Tired of chasing dead links and unpaid exposure gigs? Here are the best online platforms for finding paid creative opportunities, from open calls for artists to artist grants to residencies, art prizes, and juried exhibitions. Bookmark these, set reminders, and check back regularly.
ArtRabbit
ArtRabbit Opportunities | ArtRabbit on Instagram | ArtRabbit Newsletter
ArtRabbit is a listing site featuring a curated selection of international open calls and opportunities across competitions, prizes, exhibitions, awards, proposals, and grants for artists, writers, and curators.
✅ Free To Access
I LIKE NETWORKING
I LIKE NETWORKING job board | I LIKE NETWORKING on Instagram | I LIKE NETWORKING newsletter | No Gatekeeping: Start Here guide
I LIKE NETWORKING is a leading career platform for women and non-binary people in the creative industries, centred around a newsletter sharing curated opportunities, practical guides, and no‑BS career advice. Alongside the newsletter, they run a dedicated job board, publish in‑depth interviews with creatives, and regularly share opportunities and resources on social media. They also run workshops and mentoring programmes.
✅ Free To Access
Zealous
Zealous Featured Opportunities | Zealous on Instagram | Zealous newsletter
Zealous is a submission management platform that directly supports the creative industries. You can explore a range of opportunities from open calls, art prizes, grants, creative awards and professional development opportunities.
✅ Free To Access
Creative Access
Creative Access website | Creative Access on Instagram | Creative Access newsletter | Creative Access annual Thrive Report
Creative Access provides access to jobs, opportunities and career-long support in the creative industries for people from under-represented communities.
✅ Free To Access
Explore Other Opportunities
From competitions, to grants, and open calls –
discover opportunities that fuel your creativity.
If You Could Jobs
If You Could Jobs website | If You Could Jobs on Instagram
If You Could Jobs is the job board brought to you by creative industry giant It’s Nice That. Their words: “The place to find jobs in the creative industry.” Ideal if you’re looking to break into or move up in the creative sector.
✅ Free To Access
Arts Jobs
Arts Jobs website | Arts Jobs newsletter
Arts Jobs is the official jobs and events board run by Arts Council England. It lists creative roles, open calls, freelance opportunities, and events across all art forms (visual arts, theatre, music, film, and more) filterable by region, contract type, and salary band. An essential, regularly updated resource for UK-based artists.
✅ Free To Access
Artwork Archive
Artwork Archive Opportunity Guide | Artwork Archive on Instagram | Artwork Archive Newsletter
Artwork Archive publishes an annually updated guide to the best artist grants, open calls, residencies, and competitions. They also run a dedicated calls-for-entry listing page where you can save deadlines directly to your account.
✅ Free To Access
Curator Space
Curator Space website | Curator Space newsletter
Curator Space is a project management tool for artists and curators. They feature open calls, competitions, art fairs, and other opportunities for artists and curators of all abilities.
✅ Free To Access
Run The Check
Run The Check website | Run The Check on Instagram | Run The Check newsletter
Run The Check is a digital library of paid creative opportunities. If you’re looking specifically for paid roles and projects in the creative industries, this is the one to bookmark.
✅ Free To Access
Colossal
Colossal opportunities page | Colossal on Instagram | Colossal newsletter
Colossal is a well-established creative arts platform that publishes a monthly roundup of opportunities for artists and designers – including open calls, grants, fellowships, and residencies.
✅ Free To Access
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ACAVA
ACAVA opportunities board | ACAVA on Instagram | ACAVA newsletter
ACAVA (Association for Cultural Advancement through Visual Art) is one of the UK’s leading arts charities. Alongside running affordable studios across London and Stoke-on-Trent, they maintain an active opportunities board and newsletter listing paid commissions, residencies, open calls, and funding specifically curated for artists.
✅ Free To Access
Creative Lives In Progress
Creative Lives In Progress website | Creative Lives In Progress on Instagram
The Creative Lives In Progress Opportunities Board is a centralised hub for entry-level and junior creative opportunities and jobs, including everything from internships and full-time roles, to events and access schemes.
✅ Free To Access
Parker Harris
ArtOpps website | Parker Harris on Instagram
ArtOpps is a portal created by visual arts consultancy firm Parker Harris. Created for artists seeking new opportunities, you can find a range of opportunities across the UK from exhibition opportunities, residencies and art prizes.
✅ Free To Access
a-n The Artists Information Company
a-n jobs board | a-n on Instagram
UK artist membership organisation a-n The Artists Information Company have a job board for members. It features paid work and professional development opportunities for artists.
⭐ From £16 a year to access
Starving Artists Opportunities
Starving Artists website | Starving Artists on Instagram
Starving Artists provides a comprehensive list of opportunities from artist residencies to awards. Follow on Instagram where opportunities are listed a couple of days before the deadline, or join the membership for full access to their opportunities table.
⭐ From £3.80 per month to access
ArtConnect
ArtConnect opportunities page | ArtConnect on Instagram
ArtConnect is a platform connecting people and opportunities in the arts. They post the latest art opportunities on their Instagram, and you can sign up to their membership plan from $3 per month to get access to all ArtConnect opportunities.
⭐ From $3 per month to access
Find Your Next Opportunity on Zealous
These platforms each serve a slightly different corner of the creative world – from emerging artists to established practitioners, and from free-to-access job boards to curated membership communities. The best strategy is to use a combination: follow a few on Instagram for daily discovery, sign up to the newsletters that match your discipline, and bookmark the listing sites you’ll actively check against deadlines.
And if you’re looking for open calls, art prizes, and grants all in one place, Zealous is a great place to start, with opportunities updated regularly.
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Carmela Vienna
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can artists find open calls for free?
There are several excellent free platforms for finding open calls. ArtRabbit, Artwork Archive, Curator Space, and Zealous all list open calls at no cost. Creative Access and Creative Lives In Progress are also free and focus specifically on accessible opportunities.
For the broadest reach, it’s worth signing up to a couple of newsletters – Artwork Archive and Colossal both send monthly roundups of the best opportunities across grants, residencies, and open calls.
What is the best website for artist grants and residencies?
Artwork Archive publishes a well-regarded annual guide to artist grants, residencies, and competitions, and is widely recommended by artists. For UK-based residencies and grants, ArtRabbit and Curator Space are strong options. NYFA (New York Foundation for the Arts) is the go-to for US-based funding opportunities.
Zealous also lists artist grants and open calls updated regularly across different disciplines.
How do I find paid creative opportunities as an artist?
Run The Check is specifically designed as a library of paid creative opportunities and is the most focused platform for this. If You Could Jobs (from It’s Nice That) and Creative Access also list paid roles in the creative industries.
For paid open calls – opportunities that come with a fee, commission, or prize – Zealous, ArtRabbit, and Artwork Archive all clearly indicate whether opportunities include payment or awards.
What are open calls for artists?
Open calls (also known as calls for entry or calls for submissions) are public invitations from galleries, arts organisations, festivals, and other bodies for artists to submit their work for consideration. They can relate to exhibitions, public art commissions, residencies, grants, prizes, or professional development programmes.
Open calls are one of the most accessible ways for artists at all career stages to find new opportunities, get their work seen, and build professional relationships in the art world.
Are there opportunity platforms specifically for women and non-binary artists?
Yes, I LIKE NETWORKING is the leading career platform for women and non-binary people in the creative industries, with its own job board and active Instagram presence sharing opportunities regularly.
Creative Access focuses on under-represented communities more broadly and is also worth following for inclusive opportunities and career support in the creative industries.
What are the best UK-specific platforms for artist opportunities?
For UK-focused opportunities, Arts Jobs (run by Arts Council England) is the most comprehensive board covering all disciplines and regions. a-n The Artists Information Company is the leading membership organisation for UK artists, with a job board featuring paid work and professional development opportunities.
ACAVA maintains a curated UK opportunities board with paid commissions and residencies, while ArtRabbit and Curator Space both have strong UK listings alongside their international content. Parker Harris’s ArtOpps portal is dedicated entirely to UK exhibition opportunities, residencies, and prizes.
