Featured Opportunities

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Delphian Gallery invites artists worldwide to submit work for their annual open call competition, searching for the most exciting, undiscovered artwork of 2026. This totally free international competition gives a platform to talented emerging artists producing exceptional work in all printable formats including painting, photography, collage, illustration, and many others. Selected artists will have their work included in a physical group exhibition in London in 2026.

The first prize winner receives a fully funded solo exhibition with Delphian Gallery in London. This is an accessible, straightforward opportunity with no submission fees or complicated application processes, making it ideal for emerging artists looking to gain exposure and exhibition experience in London’s art scene.

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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.

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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.

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Milton Keynes Arts Centre seeks diverse, skilled, and experienced freelance participatory artists to join their Artist Associates team. This exciting opportunity involves designing and delivering creative events and activities across Milton Keynes communities. The role requires a high-quality portfolio, proven track record in designing and leading participatory activities for adults and/or children, excellent interpersonal skills, commitment to equality and inclusion, willingness to travel across Milton Keynes, ability to work independently, and being 18+ with DBS check.

Pay is £30/hour on freelance basis (bespoke projects negotiated individually). Submit CV, artist statement, and digital work images.

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We Are Here Scotland invites Black and Global Majority creative and cultural professionals based in Scotland to apply for Creators’ Fund+, a 12-month programme supporting sustainable career development. Each awardee receives a tailored support package worth £2,980, broken down as: £1,514 direct funding for creative development (equipment, training, materials, workspace, marketing, collaboration costs, professional services); £586 paid to awardees for attending 20 hours of mentoring sessions (£29.30/hour); and £880 paid directly to mentor(s) by WAHS (£44/hour for 20 hours).

The programme supports ongoing career development and progression rather than one-off creative projects. Twenty hours of paid strategic mentoring from industry professionals is included, with flexible arrangements: complementary multi-mentoring (two mentors with different expertise), intensive specialist mentoring (deep focus on specific skills), holistic career approach (integrating creative, practical, and personal development), or discuss options with the WAHS team. Mentoring covers areas like creative development, technical skills, financial planning, scaling strategies, and professional confidence.

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LADA’s Do It Together programme offers 10 unique peer-to-peer artist-led projects running April-September 2026 across the UK, creating a nationwide network for process-led experimental practice. Each project, designed by different lead artists, gathers 5-15 artists for collective enquiry and co-learning, supported by 19 local partners. These alternative professional development opportunities prioritise artists’ perspectives over institutional frameworks.

Projects include: Sweætshops® & Kwasu Tembo’s wordless weekend exploring altered consciousness; Tosin Adegoke, Amina Khayyam & Husam Ibrahim’s laboratory on archival absences; Paula Varjack’s workshop on consumerism and hype culture; Gillie Kleiman’s exploration of artistic disciplines at BUZZCUT; Rosana Cade & Moa Johansson’s playful funding alternatives; Tom Marshman’s offline queer digital life lab; Sym Stellium’s ritual-based Birmingham site-specific work; Johnny Autin & Hannah Woodliffe’s climate-focused youth performance labs; Jo Hellier’s musical exploration of pregnancy/birth; and Stacy Makishi’s residential Campfire Disco in Scotland. Each project offers embodied experiences emphasising shared process, collective learning, and experimental methodologies beyond traditional skills training

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Photoworks will appoint two Writers in Residence for 2026 to each contribute two articles (approximately 1000 words each) to Photography+, their quarterly online magazine read by international audiences. Running April 2026 to March 2027, this paid residency offers £300 per article (£600 total for two articles) plus online or in-person meetings with the Photoworks team.

This opportunity suits early-career writers looking to gain experience writing and publishing online about contemporary photography. Writers should have working knowledge of contemporary photography and willingness to look beyond photography for inspiration. Open to writers worldwide (Photoworks is UK-based). Applicants will be informed by 10th March 2026, residency begins April 2026.