Featured Opportunities
Find your next creative breakthrough. Discover creative awards, competitions & funding. Submit to design contests, film festivals, writing competitions…
Free Listing
Have a valuable opportunity for our community?
-
Society of Women Artists 165th Annual Open Exhibition 2026
Society of Women Artists
From £10
Closing: 7th March ’26
Annual open exhibition for female artists, held at Mall Galleries in London. Open to both SWA members and non-members. Accepts painting, pastels, drawing, mixed media, sculpture (all media), ceramics, glass and metal (non-utilitarian), fine art printing methods (not giclée or large volume prints). Photography not accepted.
Artists can submit up to 6 artworks, with a maximum of 4 hung if selected. Digital submission only via the online platform. Exhibition features approximately 450 works, offers various awards from sponsors, and provides exhibition and sales opportunities. Submission is the first step toward becoming an Associate member (ASWA) of the society. The exhibition includes a special Breast Cancer Now fundraising evening. Selected works must be exhibition ready and for sale. All selected works exhibited at Mall Galleries, London.
-
Empowerment grant for emerging artists based in the US
Bader + Simon
Free to Apply
Closing: 1st March 2026
One-time stipend of $7,500 for U.S. individual emerging artists WITHOUT an MA or MFA degree and extensive exhibition experience. The grant brings attention to emerging, underrepresented voices and themes, using art to elicit dialogue, inquiry and understanding.
Requirements include creating a body of work to be presented at Bader + Simon, online presentation and discussion of work reflecting the mission, attendance at exhibition opening with artist talk (travel and accommodations provided), quarterly Zoom check-ins with grant panel representative, and serving as panelist for following year’s grant review.
Funding begins 1st May 2026, winner announced 6th April 2026. Guidance Zoom session 5th February 2026, 8pm EST.
-
Clay City Summer Professional Residency 2026
Throwing Shapes
Free to Apply
Closing: 28th February ’26
This 3-month professional residency (June 1 – August 31, 2026) is for established ceramic artists and potters with 3+ years of independent work outside an institution and proven track records. Applicants must be legally entitled to live and work in Ireland and commit to full participation in studio activities, mentorship, community events, and potential teaching opportunities.
The residency provides full access to Throwing Shapes ceramics studio (wheels, kilns, studio glazes, workshop equipment, hand-building space), a fully subsidised city-centre two-bedroom apartment in Dublin shared with the graduate resident (rent-free, utilities paid by resident), opportunity to teach workshops, a solo exhibition at the end with curatorial and marketing support, mentorship sessions, and permanent feature on the Throwing Shapes website.
Residents must donate one piece of work created during the residency to Throwing Shapes. Note: No stipend is included; applicants must clarify how they will cover living costs.
-
The Caine Prize for African Writing 2026
The Caine Prize for African Writing
Free to Apply
Closing: 27th February ’26
Annual literary award of £10,000 for the best short story by an African writer published in English. Open to African writers (whether in Africa or the diaspora) aged 18+.
Stories must be 3,000-10,000 words, published within the five years preceding the deadline, and constitute fictional short stories only (novels, children’s stories, factual writing, academic essays, plays, poetry, autobiography/biography not eligible). Entries must be submitted by publishers (including publishers of physical/digital books, literary journals, magazines, arts-oriented websites) via email with publisher’s letter confirming writer consent, publication date, and author nationality. Self-published and unpublished works not eligible.
Winner and shortlisted writers invited to participate in events in Africa, London and elsewhere with travel awards provided. Shortlisted stories published in annual Caine Prize Anthology by Cassava Republic Press.
-
Next Gen Climate Creatives Award
Global Climate Design Awards (GCDA)
From $15
Closing: 15th February 2026
Youth-focused award recognising bold, experimental ideas in art, architecture and design addressing the climate crisis. Open to ages 16-30 including students in art, design or architecture programs, recent graduates (within 3 years), and early-career professionals (within 5 years of practice).
Individuals or teams up to 3 members can submit both fully realised projects and early-stage concepts like sketches, prototypes, installations or digital renderings. Submissions require 12-16 slide PDF portfolio, 300-400 word written statement, and optional 1-2 minute video. Finalists notified 23rd February 2026 and invited as guests to the GCDA Award Event in Miami during Climate Week on 18th March 2026 where winners are announced live.
Recognition includes feature in DASH Online Gallery, press exposure through partner media and climate design outlets, certificate and digital badge.
-
Jackson’s Art Prize 2026
Jackson’s Art Supplies
From £5
Closing: 11th February 26‘
An international art competition open to artists of all ages and abilities working in any two-dimensional technique including painting, drawing, and printmaking. Artists can submit 1-5 artworks (with the 5th entry free).
There are 31 awards to be won including: First Prize of £6,000 plus £2,000 in Jackson’s art materials, five Jackson’s Choice Awards, eight Material Awards and Runners Up, Student and Amateur Awards, People’s Choice Award, and six Judge’s Choice Awards (each £1,000 in art materials).
Prize winners and shortlisted artists are invited to exhibit at two London exhibitions: Affordable Art Fair (6-10 May 2026) and Bankside Gallery (22-28 June 2026). The First Prize winner also receives a filmed studio interview and invitation to join the 2027 Guest Judging Panel.
-
Grand Plan Fund
Grand Plan
Free to apply
Closing: Rolling Deadlines
£1,000 grants for people of colour (aged 18+) based in the UK for any creative project where £1,000 would make a significant difference. Open to individuals, duos, groups, or collectives of colour (not registered companies or charities) at any career stage. The fund supports creativity in all forms including poetry, paintings, fashion, zines, music, food, flowers, photographs, workshops, events, and more. Grants cover equipment, courses, time, materials, travel, and project needs. The fund won’t part-fund projects where £1,000 doesn’t cover the majority of costs, or where company running costs, marketing, or university projects are a large proportion.
Simple three-stage application: five quick eligibility questions, questions about you and your project (with rough budget breakdown showing how £1,000 will be spent), and voluntary anonymous monitoring. Applications assessed by independent judges reviewing approximately 900-1,100 submissions per round, awarding around 20 grants per round (1 in 50 chance). Judges prioritise a clear sense of who you are and why you’re doing this, realistic budget, and projects unlikely to get funding elsewhere.
Successful applicants asked to complete project within 6 months, share realised work (no fixed deadlines), and credit Grand Plan publicly. Rolling deadlines – Apply by 4th December ’25 for 22nd December result; applications after 4th December receive results on 20th March ’26











