Free Open Calls for Artists

Botanical Dreamscapes Open Call

Selected works featured in a curated online exhibition. Prize amount not specified.

Anthology Gallery, an online contemporary art and curatorial platform, partners with Poetic Tiger Gallery to present "Botanical Dreamscapes," a group exhibition celebrating flora as living mythology. The curators seek work that treats botanical subjects as a portal where a single petal or tangled thicket can hold an entire interior world, spanning tenderness and strangeness, the cultivated and the wild, across all media. Artists 18 and older may submit up to two works created in 2025 or 2026. AI-generated work, NFTs, and copyright-infringing imagery are not accepted. Selected artists will be notified on 22 July 2026, with the exhibition opening 7 August 2026.

2026 ICCI Art Valley Program

Minimum RMB 8,000 project grant + round-trip airfare to Shanghai + free accommodation

The 2026 ICCI Art Valley Program, run by the USC-SJTU Institute of Cultural and Creative Industry at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, recruits five to six international visiting artists or scholars for a residency from November 1 to December 15, 2026 in Shanghai. Selected participants receive a minimum project grant of RMB 8,000 for production and program materials, round-trip airfare to Shanghai and free accommodation. Applicants should have teaching or public-lecture experience and an active interdisciplinary practice, with priority for those working in digital art, easel painting or integrated media. During the residency they organize one to two public events and donate two artworks to the university's permanent collection.

NEW New Artists / NEW Backbone Artists 2026 Open Call

Grand Prize (per division): ¥200,000 artist fee + up to ¥200,000 production costs; Judges Special Award: ¥50,000

Art Center NEW, an artist-run space in Yokohama operated by the association Ongoing, presents its NEW New Artists / NEW Backbone Artists 2026 open call for exhibition plans. The program runs two age-based tracks: NEW New Artists for applicants under 35, and NEW Backbone Artists for those 35 and older, with judges deliberately reviewing across generations to encourage exchange. Selected artists exhibit at Art Center NEW from January 15 to 31, 2027, with Grand Prize winners sharing the gallery space and special award recipients using the corridor area. Grand Prize winners in each division receive a ¥200,000 artist fee plus up to ¥200,000 toward production costs. There is no theme or format restriction, though submissions must include new or previously unpublished work. The call is open to applicants of any nationality, individually or as a group, but basic Japanese communication ability is required and all materials must be submitted in Japanese.

Meroogal Women's Art Prize 2026

Total prize pool over AUD $18,000: Residency Prize $8,000 (Bundanon artist residency + MHNSW membership), Exhibition Prize $8,000 (solo show at Shoalhaven Regional Gallery + MHNSW membership), Highly Commended $1,500, People's Choice $500

The Meroogal Women's Art Prize is a biennial competition celebrating women artists in New South Wales. Open to female artists aged 18 and over who are residents of NSW, the prize invites artworks responding to the historic Meroogal house and its women's histories and cultural heritage. Any medium is accepted including painting, sculpture, photography, installation, and mixed media. There is no entry fee and the total prize pool exceeds AUD $18,000, including a Bundanon artist residency and a solo exhibition opportunity.

Public Art Commissions City of Hampton

$100,000 total commission budget (Site A) or $150,000 total commission budget (Site B)

The City of Hampton, Virginia is commissioning permanent public artworks at two downtown sites. Site A at Settlers Landing Parking Garage carries a budget of $100,000 for exterior murals or stairwell treatments. Site B at the Queens Way and Kings Way corner carries a budget of $150,000 for sculptural or installation-based work that promotes community engagement. The overarching theme is From the Sea to the Stars: Past, Present, Possible. Artists or artist teams must be 18 or older, legally authorized to work in the US, and demonstrate experience in public art or large-scale projects. Concept submissions are optional at the application stage.

Artists Accelerator Program Fall 2026

The Artist Accelerator Program at Sebastopol Center for the Arts is a three-month cohort running September 1 through November 30, 2026, open to artists based in Sonoma County, California, working in any medium. Free to apply and free to participate, sponsored by Creative Sonoma and the County of Sonoma. Workshop materials including a Marketing 101 guide are provided. Applications close July 17 via CallForEntry.org; notification by July 25.

E.SUN Art Awards 2026

Foreigner category: First Prize US$36,000; Special Selection US$18,000; Outstanding US$7,200. Total prize pool US$126,000 across all categories

E.SUN Bank hosts one of Asia's most generous painting competitions, open to artists of all ages and nationalities. The Foreigner category offers a first prize of US$36,000, special selection of US$18,000, and outstanding award of US$7,200. Two optional themes are available: Yushan and Music. Submissions are made online via the Bounty Hunter platform by July 17, with original works required for final judging in August. Selected works will be exhibited at E.SUN Bank from October to December 2026, with winners announced by late September. No entry fee.

Art House by Civil Art — Open Call

Mentorship, professional development workshops, networking and exhibition opportunities; prize amount not specified

Art House is a professional development programme by Civil Art for emerging Asian Pacific Islander artists in the New York City area. Up to 16 candidates receive mentorship, professional development workshops, leadership opportunities, networking events and potential exhibition and publication opportunities. The programme runs from August 2026 to April 2027 and requires consistent in-person participation in NYC. Applicants must be 2025 or 2026 graduates with an active fine art practice, identifying as Asian Pacific Islander and able to regularly access New York City.

Everson Museum of Art CNY Artist Initiative 2027

Solo exhibition in the Members Council Gallery, seven to nine weeks in 2027

The Everson Museum of Art invites artists living and working within a 75-mile radius of Syracuse, NY to apply for the 2027 CNY Artist Initiative. Selected artists receive a solo exhibition in the Members Council Gallery (18 by 32.75 feet), running seven to nine weeks in 2027. No application fee; all mediums are eligible. Applications require an artist statement, CV, and 20 images. Submit via callforentry.org; selected artists announced September 2026.

BIPOC Winter Exhibition 2026-27

CARFAC-RAAV 2026 schedule fees for exhibition and related programming

MacLaren Art Centre invites Black, Indigenous, and artists of colour who are emerging (practicing fewer than 10 years) and living or working in Ontario to submit proposals for a group exhibition themed around Growing Pains. The theme explores the discomfort and resistance that arise during personal or societal growth, and artists may respond through any interpretation. Accepted works must be wall-hung and tolerant of sunlight, including works on paper, canvas, board, low-profile sculpture, and hanging textiles. The exhibition runs from December 10, 2026 through February 28, 2027, with an opening reception on December 10 and an installation period from November 14 to December 9, 2026. Selected artists are compensated per the 2026 CARFAC-RAAV schedule for group exhibitions.

Al-Tiba9 Contemporary Art Magazine Issue 22 Open Call

Up to 6 pages in 116-page print and digital edition; promotion at international art book fairs

Al-Tiba9 Contemporary Art opens submissions for Issue 22 of its museum-quality international art magazine. The 116-page print and digital publication features artists working across all techniques, from digital art and photography to painting, sculpture, installation and performance. Selected artists receive up to six pages of editorial space alongside an interview. Al-Tiba9 promotes featured work through major artist book fairs in Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon and Mexico City, plus website and newsletter coverage. Submission is free for all applicants, with a selection fee applied only to chosen artists. The issue is scheduled for September 2026.

Official Longmont Flag Call for Participants

$1,000 per semi-finalist (3 selected); additional $1,500 to finalist if design adopted by City Council

The City of Longmont Art in Public Places Program is seeking design submissions for a new official city flag to replace the current flag designed in 1974. Open to current Longmont residents and members of Native Nations with ancestral ties to the area, this call welcomes applicants of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels. No prior design experience is required. Three semi-finalists will each receive $1,000 for their proposals; if the winning design is adopted by City Council, the finalist receives an additional $1,500. Submissions should apply strong flag design principles, symbolism, and color to reflect community values. Free to apply. Deadline: July 20, 2026.