Featured Opportunities

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This open call seeks expressions of interest from socially engaged artists with public realm experience to create playful interventions across the North East Quadrant development at University of Southampton’s Highfield campus. Artists with a connection to or existing knowledge of Southampton are particularly encouraged to apply. The commissions respond to The Welcoming Campus Public Art Strategy themes: Knowledge Exchange (promoting dialogue between university, city, and communities), Wellbeing (enhancing physical and mental health), and Play (inviting intergenerational creative interaction).

Artists must demonstrate: public realm experience, work with multiple stakeholders, ability to produce work in various mediums and scales, experience inspiring playful engagement, sensitive community engagement in creative projects, commitment to diverse voices, and environmental responsibility. The commissions will connect communities, reflect diversity, respond to nature, and support environmental sustainability, serving as a unifying thread between campus green and blue spaces.

Applications require a single PDF (max 10MB) including: one-page cover note, artist biography with contact details, up to four case studies of relevant previous work (max 4 pages), confirmation of 2026 availability (1/2 page), and details of Southampton connection if applicable (1/2 page).

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This open call invites professional and amateur international photographers aged 16 and over to submit autonomous photographic projects exploring war, conflict, and collective trauma from an introspective, subjective perspective. Rather than reportage or direct documentation of violence, the festival seeks work that examines the inner impact of war through personal resonance, psychological processing, or symbolic representation.

Selected photographers will receive dedicated exhibition space at Rotterdam Photo 2026 (March 27-29, 2026) with opportunities to sell work commission-free, network with gallerists and international art press, and be featured across festival partner networks (LensCulture, Dodho magazine, All About Photo).

Winners may also receive special category awards and cash prizes, opportunities to exhibit in Barcelona, Tampere (Finland), and Switzerland, participate in Rotterdam Photo Talks and networking events, and potentially win a Young Talent Award with cash prize and gear.

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£200 grants available for small UK-based non-profit organisations (charities, CICs, limited companies, constituted community/voluntary groups) towards hard-to-fund core costs like insurance, web hosting, admin time, accountancy, training, and office costs. Organisations must have annual turnover under £150,000, 0-3 paid staff, no fundraising team, and no confirmed core funding. Schools, PTAs, individuals, sole traders, and for-profit companies cannot apply.

30+ grants will be awarded through a random number generator selection process, with applications checked for eligibility by at least 2 people. The fund prioritises social justice values and supports organisations led by or working alongside LGBTQ+, disabled, global majority, refugee, and migrant communities. Applications must confirm commitment to trans inclusivity and removing structural inequalities.

Simple 5-minute application process with no reporting requirements. Successful applicants will be notified by 19 December 2025. Grants cannot fund already-paid costs, VAT that can be reclaimed, religious activities, alcohol, or gifts to individuals.

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Formerly known as the Contemporary Watercolour Competition, the RWS Open is one of the largest open-submission water-media exhibitions in the world, inviting artists of all backgrounds at any stage of their career to submit works on paper in any water-based media including ink, acrylic, gouache, tempera, and more. Selected works are exhibited at Bankside Gallery next to Tate Modern on the Thames Path and appear on the RWS website.

Prizes include the Michael Harding Grand Prize (£500 cash plus £500 materials), David Gluck Memorial Award (£1,000), RWS Young Artist Award (2-year Guest Membership for artists under 35 plus Michael Harding watercolour set allowing winners to exhibit in all Society exhibitions), David Benson Memorial Award (£500), Fanny Violet Shoosmith Prize (£500), plus numerous other cash prizes and material awards from sponsors including Caran d’Ache, Daler Rowney, Daniel Smith, Schmincke, and Wallace Seymour.

Exhibitors gain networking opportunities with RWS Members for potential Membership proposals, form relationships with collectors, gallerists and curators, and join a network of present and past exhibiting artists. 2026 selectors include Bob and Roberta Smith RA, Siphiwe Mnguni, Charles Williams PRWS, Akash Bhatt RWS, and Caroline Cornelius RWS.

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The Tiny Grant offers between $2,000 and $3,000 to emerging artists based in New York City who are pursuing or looking to pursue a full-time career in the arts. The program welcomes applications from artists in any creative field, including visual arts, performing arts, literary arts, design, and others. Between 6-8 artists will be selected to receive grants based on their need for support and artistic vision. The six-month program runs from January to June 2026, with grantees receiving the full amount at the start of the program. Participants will have two check-ins every two months and the program culminates in a gathering and celebration (Tiny Grant Salon) with all grantees and a small group of friends.

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This 4-month writing lab (January-April 2026) supports genre feature film projects from writers from working class or low socio-economic backgrounds. Open to early career and emerging UK-based screenwriters over 18 and out of full-time education, with a creative track record in film, TV, theatre, radio, literature, or through study/courses. Projects must be ambitious, original genre films (Horror, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Rom-Com, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Western).

The lab includes online masterclasses (6 sessions in January), Treatment Residency (6 days, 9-14 February 2026), Script Sample Residency (6 days, 19-24 March 2026), and Pitch Showcase to industry (mid-April 2026). Each writer works 1-2-1 with the Gatecrashers team to develop their project from outline to treatment and script sample.

Writers receive payment of up to £3,500 (£175/day), plus travel, accommodation, and food during residencies. Applications require: 1-3 page outline, 10-15 page screenplay sample, and CV.

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un/fund invites exceptional underrepresented visual artists worldwide to apply for four unique opportunities celebrating creative vision and growth. Open to emerging lens-based visual artists (photographers, directors, cinematographers, videographers) who are not currently signed or represented by any agency or gallery and have under 7 years of industry experience.

Winners receive: a fully-funded four-week artist residency at NUMEROVENTI in Florence, Italy; a published photobook designed and distributed by Libraryman Books; year-long dialogue-based mentorship with visual consultant Katharina Uhe to develop or reframe a current project or artistic practice; and direct funding of €10,000 for the proposed project.

Submissions require: a written project outline demonstrating originality and final outcome vision; up to 20 supporting images with relevant text materials; project timeline with key development/production stages; budget breakdown; and funding suitability reference explaining alignment with un/fund’s mission. Winners announced December 2025. Sponsored by non-profit production house un/produced to inspire and fund the next wave of unsupported photographers and filmmakers.