Featured Opportunities

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Commission for experienced mural artists/sign writers to design and paint a contemporary exterior mural (approx 6m x 9m) on 170 High Street West in Sunniside, Sunderland. The mural should connect past and present, celebrate local businesses and creative community, and work within the Sunniside wayfinding project to define the neighbourhood’s identity.

Artists must be confident working at large scale and height, hold IPAF training (if using MEWP access) and Public Liability Insurance. The mural should complement existing local murals, work with the Sunniside colour palette, be low maintenance, and be considerate of the conservation area/listed building context.

Total budget £5,000 covers artist design time, painting, and materials. Installation required before end of March 2026. Proposals should include concept design, sketches/examples, previous similar work, and installation timeline with materials costs.

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The 11th annual Visual Art Open Prize offers a £10,000 prize fund for artists at all career stages globally. Categories include Painting, Sculpture, Drawing & Illustration, Mixed Media/Collage/Printmaking, Photography & Digital Art, Student Artist, and Art Educator.

The overall winner receives a £2,000 cash prize, solo show in London, exhibition at Minster Building (with all finalists), VAA Premium Annual Membership, VAA Annual Mentorship Programme, VAA Momentum Programme, and Certificate of Achievement. Category winners receive £250 cash prize, VAA Premium Annual Membership, VAA Momentum Programme, London exhibition with finalists, additional online promotion, and Certificate of Achievement. All finalists exhibit at the historic Minster Building in central London and receive online promotion and certificates.

All entrants receive featured exposure across social media channels (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn) and email promotion to 60,000+ subscribers.

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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. Submissions go through peer review by an editorial board.

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. 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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This international competition is open to independent filmmakers worldwide across five categories: Fiction (5-20 minutes, narrative-led original fictional stories), Non-Fiction (5-20 minutes, predominantly factual content), Animation (2-20 minutes, any animation technique), Student (5-20 minutes, any genre, for filmmakers studying film at diploma/degree level), and Future Format (2-5 minutes, vertical viewing 9:16 aspect ratio). Films can be shot on any device and must be produced between January 1st, 2024 and December 16th, 2025.

Shortlisted filmmakers (up to 10 for Fiction/Non-Fiction, up to 5 for Animation/Student, winner plus up to 4 commended for Future Format) are flown to Los Angeles for a four-day industry-immersive program at Sony Pictures Studios including workshops with Sony Pictures executives, masterclasses, panel discussions, tours, screenings, Q&As, and an awards ceremony (June 8-12, 2026). Category winners receive Sony camera equipment plus lens, trophies, certificates, and cash prizes: $5,000 USD for Fiction/Non-Fiction/Animation winners, $2,500 USD for Future Format winner.

Student winners and their institutions each receive Sony camera equipment. All shortlisted and commended filmmakers receive online promotion and certificates.

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This group exhibition is open to emerging and mid-career contemporary artists and aims to explore themes of Identity (personal/collective narratives, cultural influences, interpretations of identity in a multicultural world), Cultural Dialogue (works that spark conversations about cultural differences, connections, and shared experiences), and Social Inequality & Representation (highlighting issues of race, gender, class, and equity).

Artists can submit up to 3 artworks (2D or 3D) and one will be selected for display. Benefits include: exhibition at White Space Gallery in central Edinburgh (76 East Crosscauseway, EH8 9HQ), participation in opening events, artist talks and panel discussions, social media promotion and professional press release coverage, exhibition review in JustArt Newspaper Club, and assistance with sales (no commission charged).

Artists must deliver works to the gallery by 20th March 2026 or arrange mail delivery/printing service (costs covered by artists). Small participation fee to be confirmed upon selection.

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This month-long residency for pairs of visual artists offers studio time at the historic Porthmeor Studios in St Ives, Cornwall. One artist must be based in Devon or Cornwall, and their collaborator must be based anywhere else in the UK. Applicants must have at least 5 years of professional practice (five years after BA graduation or equivalent experience) and be UK-based with studio-based visual arts practice. Both artists must be available for at least one of three proposed residency months: March, May, and September 2026.

The residency provides shared use of Studio 5 at Porthmeor Studios, shared accommodation in St Ives, covered travel expenses, and £2,000 stipend per artist for participation and living costs. Artists receive support from Porthmeor Studios and Freelands Foundation’s Artist Development Team. The residency focuses on exploration, experimentation, and shared learning, with no expectation of final works or resolved outcomes. Artists are encouraged to document their experience and engage in dialogue, experimentation, and reflection.

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Free artist-led creative workshop programme for people aged 16-30. Term 2 runs 10 January – 21 March 2026, led by Diasporas Now members Paola Estrella and Joshua Woolford, focusing on translating ideas and stories across artistic mediums. The programme takes a multidisciplinary, genre-fluid approach covering writing, image-making, movement, performance and set design. Comprises six workshops using the ICA Studio as site-specific location.

Participants develop projects reflecting their experiences of contemporary culture. No prior art-making experience necessary, but must commit to all sessions. Programme culminates in a building-wide public showcase at ICA in summer 2026 where participants from all three terms present collective work. Offers access to ICA’s wider programme (exhibitions, live music, cinema), opportunities to meet industry professionals and get behind-the-scenes experience at world-class interdisciplinary arts organisation. Part of ICA’s mission to create inclusive pathways and progression routes for emerging creative talent.