Guide to the Best Artist Grants and Opportunities in the Midwestern U.S.


The Artwork Archive team set out to find the best art opportunities, artist grants, and calls for entry for visual artists in the Midwestern United States.
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, specifically in the Midwest.
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!
December 1, 2025 46 days left
Direct Purchase of Completed Work for UNMC Residence Hall - Omaha
Public Art & Proposals

- Organization: Nebraska 1% for Public Art
- Submission Deadline: December 1, 2025
- Eligibility: National
- Location: Omaha, Nebraska 68102, United States
This Call for Direct Purchased Artwork includes various wall locations for 2D artworks for the seating areas and hallways on the first floor, which will be available for residents, as well as UNMC employees. The spaces vary from recreational to quiet study areas, and the selection of art may reflect those moods. The Selection Committee is seeking work that already exists. Artists may submit individual works or series of works. Artists should explain the submission’s connection to the overall concept in the letter of interest, as applicable.
The UNMC Campus is home to the Healing Arts Collection: https://healingarts.unmc.edu/permanent-collection/
Project renderings, site plans, as well as full RFQ for this project: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1f1iGXMnHGzmz1QlGpMP-1hK2hqJ2AAlj?usp=sharing
December 5, 2025 50 days left
Class Act 2026
Exhibition

- Organization: Gallery of Contemporary Mosaics
- Submission Deadline: December 5, 2025
- Event Dates: January 16, 2026 - March 7, 2026
- Entry Fee: $25.00
- Eligibility: National
The Chicago Mosaic School encourages and supports a diverse array of local, national, and international artists exploring the vibrant world of contemporary mosaic art and stained glass.
About Gallery of Contemporary Mosaics:
Important Dates:
Mar 8-15, 2026: Artwork pick up / shipped back to artists
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Ongoing
Jamestown Arts Artist in Residence Program
Residency
- Submission Deadline: Ongoing
- Award Info: Artists receive hourly payment for teaching and free living quarters
- Eligibility: National
- Categories: Craft/Traditional Arts, Photography, Drawing, Film/Video/New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
- Location: Jamestown, North Dakota 58401, United States
The Artist In Residence Program (AIR) serves K – 5 students in all six Jamestown elementary schools following the school calendar. Residency options include a fall semester and a winter/spring semester, or both. Artists follow a visual arts curriculum structured on basic design elements working with teachers and administrators. Each rotation requires a completed “Unit Plan” which includes lesson plans or goals, supplies needed, and a section for teacher feedback. The resident artist may use the rest of the day and the weekends for personal studio time, including access to the pottery studio and print shop, and teaching classes at the Arts Center.