Featured Opportunities

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Autograph is inviting artists working with collage and/or photomontage to question or disrupt dominant narratives to submit their work. Open to anyone of any age, based anywhere in the world (text captions must be in English), the call is particularly keen to work with emerging artists in the early stages of their artistic career who may not have had a mainstream platform before. Artists must have a series of 10 or more pieces of work. Successful applicants will receive a £400 fee, an online exhibition on Autograph’s website featuring around 10-20 images, and editorial support from Autograph’s experienced staff. The work will be promoted via Autograph’s newsletter, social media channels and networks. Initial submissions require just three representative images via Google Form. The call is inspired by Autograph’s exhibition “I Still Dream of Lost Vocabularies,” examining issues of political dissent and erasure through collage. Judges include Bindi Vora (Senior Curator), Sunil Gupta (photographer), and Livvy Murdoch (digital content and learning manager).

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The British School at Rome, in partnership with the Bridget Riley Art Foundation, invites applications from exceptional early to mid-career artists working in painting, drawing, or sculpture for a six-month residency from September 2026 to March 2027. Open to UK or Commonwealth nationals or residents, the residency offers artists time, space, and inspiration to develop their practice within a vibrant international community in the heart of Rome. Residents receive board and accommodation in a purpose-designed studio, full staff support, access to the BSR Library and archives, Italian lessons, and a rich programme of workshops, site visits, and public events. The residency provides opportunities to collaborate with local artists, showcase work through open studios, and engage deeply with Italy’s artistic and cultural heritage. This extraordinary setting allows artists to explore new ideas in an environment that combines professional development with cultural immersion.

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The V&A Illustration Awards, established in 1972, is the UK’s most prestigious biennial illustration competition reflecting the contemporary UK illustration scene. The Awards welcome published work by UK residents or those resident anywhere in the world working for UK clients. Categories include Adult Fiction, Adult Factual, Illustration for Children, Advertising and Commercial, and Emerging Illustrator (for UK resident unpublished artists over 18, or those who studied on UK college courses in 2024 and/or 2025). Entrants can upload up to eight image files for each entry, or supply a link to/upload a one-minute video submission and five image files. Five category winners each receive £3,500 and five runners-up receive £1,000. The overall winner, the Moira Gemmill Illustrator of the Year, receives an additional £5,500 and their work becomes part of the V&A’s collections. Winners and runners-up will be announced in summer 2026, with their work displayed in a dedicated curated display within the V&A.

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The Reflective Creative Journal (RCJ) is an online publication seeking visual essay submissions from creatives practicing in visual arts disciplines. Open to all, including international submissions, the journal welcomes reflective content that captures new ideas, projects, collaborations, and learning experiences. Submissions should combine 3-8 low-resolution images with 250-500 words in a visual essay format, showing curiosity and reflecting on learning experiences. The journal supports early-career creatives by sharing learning experiences in visual arts, including encounters with exhibitions, publications, fresh ways of working, and creative inspiration. Submissions go through peer review by an editorial board. This is an unpaid publishing opportunity that aims to help creatives understand, improve, and grow. The journal is published regularly throughout the year as content is selected, and all issues are available as free-to-view PDFs.

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The NAE Open is an annual group exhibition bringing together up to 50 artists, creating a vibrant snapshot of contemporary practice across all artforms. Open to UK-based artists who identify as being from the Global Ethnic Majority (defined as people who are Black, Asian, Brown, dual heritage, Indigenous to the global south, and/or have been racialised as ethnic minorities), as well as all artists living in Nottinghamshire. The exhibition takes place in NAE’s Main Gallery from May–September 2026 and is selected anonymously by a panel of respected artists, creative professionals, and community representatives. Selected artists exhibit in one of the UK’s leading contemporary art spaces and are considered for prizes including solo exhibitions, residencies, and other developmental opportunities. Participants receive support through three key events: exhibition launch, professional development day, and awards ceremony. NAE covers delivery/collection transport and travel to exhibition events. Applicants must be 18+, living in the UK, submit one artwork only (created within last five years), and own/hold copyright of submitted work. While no artist’s fee is available, NAE provides professional platform, networking, and increased visibility within the arts sector.

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Autograph is seeking an emerging creative to produce an in-person workshop at Autograph’s gallery in Hackney, London between February and March 2026 (scheduled for either Saturday 15 February, 22 February or 1 March 2026) as part of the public programme for the exhibition “I Still Dream of Lost Vocabularies.” The workshop should explore resistance and activism through diverse approaches to collage and creative making, introducing a fresh process or perspective. Proposals should explore collage through different creative processes or disciplines (e.g., craft, mixed media, or performance), be collaborative and hands-on for groups, and be suitable for up to 20 participants in a 3-hour session. Successful applicants receive a £410 curatorial fee plus a budget of up to £620 to cover AV, materials, and contributor fees (Autograph offers contributors £160 for short events). This opportunity is for emerging creatives with less than 3 years of experience in creative industries or events programming. Applicants must be based in London, with Autograph covering travel costs within London.

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BFI NETWORK Early Development funding supports writers based in England in the early stages of development for debut long-form projects. Open to writers who have not yet written a feature film or immersive work that has been produced and received a UK distribution deal, the fund directly supports writers who do not yet have a first draft of a script (or equivalent format for immersive work) to produce an initial treatment outlining the story, characters, themes and structure along with related materials such as mood boards or visual content. The first stage supports long-form live-action, immersive and animation fiction projects with awards of £3,000 to £5,000 to develop a treatment. Writers can apply with or without a producer. Projects supported at treatment stage and completed to schedule can then apply for second stage funding to complete a first draft of the full feature-length screenplay or equivalent format for immersive work. National Lottery funding is available, and access support is available for those who need help with applications.

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The INTERPLAY kinetic design competition is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students on creative courses within the UK, and their recent graduates. The competition encourages the design of ‘elegant motion’ in products, services, systems and experimental sculptures to add more value to the built environment and make it more enjoyable for people’s wellbeing. Students from design, architecture, design engineering, sculpture and applied performing arts, or other creative disciplines are eligible to enter. The competition supports ‘avant-garde kinetic designs’ that involve graceful and playful motion as well as functional movement, incorporating new technologies like smart materials, robotics and AI. Winners receive commission prizes of up to £4000 and support to develop their ideas further, with the potential for exhibition and presentation opportunities.

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The OKRE Fund: Thriller Lab is a pilot programme supporting 10 writer-producer duos to develop early-stage thriller ideas for film, TV, video games or digital shortform. Backed by £75,000 in funding, the lab supports daring, gripping thrillers grounded in real-world science that interrogate the human condition and are deepened by collaboration with academics and charities. Each successful duo receives £7,500 to cover time, travel expenses, and collaborator fees, plus entry into a structured three-month development programme (January-March 2026). The programme includes workshops, collaborator matchmaking, direct coaching from OKRE, and the opportunity to pitch projects to OKRE and industry partners at the end of the lab. Online Q&A sessions are available on 15th October and 3rd November 2025, with decision notifications by 15th December 2025.

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ArtWorks Open is an annual platform supporting emerging and mid-career UK artists working in 2D and 3D media. The 2025 show is selected by artists Tam Joseph and Keith Piper. The competition awards cash prizes, exhibitions, and residencies to fine artists. Selected works will be exhibited at Barbican Arts Group Trust (114A Blackhorse Lane E17 6AA) from 29th November to 7th December. Artists must submit works with maximum dimensions of 100cm in height, width, and depth. Selected artists receive confirmation by email with unique registration numbers and must deliver works in person or by courier to the specified address during delivery dates in November. 

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Sustainable Darkroom is seeking written contributions for a collection of essays and creative texts exploring the afterlives and futures of photography, titled “Bury After Reading: The Afterlife of Images.” Open to practitioners, writers, researchers, and artists worldwide, the call invites voices that go beyond technical processes into the environmental, social, and political dimensions of photographic practice. The publication aims to challenge existing structures of image-making and imagine futures where sustainability and ecological regeneration are central. Final texts should be 1,000-6,000 words and could include historical reflections on photography’s extractive materials, speculative texts imagining new systems for photographic production post-climate breakdown, critical responses to consumerist “green” solutions, or creative texts imagining alternative futures for photography outside consumerist frameworks. This is NOT seeking recipes or material experiments divorced from wider socio-ecological-political investigation. Selected contributors receive editorial and critical support, a copy of the finished book, and a writer’s fee of £150. Applications require a proposal (200-500 words), short bio (max 200 words), and website link. Generously supported by the Siobhán Coward Foundation.

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Must be a current a-n Artist member to apply. a-n is offering bursaries of £500 to £1,500 to current a-n Artist members at every stage of their career to develop new skills and networks to take their work to the next level. Applications close on Monday 3rd November 2025 at 12noon. Only current a-n Artist members can apply via the online form (applicants must be logged in to their a-n membership to access the form). Application guidance is available to download, providing a step-by-step guide outlining all required information. Applicants are encouraged to write their application offline before transferring answers to the online form. Access support costs can be covered for those who need assistance completing their application – applicants should email with details to arrange this support.

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Photoworks is seeking photographic submissions related to the environment for the November issue of Photography+. Images can explore climate change, society’s impact on the natural world, environmental racism, climate activism and justice, and the photographer’s role in documenting and confronting the climate crisis. The opportunity is open to all – you don’t have to be a professional photographer, and submissions are welcomed from young people and those new to photography. Artists should submit one image per person. The selected image will be published in the next issue of Photography+ and the selected artists will receive an artist fee of £80.

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The National Arts Club Artist Fellowship program provides established young professional artists with one year of full membership to the historic club in Gramercy Park, New York City, with the goal of furthering their careers. Open to artists aged 21 or older working in any discipline including archaeology, architecture, art and technology, culinary arts, dance, decorative arts, fashion, film, fine arts, literature, music, photography, and theater. Applicants should reside within the NYC metro area to receive maximum benefit. Artist Fellows receive complimentary Club membership providing access to the historic clubhouse, over 150 arts programs throughout the year, discounted private overnight rooms, a $100 monthly allowance for the Club’s dining room/parlours/bar and lodging, networking opportunities, and opportunities to be featured in Club programming, exhibitions, and presentations. Applications require CV, cover letter (500 words max), five work samples/performances, and 2-3 references. Selected by a rotating jury of arts specialists, NAC Board members, and previous Artist Fellows.

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The LOEWE FOUNDATION Craft Prize celebrates outstanding work in contemporary craft, highlighting originality, technical skill, and strong artistic vision. Open to professional artisans aged 18 and over from anywhere in the world, applicants can apply individually or as a group. The submission should be an original, one-of-a-kind piece that is handmade or partly handmade, created within the last five years, and must not have won any previous prizes. The work should be innovative in the sense that it updates tradition and fall within an area of the applied arts such as ceramics, bookbinding, enamelwork, jewellery, lacquer, metal, furniture, leather, textiles, glass, paper, wood, etc. The winner receives €50,000, and the work of all finalists will be featured in an exhibition in Singapore in spring 2026. Applications require 2-5 photographs of the work and a brief conceptual statement about the piece. 

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At The Library is seeking three women artists working in any discipline to help shape the 2026 Colour of Pomegranates programme, a relaxed creative space for sanctuary-seeking women to connect with each other and local women through conversation and creativity. Selected artists will work closely with sanctuary-seeking and longer-term residents of Bootle and Sefton over 12 months to develop creative, engaging projects in libraries and community spaces. Artists should be organised, dependable, confident supporting community workshops, sensitive to working with people who may have experienced displacement or trauma, comfortable working with adults in mixed-language groups with children present, and excited by co-creation and socially engaged practice. Artists receive £35 per hour plus £10 travel per session, with a guaranteed minimum of 8 paid workshops during 2026, plus quarterly collective meetings and training opportunities including reflection, trauma-aware practice and collaborative facilitation. Sessions take place on Saturday mornings and Wednesdays. Applications are especially welcomed from artists with experience of migration (personal or familial) and those based in Liverpool City Region (Halton, Wirral, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Knowsley), though all North West artists may apply.

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Matthew Burrows is inviting any artist, anywhere in the world, who feels they’ve lacked access to the networks or resources that help a practice grow to join him for a free six-month series of Studio Conversations. The opportunity includes four one-to-one Zoom sessions over six months, providing space to talk about artistic practice, questions, and next steps. Applications are informal – no CV or formal portfolio required. Artists should send one email, video, or voice note telling a little about their life and why these Studio Conversations would help them, attaching up to four images of artwork of their choice. The application should be written in the artist’s own voice and doesn’t need to be polished or perfect. This opportunity is about connection and possibility, not credentials, offering time, care, and dialogue to artists who might not usually have access to support.

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The Lewisham Arthouse Graduate Award provides recent graduates from universities, colleges and alternative art education programmes (who graduated between 2022-2025) with a free studio space, mentorship programme and production support for 12 months. Started in 2010 by an artist-led cooperative to help recent graduates continue making art in London, the award includes a £500 studio stipend, £1000 for mentors, and £1000 for a final project. Award holders become part of the Arthouse community with access to peer learning, skill sharing and resources, and are invited to share outcomes of their residency through a public event such as an exhibition, workshop, performance, symposium or gig. The programme has welcomed 16 graduates to date and also offers use of public spaces and funding for projects by shortlisted graduates.

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Multistory produces a yearly journal of art writing from Sandwell and the Black Country to support new experimental and creative writing outside academic contexts. Issue 3 focuses on the theme of “Materials,” drawing on the Black Country’s history of craft and industrial manufacturing to explore the relation between materials and place. Open to emerging artists currently based in Sandwell and the Black Country (including Oldbury, Rowley Regis, Smethwick, Tipton, Wednesbury, West Bromwich, Dudley, Wolverhampton and Walsall), the call welcomes artists with contemporary arts practices who incorporate text/writing, or experimental writers and critics. Selected writers receive a £250 fee and editorial support, with co-editor and guest mentor Dr. Sylvia Theuri leading a writing masterclass and crit. The programme includes workshops in November 2025, group critique in December 2025, and editorial support through to final publication in March 2026. Applications require a proposal (max 300 words) outlining how the piece relates to the materials theme, CV, and examples of previous writing.

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The Rochdale Borough Culture Network offers grants of up to £800 to support individual artists, arts organisations, voluntary groups, faith and social enterprises that widen access to arts and culture in Rochdale borough. Applications are for creative projects or activities including theatre, music, dance performances, visual arts exhibitions/workshops, film/digital media, creative writing/spoken word, community or participatory workshops, interdisciplinary arts, and outdoor arts, festivals and events. Priority is given to projects that demonstrate strong connection to Rochdale borough, engage audiences across the borough or beyond, widen access to creativity for traditionally under-served communities (including those at risk of racial inequalities, disabled, LGBTQ+ and communities experiencing poverty), and are delivered by artists/organisations with limited access to other funds. RBCN is committed to ensuring artists are paid fairly and adequately for their work, supporting artists to be artists through adequate fees, development investment and materials.

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The week-long Mizzou International Composers Festival selects Resident Composers through an online portfolio application process to participate in concerts, workshops, master classes, and other events at the Sinquefield Music Center and Missouri Theatre in Columbia, MO. Resident Composers receive composition lessons from two Distinguished Guest Composers, participate in rehearsals with world-class new music ensemble Alarm Will Sound, and receive a commission to create a new piece for the ensemble. The new compositions will be premiered during the festival’s grand finale concert conducted by artistic director Alan Pierson and will be professionally recorded for the composers and digital distribution platforms. Festival tuition and lodging are provided through the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation. Applications require three scores of original works with contrasting instrumentation (preferably including one large ensemble piece), recordings of the same pieces (live preferred, MIDI accepted), and a CV/Resume (two-page maximum). Selected composers are responsible for flights and meals, while MNMI covers lodging and assists with ground transportation within Missouri.

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The New Emergence Art Prize 2025 is open to artists worldwide aged 18 and over working in all media. There is no set theme and the prize champions emerging and underrepresented artists with meaningful recognition and lasting visibility. Awards are worth over £3,900 and include: £1,000 Main Award; NG Art Creative Residency (2-week artist residency in Provence, France worth £2,000); The Staedtler Award (products worth over £360); The Daler-Rowney Prize (£250 worth of materials); The New Emergence Art Founder’s Prize (£150); and The GreatArt Award (£150 worth of materials). All shortlisted artists will be featured in the online gallery. The judging panel includes Joshua Donkor, Katlego Twala and Felicity Starr, who consider concept, execution, originality, and impact when selecting winners.

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The Center for Craft awards grants of up to $15,000 to support new and interdisciplinary research about craft in the United States. The grant encourages innovative research on critical issues in craft theory and history, investigates neglected questions on craft history and criticism, and supports new cross-disciplinary approaches to scholarship in craft. Proposals are welcome from applicants with a range of affiliations, including independent and academic researchers, artist-researchers, curators, organizations and institutions, and scholars. This grant is intended to support research and is NOT for the creation of artwork. Examples of craft research might include: research providing new insight into work by historical or contemporary craft in the U.S., projects presenting a new understanding of the relationship between handmade production and digital technologies, or research that addresses underrepresentation in craft. Recipients become members of the Center for Craft Alumni Network, offering valuable resources, networking opportunities, and ongoing support for craft research. The grant period runs for 18 months from January 1, 2026.

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Art Omi: Artists invites artists, critics, and curators from around the world to gather in rural New York for a month-long residency (June 18–July 13, 2026) to experiment, collaborate, and share ideas. The program welcomes artists from all disciplines including visual arts, sound art, performance, and social practice who have been professionally active for at least five years (self-taught professional artists accepted). Two dozen international artists participate alongside critics/curators, with concentrated creative time balanced by cultural exchange and critical dialogue. The residency includes indoor and outdoor studio spaces, accommodations, all meals, and access to a Visitors Program connecting residents with NYC art world professionals including critics, curators, gallerists and established artists. Various fellowships are available offering travel grants and stipends ranging from $500-$2,000, including the American Dream Fellowship for first-time US visitors, Every Page Foundation Fellowship for female artists from underserved communities, and others for specific regions or communities. The residency culminates in an Open Studios event for the public.

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Assembly is an annual exhibition programme of newly commissioned work by emerging artists based in the Black Country (within the Sandwell, Walsall, Dudley and Wolverhampton boroughs). Three selected visual artists will receive development support and mentoring from both organisations, a commission fee of £1,500 to create new work, and access to a production budget. The programme culminates in a group exhibition at The New Art Gallery Walsall in the Floor 4 Gallery between July and October 2026. The opportunity is open to emerging artists of all ages who are currently living and making work in the Black Country – whether fairly new to their practice or having been making work for a while without adequate support or exposure. Applications require a statement (max 300 words) describing practice and ideas for new work, CV with contact details, and up to 10 images of work examples. Alternative applications can be submitted as video or audio clips up to 3 minutes long. The programme is part of Multistory’s Blast Creative Network (BCN) artist development programme.