Are free open calls lower quality than paid ones?

No. Entry fees reflect how an organization funds its program, not the quality of the opportunity. Many of the strongest opportunities, including major foundation grants, museum residencies, and public gallery exhibitions, are free to apply to precisely because they are institutionally funded.

Why do some open calls charge fees at all?

Fees typically fund jury honorariums, exhibition production, and prize pools at organizations without public funding. That model is common in US juried exhibitions. If you prefer to avoid fees entirely, this page and the free-only filter on the main calls page keep you covered.

Can a free call still have hidden costs?

Application itself stays free, but selected artists sometimes cover shipping, framing, or travel. Arthead notes known later-stage costs on each listing, and the official guidelines linked from every listing are the authoritative source worth checking before you commit.

How many free open calls are live right now?

Typically between 40 and 80 at any given time, roughly half of the live database. The count updates as new calls are verified and expired ones are retired. The number at the top of this page is the current live figure.

104

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Free to Apply · Worldwide

Free Open Calls for Artists

Every call on this page is free to apply to. No entry fees, verified against the official guidelines.

Added in 30 days

2,300+ tracked since launch

✦ Editor's picks

ARTHEAD hand-picked this week

Competition8days

PhotoVogue - Brave New Visions: Creativity as Rebellion

"$12,000 in prizes. Open to artists internationally. Free to apply."

Eurazeo Photo Prize 2026

"€20,000 grant with significant institutional support. Free to apply."

ECF Fellowship: Researching the ECF Historical Archives

"€5,000 fellowship with significant institutional support. Free to apply."

National Gallery of Iceland / CUSP: Residency for Time-based Media Artists 2027 (Iceland)

Accommodation and working space for the duration of the residency. Travel and subsistence stipend. Artist fee for collaborating in the open lab/masterclass. Hardware/software may be provided upon request.

CUSP residency hosted by the National Gallery of Iceland in Reykjavik for international artists based outside Iceland working in complex media or emerging technologies (e.g. generative AI, custom sensors, sound, software-based, blockchain, physical and digital hybrid).

National Gallery of Iceland

Open to all·Ottawa, Canada·Free entry

Ottawa School of Art Call for Exhibition Proposals 2027-2028

Ontario CARFAC artist's exhibition fee paid to the exhibiting artist(s)

The Ottawa School of Art invites artists and collectives to submit proposals for its 2027-2028 exhibition season at two Ottawa venues: the J.W. Stellick Gallery in the ByWard Market and the Orleans Campus Gallery in the Shenkman Arts Centre.

Regional·Toronto, Canada·Free entry

Call for Proposals: 2027 Community Activation Programs at Toronto History Museums

Access to Toronto History Museums spaces for community-led projects.

The City of Toronto invites proposals for the 2027 Community Activation Programs at Toronto History Museums. Open to community-based organizations, collectives, Indigenous governments, non-profit cultural/arts organizations, equity-deserving groups, and individual…

International·Venice, Dorsoduro, Italy·Free entry

International Fellowship at Scuola Piccola Zattere

EUR 5,000 grant, EUR 2,000 research budget, accommodation in Venice, round-trip travel, and individual studio space for 3 months.

A 3-month fellowship for two international practitioners at Scuola Piccola Zattere in Venice. The 2026-2027 season, titled Living Document, focuses on archival practices, rules as generative tools, and social dynamics examining space, body, architecture, and performativity.

Scuola Piccola Zattere

Open to all·Moorhead, United States·Free entry

Moorhead Public Art Call 2026

Commission budget of $12,500 for an inspirational and movable art piece.

The City of Moorhead, Minnesota, seeks proposals for an inspirational and movable public art piece to be displayed at various locations throughout the city. Interactive elements such as kinetic sculptures, digital installations, and tactile components are encouraged.

Regional·Brescia, Italy·Free entry

IDRA Teatro: Residency on Gender-based Violence 2027 (Italy)

Daily allowance, travel reimbursement, accommodation, workspaces, technical support, mentoring, and access to local networks for a 31-day residency (January-February 2027). Additional costs covered for sustainable travel, family circumstances, visa, or accessibility requirements.

IDRA Teatro invites European performing arts practitioners to apply for a 31-day residency in Brescia, Italy, focusing on gender-based violence and violence against women.

International·Syracuse, New York, United States·Free entry

2027 Erie Canal Artist-in-Residence

$10,000 stipend per artist (paid quarterly), plus up to $2,000 reimbursement for production of final project. Exhibition in 2028.

A year-long residency (Jan-Dec 2027) for two artists to pursue creative visual inquiry into the New York State Canal System, reflecting on its past, present condition, and future. Artists engage with the Canal, communities, and partner organizations.

Erie Canal Museum / New York State Canal Corporation

International·Berlin, Germany·Free entry

CTM Festival 2027 - In Listening Open Call

Two selected works each receive EUR 6,000. Additional support includes travel expenses to Berlin, lodging during production and festival, and technical/staging costs.

CTM Festival's In Listening open call invites artists to develop hybrid works for the 2027 festival theme 'Process...ing': pieces premiering live at CTM 2027 (January 22-31, Berlin) in an intimate 6.1-channel audio venue, then adapted into 40-55 minute radio works broadcast on…

International·Granada, Spain·Free entry

Granada UNESCO City of Literature: International Writers in Residence Programme 2026 (Spain)

30-night residency for two selected writers (November 2 to December 1, 2026). Round-trip travel expenses covered. Single room accommodation on full-board basis at Corrala de Santiago guest residence. Opportunities to engage with Granada's literary community.

The Granada UNESCO City of Literature invites published writers residing in any country and writing in any language to apply for a 30-night residency at the Corrala de Santiago in Granada's historic Realejo district.

Granada UNESCO City of Literature

Regional·Vancouver, Canada·Free entry

Artist Opportunities: Oakridge Community Centre (Musqueam Artists)

Three commissioned public artworks: Atrium and Central Staircase, Carved Cedar Ceremonial Doors, and Library Interior Column. Commission value not listed publicly.

The City of Vancouver and Vancouver Public Library invite artists from xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band) to apply for three distinct public art commissions at the new Oakridge Community Centre.

City of Vancouver / Vancouver Public Library

International·Barcelona, Spain·Free entry

Platform Dali: Research and Creation Residencies at Scientific Institutions 2027

Artist fee of EUR 7,500; production budget up to EUR 25,000; curatorial support from Platform Dali; for artists outside Barcelona, travel, accommodation, subsistence, and travel insurance covered within a predefined budget. 12-month structured programme including introductory visit, 45-day on-site residency, and 10-month development phase. Access to five premier research institutions (PRBB, BSC-CNS, ICFO, ICM-CSIC, IFAE).

Platform Dali invites five artists from any discipline to its inaugural residency programme themed "What is Real?" The programme fosters dialogue between artistic creativity and scientific research across five leading institutions in Barcelona.

International·London (Central Saint Martins, King's Cross), United Kingdom·Free entry

Il Posto (Stellart) - Afterall Editorial and Research Fellowship

Access to UAL Library and Learning Resources, UAL email account, photo ID for building access and library borrowing privileges. No financial stipend.

The Il Posto (Stellart) - Afterall Editorial and Research Fellowship is a collaboration between Il Posto, a contemporary art foundation in Santiago, Chile, and Afterall Research Centre at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London.

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✦ ABOUT FREE OPEN CALLS

Free-to-apply open calls, answered.

Every listing on this page is free to apply to: no entry fee, no submission charge. Free calls span the full range, from fully funded residencies and foundation grants to juried exhibitions run by universities, nonprofits, and public galleries.

Fee status is verified against the official guidelines before a call goes live on Arthead. If a program charges later-stage costs, such as shipping for selected work or optional program fees, the listing notes them so there are no surprises.

Are free open calls lower quality than paid ones?: No. Entry fees reflect how an organization funds its program, not the quality of the opportunity. Many of the strongest opportunities, including major foundation grants, museum residencies, and public gallery exhibitions, are free to apply to precisely because they are institutionally funded.
Why do some open calls charge fees at all?: Fees typically fund jury honorariums, exhibition production, and prize pools at organizations without public funding. That model is common in US juried exhibitions. If you prefer to avoid fees entirely, this page and the free-only filter on the main calls page keep you covered.
Can a free call still have hidden costs?: Application itself stays free, but selected artists sometimes cover shipping, framing, or travel. Arthead notes known later-stage costs on each listing, and the official guidelines linked from every listing are the authoritative source worth checking before you commit.
How many free open calls are live right now?: Typically between 40 and 80 at any given time, roughly half of the live database. The count updates as new calls are verified and expired ones are retired. The number at the top of this page is the current live figure.