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 2026!
Remember, 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!
April 1, 2026 110 days left
Keyholder Residency Program
Residency
- Submission Deadline: April 1, 2026
- Event Dates: September 1, 2026 - May 31, 2027
- Award Info: $1,000 stipend
- Eligibility: National
- Categories: Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline
- Location: New York, New York
The Keyholder Residency Program offers emerging artists free 24-hour access to printmaking facilities to develop new work and foster their artistic careers. It takes place in the shared Artists’ Studio, including the solvent/etching area and the darkroom.
Keyholders work independently, in a productive atmosphere alongside other contemporary artists. Artists from all disciplines are eligible to apply; printmaking skills are not required, but some familiarity with the medium is recommended. Basic instruction in printmaking techniques is available for new Keyholders. Technical assistance is not included in the program, but is available at additional cost.
Applications are evaluated by an invited panel of artists, critics, curators, and art professionals. Artists based in the New York City area and without access to a studio space are encouraged to apply.
April 1, 2026 110 days left
Waves Across Time
Exhibition
- Submission Deadline: April 1, 2026
- Event Dates: June 22, 2026 - August 7, 2026
- Entry Fee: $30
- Eligibility: International
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
- Location: Sandy Hook, New Jersey
At the meeting of ocean and bay, Sandy Hook stands as a landscape shaped by centuries of change — a place where tides and time weave together the echoes of history and the spirit of renewal.
Once a critical coastal battlement, fortified with gun batteries and vigilant officers, Sandy Hook has transformed into a sanctuary: a refuge for wildlife, beach-goers, and the ever-shifting dunes themselves. What was once a place of defense is now a place of discovery and restoration — where weathered concrete yields to wildflowers, and a historic lighthouse guides not warships, but families seeking the timeless solace of the shore. It's also home to NOAA Fisheries, the Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST), and several other research facilities that benefit from its unique location.
Through the eyes of exhibiting artists, Waves Across Time seeks to capture the enduring beauty and historical significance of this beloved peninsula reflecting on the Past and the Present. Where battlements once stood, wildflowers bloom. From stronghold to sanctuary history sleeps beneath a canopy of salt air and sky.
April 1, 2026 110 days left
Mudhouse Residency
Residency
- Submission Deadline: April 1, 2026
- Entry Fee: $10
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
- Location: Crete , Greece
The Mudhouse is an artist residency located in the village of Agios Ioannis on the Island of Crete, Greece. The Mudhouse Residency aims to provide artists inspiration derived from an engagement with the stunning natural beauty of its environment, solitude to foster creative growth, an artistic community to enrich professional practices, and an immersive cultural experience within a profoundly rich historical context. The General Application allows the artist to choose from three residency fee tiers. The residency fee includes accommodations, studio space and two meals each day for the two week duration of the residency. The artist is responsible for their own travel to the residency, and daily stipend for any groceries, art supplies or excursions outside of the village. Artists who are able to pay the full residency fee may select to pay $4400 in their application. Artists who require a partial fellowship to attend may select to be considered for a partial fellowship, for a residency fee of $3600. Artists who need financial aid in addition to the partial fellowship may select to be considered for the $2800 residency fee, and will be asked to perform a job during their residency session. Residency jobs include studio maintenance, exhibition crew and tech assistance. 1/3 of the residencies each year are partially funded and 1/3 of the residencies each year are partially funded with an additional stipend.
April 5, 2026 114 days left
6 x 6 @ 66
Exhibition
- Organization: Ray Drew & Kennedy Galleries
- Submission Deadline: April 5, 2026
- Event Dates: May 14, 2026 - July 17, 2026
- Eligibility: National
6 x 6 @ 66
One of the nation’s most celebrated roads, historic US Route 66 is celebrating its centennial in 2026. The importance of the route is rooted within its cultural and historical impact beginning in 1926 when it received its numerical designation. The highway was intended to connect rural main streets and urban communities so that small towns could have access to a national thoroughfare.
April 6, 2026 115 days left
September - Oct 2026 | Moore Gallery
Exhibition
- Organization: Molly Brookhiser-Smeltser
- Submission Deadline: April 6, 2026
- Event Dates: September 1, 2026 - October 31, 2026
April 7, 2026 116 days left
Football Art Prize
Competition
- Submission Deadline: April 7, 2026
- Event Dates: June 11, 2026 - September 13, 2026
- Entry Fee: One work – £15
- Award Info: First Prize £5,000
- Eligibility: International
- Categories: Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Painting
- Location: Sheffield, United Kingdom
Touchstones Rochdale and Parker Harris are excited to announce the return of The Football Art Prize, an international open call celebrating the confluence between football and art.
This prestigious competition invites artists who explore the passion, drama, and unity that football inspires across the world. Open to anyone aged 18 and over, working in any two-dimensional medium (including painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, and moving image) the prize welcomes diverse and creative interpretations of how football shapes our lives, identities, and communities.
For its second edition, the shortlisted works will form part of a prestigious regional touring exhibition, opening at the Millennium Gallery (Sheffield Museums Trust) before travelling to the National Football Museum in Manchester - all during 2026, the year of the next iconic World Cup. All shortlisted artists will also be featured in a virtual gallery and a fully illustrated print catalogue, with the award winners announced at the exhibition’s opening ceremony.
Entries are open internationally and submitted online, making it possible for artists everywhere to share their work with a wider audience.
Be sure to read the entry details carefully before submitting your work, and take your shot at being part of this celebration of football and creativity. The Football Art Prize will open at the Millenium Gallery and online and will then tour to the National Football Museum (Manchester).
April 15, 2026 124 days left
Hambidge Residencies (Fall Session)
Residency
- Submission Deadline: April 15, 2026
- Entry Fee: $30
- Eligibility: International
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
- Location: Rabun Gap, Georgia
The Hambidge Center is situated on 600 forested acres in the mountains of north Georgia and offers miles of nature trails, meadows, waterfalls, a swimming hole and an abundance of wildflowers.
The oldest residency program in the Southeast, Hambidge provides a self-directed program that honors the creative process and trusts individuals to know what they need to cultivate their talent, whether it’s to work and produce, to think, to experiment or to rejuvenate. Residents’ time is their own; there are no workshops, critiques, nor required activities.
Each resident is given their own private studio which provides work and living space with a bathroom and full kitchen. The studios are designed to protect residents’ time, space and solitude.
Resident groups are intentionally kept small enough (8-10 people) to gather around the dinner table each evening, Tuesday through Friday, for delicious vegetarian meals prepared by our chef. These communal meals are an essential part of the Hambidge residency experience. Serious topics are discussed (and light-hearted ones, too), experiences are shared, and encouragement is given. Many a collaboration and life-long friendship have begun at the Hambidge dinner table.
April 16, 2026 125 days left
Out of the Box Utility Box Art Project
Public Art & Proposals
- Submission Deadline: April 16, 2026
- Entry Fee: $25
- Award Info: Selected artists will be paid a $250.00 stipend per design
- Eligibility: Local
- Categories: Photography, Drawing, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting
- Location: Granbury , Texas
The City of Granbury and the Granbury Cultural Arts Commission are seeking original designs by Hood County artists to cover utility boxes, also known as traffic signal cabinets, there is a total of 25 to be covered for project completion, as part of the Out of the Box Program. This is an incredible opportunity to be paid to have your artwork featured in public spaces and contribute to the artistic vibrancy of our community. Each artist must submit an entirely digital application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. The original artwork submissions can be created in any 2D medium.
April 27, 2026 136 days left
Youth Apprentice Artist Program
Other
- Submission Deadline: April 27, 2026
- Event Dates: June 1, 2026 - June 25, 2026
- Award Info: Up to 12 students will be selected. Each will receive a $500 stipend from Sedona Arts Center and 3 free college credits through Yavapai College.
- Eligibility: National
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
- Location: Sedona, Arizona
Sedona Arts Center (SAC) invites teens ages 15 to 18 to apply for Gallery 928 — a unique art apprenticeship program that pairs students with a master artist to create a public art mural for the Center.
Modeled after Chicago’s renowned Gallery 37 program, Gallery 928 engages aspiring artists in hands-on learning that builds both creative and professional skills. Apprentices gain experience in the public art process — from concept to completion — while developing teamwork, leadership, and presentation abilities.
Up to 12 students will be selected. Each will receive a $500 stipend from Sedona Arts Center and 3 free college credits through Yavapai College. Participants also learn practical career skills such as resume building and public speaking, preparing them for future opportunities in the arts. Applicants must submit an online application, two letters of reference, and images of recent artwork.
May 1, 2026 140 days left
July - August 2027 Murray Gallery
Exhibition
- Organization: Molly Brookhiser-Smeltser
- Submission Deadline: May 1, 2026
- Event Dates: July 1, 2027 - August 31, 2027
May 1, 2026 140 days left
Art in Bloom: Plein Air Painting 2026
Other
- Submission Deadline: May 1, 2026
- Event Dates: July 17, 2026 - July 19, 2026
- Entry Fee: $35.00
- Award Info: Best in Show (Juried): $500
- Eligibility: National
- Categories: Drawing, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting
- Location: Dallas, Texas
This summertime plein air event invites more than 150 regional artists to spend a day creating original works across the Arboretum’s 66 acres of lush gardens, water features, and sculptural vignettes. Guests are encouraged to explore the grounds and observe artists as they paint, draw, collage, or print in real time—each responding to the dynamic intersection of nature and creativity.
The event takes place during the exhibition Hunt Slonem at the Arboretum: Bunnies, Birds & Butterflies, with sculptures by the renowned neo-expressionist artist placed throughout the garden. While not required, participating artists are welcome to incorporate these sculptures into their compositions as part of their creative response to the setting.
Selected works from the event will be curated into a public gallery exhibition in August, with a juried prize awarded for Best in Show.
May 1, 2026 140 days left
January - February 2027 | Moore Gallery
Exhibition
- Organization: Molly Brookhiser-Smeltser
- Submission Deadline: May 1, 2026
- Event Dates: January 1, 2027 - February 28, 2027
May 3, 2026 142 days left
Maude Kerns Art Center 2027 & 2028 Exibit Seasons
Exhibition
- Submission Deadline: May 3, 2026
- Entry Fee: $35
- Eligibility: National
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
- Location: Eugene, Oregon
Maude Kerns Art Center is currently accepting submissions for its 2027 & 2028 Exhibits Seasons. Local, regional, and national artists (individuals and groups) working in 2- and 3- dimensional mediums, as well as installation art, are invited to submit their work for consideration. Solo, group, and/or themed shows will be curated based on the content, quality, and number of submissions. Established, mid-career, and emerging artists are encouraged to apply.
May 9, 2026 148 days left
Proud + 2026
Exhibition
- Submission Deadline: May 9, 2026
- Event Dates: July 3, 2026 - August 2, 2026
- Entry Fee: $35
- Award Info: $100
- Eligibility: National
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
- Location: San Diego, California
The 9th Annual PROUD+ Exhibition will be held June 19 - July 31, 2026, during San Diego Pride Month, showcasing the work of LGBTQ+ artists from across the country. Produced by The Studio Door, this national exhibition celebrates the unique perspectives and voices of the LGBTQ+ community through contemporary art.
For nearly a decade, PROUD+ has provided a vital platform for LGBTQ+ artists to express their creativity, identity, and lived experiences. From bold declarations of self to quiet explorations of inner worlds, this exhibition seeks to highlight the richness and diversity of LGBTQ+ life and culture. Artists are invited to submit works that reflect their own interpretations of pride, resilience, and community. You're encouraged to share their truth, amplify their voice, and contribute to the ongoing conversation around LGBTQ+ identity in the arts.
May 20, 2026 159 days left
2,191464 Hours of History
Exhibition
- Submission Deadline: May 20, 2026
- Event Dates: October 8, 2026 - May 20, 2026
- Entry Fee: $30.00
- Award Info: Best of Show and three additional awards
- Eligibility: National
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
- Location: Springfield, Illinois
History is made in minutes and hours that culminate in days, weeks, months, and years of consequences from decisions and actions. The exhibition, 2,191,464 Hours of History asks you to choose a point in American History and react to it as an artist. To acknowledge the 250th Birthday of the United States, you're invited to choose a moment or period in history that is significant to you and express that importance and/or consequence through a work of art. All media are welcome.
The M. G. Nelson Family Gallery at the Springfield Art Association in Springfield, Illinois will present this exhibition from July 3rd through July 31, 2026.
June 1, 2026 171 days left
March - April 2027 | Moore Gallery
Exhibition
- Organization: Molly Brookhiser-Smeltser
- Submission Deadline: June 1, 2026
- Event Dates: March 1, 2027 - April 30, 2027
June 1, 2026 171 days left
September - October 2027 Murray Gallery
Exhibition
- Organization: Molly Brookhiser-Smeltser
- Submission Deadline: June 1, 2026
- Event Dates: September 1, 2027 - October 31, 2027
June 9, 2026 179 days left
Delaplaine Arts Center Solo and Small Group Exhibit
Exhibition
- Submission Deadline: June 9, 2026
- Entry Fee: (Non-Members): $37.00; (Delaplaine Members): $7.00
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
- Location: Frederick, Maryland
The Delaplaine seeks proposals for solo and group exhibitions on an ongoing basis. Exhibitions are showcased in five galleries on two floors and openings are held on most first Saturdays. Proposals for large group, small group, and solo shows are reviewed by an exhibition selection panel and are scheduled up to two years in advance.
June 15, 2026 185 days left
Penland Resident Artist Program
Residency
- Submission Deadline: June 15, 2026
- Eligibility: International
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
- Location: Bakersville, North Carolina
The Penland Resident Artist Program is designed for professional craft artists who are at a pivotal moment in their creative practice or career—the residency is an opportunity for them to pursue objectives that will have a lasting effect on their work and their lives. Depending on the applicant’s goals, two residency options are available:
1-year project-based residency: Artists submit a project proposal and use the term to expand technical and conceptual boundaries, pursue research and development in a specific topic or process, or explore a new direction in their work.
3-year career transition residency: Artists submit objectives aimed at advancing their studio practice, addressing the practicalities of sustaining a creative career, or navigating a significant transition in their professional path.
July 1, 2026 201 days left
May - June 2027 | Moore Gallery
Exhibition
- Organization: Molly Brookhiser-Smeltser
- Submission Deadline: July 1, 2026
- Event Dates: May 3, 2027 - June 30, 2027
July 1, 2026 201 days left
November - December 2027 Murray Gallery
Exhibition
- Organization: Molly Brookhiser-Smeltser
- Submission Deadline: July 1, 2026
- Event Dates: November 1, 2027 - November 30, 2027
August 1, 2026 232 days left
July - August 2027 | Moore Gallery
Exhibition
- Organization: Molly Brookhiser-Smeltser
- Submission Deadline: August 1, 2026
- Event Dates: July 1, 2027 - August 31, 2027
August 1, 2026 232 days left
Call for Art – Salon Ori
Exhibition
- Submission Deadline: August 1, 2026
- Eligibility: Local
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting
- Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
Salon Ori, on Selby in St. Paul’s Lex-Ham neighborhood, is looking for artists to show as soon as early-to-mid November. They are a busy, established salon of 16 years and have featured local artists since we opened, a new artist every 2-3 months. They have lots of natural light and big, tall walls, which can accommodate almost any work that can hang on wire. They take no commission, just ask the artists to hang and take down; they supply hanging materials. They’re looking forward to being surrounded by your work in their space! Send inquiries to Jen at [email protected]
August 9, 2026 240 days left
fooLPRoof Art Gallery Rolling Artist Application
Exhibition
- Submission Deadline: August 9, 2026
- Entry Fee: $35.00
- Eligibility: National
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
- Location: Denver, Colorado 80205, United States
This call revolves around being a part of a commercial gallery on a regular basis with 5-10 works on hand. The call for regular gallery artists is directed towards professional artists. Professional Artists working in ALL MEDIUMS are welcomed to apply. Installation art and works that hang from a ceiling will also be considered. The call for artists has a warm heart for sculpture and metal casting as the gallery manager and curator is a sculptor. Application Deadline is rolling through the calendar year beginning August 9th 2025 and ending August 8th 2026
September 1, 2026 263 days left
September - October 2027 | Moore Gallery
Exhibition
- Organization: Molly Brookhiser-Smeltser
- Submission Deadline: September 1, 2026
- Event Dates: September 1, 2027 - October 31, 2027
September 15, 2026 277 days left
Hambidge Residencies (Spring Session)
Residency
- Submission Deadline: September 15, 2026
- Entry Fee: $30
- Eligibility: International
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
- Location: Rabun Gap, Georgia, United States
"The Hambidge Center is situated on 600 forested acres in the mountains of north Georgia and offers miles of nature trails, meadows, waterfalls, a swimming hole and an abundance of wildflowers.
The oldest residency program in the Southeast, Hambidge provides a self-directed program that honors the creative process and trusts individuals to know what they need to cultivate their talent, whether it’s to work and produce, to think, to experiment or to rejuvenate. Residents’ time is their own; there are no workshops, critiques, nor required activities.
Each resident is given their own private studio which provides work and living space with a bathroom and full kitchen. The studios are designed to protect residents’ time, space and solitude.
Resident groups are intentionally kept small enough (8-10 people) to gather around the dinner table each evening, Tuesday through Friday, for delicious vegetarian meals prepared by our chef. These communal meals are an essential part of the Hambidge residency experience. Serious topics are discussed (and light-hearted ones, too), experiences are shared, and encouragement is given. Many a collaboration and life-long friendship have begun at the Hambidge dinner table."
October 1, 2026 293 days left
November - December 2027 | Moore Gallery
Exhibition
- Organization: Molly Brookhiser-Smeltser
- Submission Deadline: October 1, 2026
- Event Dates: November 1, 2027 - December 31, 2027
November 30, 2026 353 days left
Trailhead Gallery – Call For Art
Exhibition
- Submission Deadline: November 30, 2026
- Award Info: 6 weeks- 2 months per exhibit
- Eligibility: State
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
The Loppet Foundation is seeking local artists to showcase their work in the Trailhead Gallery, a bright, welcoming space in the Trailhead at Theodore Wirth Park — where art, connection to the outdoors, and community meet. Artists receive full visibility in a high-traffic community space. Priority consideration will be given to local, Minnesota artists.