Artists don’t have to be project managers. We are.

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.

Is Arthead related to Arthead in Australia?

No. Arthead (arthead.world) is a hand-verified open call database and application management platform based in Toronto, Canada. Arthead in New South Wales, Australia (arthead.com.au) is a separate framing and art supply business, with no connection to us.

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 3,100+ listings across 50+ countries, counting its earlier newsletter editions, 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, and the majority accept artists from anywhere in the world. Members can filter by eligibility and region, and hide the calls that say their citizenship or residence cannot apply.

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?

Every day. New calls are checked against the organizer’s own page and added each morning, and calls that have closed come off the list. Members also get new calls by email, weekly, every two weeks or monthly, as they choose.

Does Arthead have a newsletter?

Yes, and each member gets their own. On the Newsletter plan and above you choose weekly, every two weeks or monthly, and each email brings up to 8, 12 or 20 new calls picked for the types, regions and media you set. If you set none, they are editors' picks that your citizenship and residence let you apply to. Calls you saved that are about to close are listed too. You can request a free sample issue first.

Is Arthead free?

Browsing the first page of calls is free without an account. A free account opens every call and gets 3 searches a day. The Newsletter plan (from $5.50/month) adds unlimited search, filters, saving calls, an “I can apply” filter and calls picked for your preferences by email, weekly, every two weeks or monthly. Studio adds 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.