July 31, 2023
- Eligibility: International
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
Deadline: May 15, 2023
Online exhibition: June 1 - July 31, 2023
In-person exhibition: TBD - Summer 2023 @Baltimore Innovation Center
Artificial intelligence quickly transforms every aspect of society, notably in art and biotechnology. With the advent of generative data and machine learning algorithms, scientists can train computers to identify patterns and trends in vast amounts of data much faster than ever. AI has given artists new tools to work with and has changed how they think about their work. As AI continues to evolve, its impact on the world will likely only grow.
Chimaera Gallery is seeking art submissions from artists working with artificial intelligence to address concepts and themes relating to the relationship of humans to our natural (and quickly evolving) world.
May 17, 2023
Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant
Grants & Fellowships
- Submission Deadline: May 17, 2023
- Award Info: $15,000 to $50,000
- Eligibility: National
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
The Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant supports emerging and established writers who write about contemporary visual art. Ranging from $15,000 to $50,000 in three categories—articles, books, and short-form writing—the grants support projects addressing both general and specialized art audiences, from short reviews for magazines and newspapers to in-depth scholarly studies. The program also supports art writing that engages criticism through interdisciplinary methods and experiments with literary styles. As long as a writer meets the eligibility and publishing requirements, they can apply.
May 19, 2023
Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grant
Grants & Fellowships
- Submission Deadline: May 19, 2023
- Award Info: up to $5,000
- Eligibility: National
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
New York Foundation for the Arts’ Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grant program provides one-time grants of up to $5,000 for recent unexpected medical, dental, and mental health emergencies to artists in financial need who are creating in the visual arts, film/video/electronic/digital arts, and choreography.
May 22, 2023
Rising Animators: FLAMIN's Commission for Black-Identifying Artists
Grants & Fellowships
- Submission Deadline: May 22, 2023
- Award Info: £3,000 to create a new animation
- Eligibility: National
- Categories: Film/Video/New Media
Film London and Arts Council England present FLAMIN Animations, a commissioning program for four early-career black-identifying* artist animators living in the UK. Part of FLAMIN (Film London Artists’ Moving Image Network), the program aims to support artist animators as they take their first steps into a career working with the moving image, with development support and funding for new work. Artist animators must be 18-30 years old. For black-identifying* artists. Artist animators should have a UK address. Current students are not eligible. No formal education in animation or art is necessary. FLAMIN is open to people working in partnerships.
May 22, 2023
Midwest Award for Artists with Disabilities
Grants & Fellowships
- Submission Deadline: May 22, 2023
- Award Info: $3,000
- Eligibility: Regional
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
Arts Midwest is now accepting applications for the Midwest Award for Artists with Disabilities, an award supporting accessibility in the arts and celebrating the work of disabled Midwestern visual artists.
The Midwest Award for Artists with Disabilities supports and celebrates accessibility in the arts. It recognizes that the funding community in the Midwest has not historically invested in disabled artists and that increasing support for this group is an important part of increasing accessibility in the arts. It also advocates for the arts being viable employment, which is often overlooked by funding agencies supporting people with disabilities.
May 25, 2023
Six Sculptures, Six Commissions, One Application - $75K-$300K. Total $1.4 Million
Public Art & Proposals
- Organization: City of Boynton Beach
- Submission Deadline: May 25, 2023
- Eligibility: International
- Categories: Sculpture
- Location: Boynton Beach, Florida 33435, United States
BoyntonArts seek multiple sculptors to create outdoor works for five property developers and one hospital in Boynton Beach, Florida. With one application, each artist will be presented to all developers and the hospital over the next two years. Four sculptures will join the 40 ft tall “Cavalcade” by Albert Paley on the Avenue of the Arts (Ocean Ave) as a cultural destination in South Florida. A total of $1.4 million will be spent on new commissions or existing works ranging from $75,000 and $300,000. The developers and hospital welcome all styles with engaging content in materials resistant to Florida’s winds, sun and salt air. Boynton Beach is well known for its cultural diversity, charter fishing and Kinetic Biennial. boytnonarts.org @boyntonarts @kineticbiennial
May 26, 2023
McColl Center – Artist-in-Residence Program
Competition
- Submission Deadline: May 26, 2023
- Eligibility: International
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
- Location: Charlotte , NC, United States
Artists-in-Residence receive private housing adjacent to McColl Center, a large-scale private studio in our historic building in Uptown Charlotte, curatorial guidance, marketing and PR support, and a generous stipend. While in residency, our artists have the freedom to fully focus on artistic research, exploration, and creation while also engaging with McColl Center’s Igniters community and the local creative sector.
May 31, 2023
Causeability Grants
Grants & Fellowships
- Submission Deadline: May 31, 2023
- Eligibility: Local
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
Causability (Grantor) is one of the only nonprofit organizations in the county of Dallas County, Texas & Oklahoma County, Oklahoma providing grants (grantees) to artists, providing them the ability to collaborate with nonprofits (causes), to co-create programs while mutually benefiting both themselves and a community.
Causability grants are strictly meant to support the work and practice of artists currently not working with nonprofits, and are specifically for developing new programs with nonprofits (causes) through a mutual collaboration.