EST. JAN 2024
02
YEARS · ALWAYS UPDATED
ABOUT ARTHEAD
Artists don't have to be project managers. We are.
INDEPENDENT EDITORIAL · GLOBAL COVERAGE
CURRENTLY TRACKING
150+
OPEN CALLS · 23+ COUNTRIES
✦ MISSION
Most artists miss most opportunities. Not because the work isn't good enough. Because you're busy making work, not trawling the internet.
Open calls, grant briefs, application deadlines, eligibility fine print… Nobody told you that half of being an artist is paperwork. This is project management work. We scan continuously while you're heads-down, and surface the calls worth your time, with everything you need to decide. You focus on the work. We close the loop on everything else.
Think of it as hiring a studio project manager for the price of a meal. Promote or fire us anytime.
150+
OPEN CALLS LIVE
Regularly updated.
23+
COUNTRIES COVERED
Concentrated in the Americas, growing into Europe & Asia.
24
DISPATCHES / YEAR
Bi-monthly newsletter in multiple languages, every 1st and 15th.
5,000+
SUBSCRIBERS
From students to mid-career artists.
✦ PRINCIPLES
How we edit, in three lines.
i.
Editorial listings are never paid for.
Editorial listings are never influenced by payment. Institutions can purchase promoted placements on the homepage, but every sponsored entry is clearly labeled as such and kept separate from editorial picks.
ii.
Read in full before publishing.
Every brief is read end-to-end. We flag entry fees, eligibility restrictions (nationality, residency, student status), deadlines, and award details, so you can tell if a call is worth your time before you even click through.
iii.
Multilingual by default.
Every editor's pick and newsletter issue is available in multiple languages. We treat translation as editing, not a copy-paste job. Currently available in English and Chinese, with French and Spanish on the way.
✦ FAQ
Things people ask about Arthead.
- What is an open call for artists?
- An open call is a public invitation from an art institution, gallery, or organization for artists to submit work or apply for an opportunity. Open calls can offer grants, residency placements, exhibition spots, competition prizes, or fellowships. Most have specific eligibility requirements, a deadline, and a defined award.
- Why bother applying to open calls? What's the actual benefit?
- A few concrete ones. 1) Exhibition and residency credits appear on applications for graduate programs, artist grants (National Arts Councils and others), and academic teaching positions. Selection committees read them as evidence of professional standing. 2) On the immigration side, the US O-1 visa, UK Global Talent, and Canadian skilled worker categories all accept exhibition history and jury selections as documented proof of artistic achievement. 3) The rewards themselves are real: prize money ranges from a few hundred dollars to $50,000+, and many residencies include monthly stipends, free studio space, and a materials budget on top. Selection also puts you in direct contact with the jurors, who are usually working curators, gallerists, or collectors. That said, not every open call is worth your time. Calls with no named jury, no published record of past recipients, and fees above the norm are worth skipping. Screening those out is part of what Arthead does.
- What is Arthead?
- Artists have a lot to deal with beyond making work. Constant open calls, grant briefs, application deadlines. A small editorial team tracks and curates every relevant opportunity each week, so the right calls land in front of you with everything you need to act. Editorial listings are never paid for. Based in Toronto, Canada.
- Do I apply through Arthead?
- No. Arthead is a discovery and tracking tool, not an application portal. Every listing links directly to the official institution's website. Your application goes straight to the host, with no intermediary.
- What types of opportunities does Arthead list?
- Grants, residencies, exhibitions, competitions, and fellowships. Since launch, Arthead has indexed 1,700+ listings across 23+ countries, with strong coverage of Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and East Asia.
- Can artists outside my country use Arthead?
- Yes. Most listings on Arthead are open to international applicants. You can filter by eligibility and region to find calls that match your location. The majority of listings accept artists from anywhere in the world.
- How is Arthead different from just searching online?
- Searching online usually surfaces expired listings, duplicate posts, and incomplete information. Arthead checks every call manually, flags entry fees, eligibility restrictions, and deadlines, and keeps only active listings. You get the key facts without having to chase them down yourself.
- How often are listings updated?
- The database is updated regularly as new calls are announced. The newsletter delivers the latest curated selections on the 1st and 15th of each month.
- Does Arthead have a newsletter?
- Yes. The Arthead newsletter goes out on the 1st and 15th of each month with 30 to 50 curated calls sorted by deadline. Included in paid plans. Request a free sample issue first.
- Is Arthead free?
- Browsing the first 3 pages of calls is free without an account. The Newsletter plan (from $5.50/month) delivers bi-monthly curated dispatches. Studio adds search, filters, deadline reminders, application tracking, and a personal Portfolio Vault. See the full plan comparison →
- Is there a mobile app?
- Not yet. Arthead works in any mobile browser. On iPhone, tap the share button in Safari and select Add to Home Screen for an app-like experience.
- Does Arthead take money from institutions to list their calls?
- Editorial listings are never paid for. Institutions can purchase promoted placements on the homepage, but every sponsored entry is clearly labeled and kept separate from the editorial listings.
PRESS · COLLABORATIONS · INSTITUTIONS
Working with Arthead.
If you're a host, a press contact, or interested in an advertising partnership, write to the desk.