Featured Opportunities

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D Contemporary invites emerging and early mid-career artists of all ages and nationalities to submit work for the D Contemporary Award 2026, exploring the theme ‘Soft Power’ – celebrating how art shapes understanding, fosters empathy, and expands our vision through stories, memories, and experiences. In a new award format, this year creates an ecosystem beyond a single exhibition.

Artists across all disciplines, painting, sculpture, photography, installation, digital media, and beyond, can submit up to five images exploring how art inspires, connects, and uplifts through human experience, resilience, and cultural endurance. A selection of shortlisted artists will showcase work in a group exhibition at D Contemporary’s Westminster, London premises, with each receiving awards and substantial contributions from exclusive partners, jurors, and sponsors. An influential jury will then select one standout artist to receive a solo exhibition, monetary prizes, dedicated mentorship, and press coverage in 2025/6. £15 submission fee until 12th February 2026 (standard £23 thereafter).

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Cody Dock invites artists and creative collectives to design an interactive, permanent outdoor public artwork exploring hidden stories beneath the River Lea’s waters as part of their Heritage Fund-supported ‘Lighting Up The Lea’ programme. The third and final Cabinet of Curiosity will focus on ecological histories—encouraging artists to research one specific story connecting the river’s natural landscape with local heritage, such as the golden clam’s journey linking global and social histories.

This site-specific commission (budget £5,400 including labour and materials) requires extensive research into the Lower Lea’s biodiversity, river restoration projects, and durable weather-resistant materials for outdoor display. The work will be revealed at September’s Open Day in collaboration with Totally Thames and Open House, becoming a permanent fixture at Cody Dock. Payment structure: £1,700 for R&D (post-R&D meeting 4th May), £1,500 at first production meeting (1st June), £1,500 at second production meeting, £700 final payment (21st September). Work completed by 7th September for 21st September reveal.

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An Táin Arts Centre invites recent graduates and early-career visual artists to apply for a three-month residency (July-September 2026) designed to establish collaborative practice in community setting. The resident artist receives studio space adjoining The Basement Gallery for the full three months, administrative and outreach support, and the opportunity to use the main gallery space throughout September 2026. The €2,000 bursary includes a €1,500 living stipend and up to €500 materials budget (receipts required). Artists are expected to engage with local communities through workshops, talks, and/or outreach activities as part of their residency.

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Women in Art Fair invites women and women-identifying artists of any age, nationality, and medium to apply for exhibition at WIAF 2026, running 7th-10th May in Central London. Now in its fourth year, WIAF dismantles systemic gender imbalance in the art world—where only 3-5% of global auction sales are by women artists, who earn just 10-20% of male artists’ income and achieve median auction prices less than half that of male artists.

Submit up to five works in any medium to showcase your practice and themes. This year features the WIAF Prize 2026 with three significant cash prizes plus sustained promotional support. Entry fees: £20 for one work, £35 for two, £50 for three, £55 for four, £60 for five. Selected works must be for sale with 30% commission to WIAF. Successful applicants notified 17th April 2026.

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Batsford, the leading independent art book publisher established in 1843, invites UK undergraduate, postgraduate, and foundation students to enter The Batsford Prize 2026 exploring the theme “Connections.” Over £4,000 worth of prizes are available across four categories: Applied Art and Textiles, Book Illustration (sponsored by Spring Literary), Fine Art, and The Geoffry Powell Award for Architecture.

Prizes include £300 cash per category winner, £300 additional cash for overall winner, £100 Batsford books for winners, £300 books for winners’ colleges, £80 copy of Artists of the East London Group per category winner, £50 books for two runners-up per category, and £30 copy of The Book Cover for runners-up. All shortlisted candidates invited to exhibit entries for a two-week exhibition at Batsford Gallery in May 2026, with awards event and private view on 13th May, public exhibition opening 14th May.

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Newcastle Art Space invites artists to submit work for Freshwater to Fatbergs, a group exhibition exploring water use, conservation, and urban water system pressures. Running 8th-31st May 2026, this provocative exhibition juxtaposes the value of clean freshwater and healthy catchments with the consequences of misuse, creating an accessible entry point for communities to engage with complex water issues—from tap to drain.

The exhibition encourages smarter water use, improves understanding of catchments, highlights the impacts of fats, oils, and wipes on sewer systems, and promotes shared responsibility for protecting water resources. Open to all 2D and 3D media including painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, ceramics, and digital media. Works must respond to the theme and not exceed 150cm × 100cm (max 1.5 square metres). Selected artists announced 2nd April 2026. Sales incur 30% commission. Artists responsible for delivery/collection and insurance.

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Freelands Foundation invites UK visual art organisations to apply for prestigious awards championing commitment to art education. Three winners will each receive £100,000 grants for recent or ongoing projects demonstrating progressive art education approaches with demonstrable impact. Winners also receive funding for collaborative video case studies showcasing their work and invitations to a London celebration event in November 2026.

Over five years, Freelands Foundation commits £1.5 million to these awards, recognising outstanding art education work across galleries, museums, and visual art organisations. Funding can support programming costs, staff/freelance wages, capital development, equipment purchases, or organisational overheads including rent and utilities. The two-stage application involves a written Expression of Interest followed by judging panel visits in summer 2026.