Artist Opportunities | Vol. 89

Open Calls

DC Gallery & Studio | Summer 2026 Open Call: American Identity | For DC Gallery & Studio’s 2nd annual summer open call, we are looking for emerging & established New Jersey visual artists’ unique interpretation of “American Identity.” | Deadline: Submissions due by midnight (11:59 PM) on Monday, June 1, 2026 | Submission information.

Art Fluent | OPEN CALL: HER.SELF | The feminine spirit cannot be contained by a single definition. It is layered and luminous. We invite artwork that honors women in all their complexities… her presence, her resilience, her beauty, her becoming. Show us HER.SELF as you see her. | Deadline: Friday, July 17, 2026, at midnight MST | Submission information. 

Art Fluent | OPEN CALL: Just Add Water | Artists are drawn to water because it’s gorgeous, moody, and a little bit magical. Oceans, rain, rivers, puddles, or even a hint of blue, water gives us a way to splash around with feeling, memory, and transformation. So go ahead… JUST ADD WATER and show us what water means to you. | Deadline: June 5, 2026 | Submission information. 

Point Pleasant Publishing | Call for Experimental Visual Art for Hardcover Book Editions | Selected artists are featured with detailed curatorial review essays in the catalogue, which are released in editions. Point Pleasant Publishing accepts experimental and alternative forms of visual art including photography, performance, video, film, installation, assemblage, collage, fiber, printmaking, light design, jewelry, fashion/costume design, and analogue digital (no AI). | Deadline: Rolling | More information. 

Box Spring Gallery | OPEN CALL: Liberty & Justice | Open to all artists in the Greater Philadelphia region (including Delaware and Southern New Jersey). Liberty and Justice are abstract concepts and foundational societal ideals. They are defined as: Liberty: The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one’s way of life, behavior, or political views. Justice: The principle of fairness, moral rightness, and equity, ensuring individuals receive what they are due including rights, treatment and consequences. How can messages of Liberty and Justice be conveyed visually in respect to Philadelphia, our Nation’s 250th Anniversary, or historical and/or current events? Submit your artwork to our juried exhibition! | Deadline: May 30, 2026 | Submission information. 

The Idaherma Museum of Art Foundation | OPEN CALL: Eighth Annual Online Juried Exhibition | Welcome to the 7th Annual Online Juried Exhibition of the Idaherma Museum of Art Foundation, Inc.  This year's theme is "United by Art." Fine Art embraces an aesthetic sensibility that illustrates an underlying truth whether or not the artwork is political or secular in nature or conversely, abstract or realistic by design.  Please submit an entry in the visual arts to our online exhibition.  The work, of any topic or style in nature should in some way embrace our theme, showing how "a result greater than its parts," was obtained through Art through the concept of coming together or unification. While we are not seeking strictly American themes, we feel that the American slogans, "United We Stand" or "E Pluribus Unum" are important in American life at this time. How has your art helped to show the beauty in life in some way? Has your work helped to show the way disparate people have overcome their differences? | Deadline: September 1, 2026 | Submission information.

ArtFluent | OPEN CALL: Pure Abstraction | Abstract art is like breaking the rules of traditional art. It doesn’t try to show things as they are in real life; instead, it uses colors, shapes, and lines in wild and creative ways to express feelings or ideas, often leaving interpretation open to the viewer. It’s a celebration of artistic freedom and imagination. Show Art Fluent PURE ABSTRACTION through your perspective. | Deadline: August 28, 2026 by midnight MST | Submission information.

Funding

Academy of American Poets | James Laughlin Award | Offered since 1954, the James Laughlin Award is given to recognize and support a second book of poetry forthcoming in the next calendar year. The award was endowed in 1995 by a gift to the Academy from the Drue Heinz Trust. It is named for the poet and publisher James Laughlin (1914–1997), who founded New Directions in 1936. The winning poet receives a prize of $5,000, an all-expenses-paid weeklong residency at The Betsy Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida, and distribution of the winning book to approximately twelve hundred Academy of American Poets members. | Deadline: June 15, 2026 | More information and application.

The Bennett Prize | The Bennett Prize Call for Entries | The Bennett Prize, created in 2018, awards $75,000 to a woman artist to create her own solo exhibition of figurative realist paintings, which then travels the country. The Prize propels the careers of women painters who have not yet realized full professional recognition, empowering new artists and those who have painted for many years. The Prize expands opportunities for the public, who may not be familiar with figurative realist painting, to learn more about the creative vision of talented women painters in this increasingly popular genre. | Deadline: September 19, 2026 | Submission information.

Guggenheim | Guggenheim Fellowship | The Guggenheim Fellowship is an annual competition celebrating exceptional achievements in the arts, sciences, and humanities. Roughly 190 Fellowships are awarded each year. The Guggenheim Fellowship supports individuals who have achieved notable success in their careers across the creative arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences. It is designed for mid-career professionals whose work is well-established. Potential Fellows have already made significant contributions to their field and are eager for time and resources that will allow them to further their meaningful work. The 2027 competition will open for applications in late summer 2026. | More information and application. 

Foundation for Contemporary Arts | Emergency Grants | Emergency Grants is a year-round, multi-disciplinary program that offers immediate, project-based assistance to artists living and working anywhere in the United States, for projects occurring in the U.S. and abroad. | Deadline: Ongoing | More information and application. 

Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Foundation | Emergency Grants | The Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant program is intended to provide interim financial assistance to qualified painters, printmakers, and sculptors whose needs are the result of an unforeseen, catastrophic incident, and who lack the resources to meet that situation. Each grant is given as one-time assistance for a specific emergency, examples of which are fire, flood, or emergency medical need. | Deadline: Ongoing | More information and application. 

Musicians Foundation | Emergency Grants | Our application for one-time financial assistance grants is open to professional musicians across all genres. If you are a professional musician in a specific time of need, please explore below to see if you might qualify for a financial grant to pay an essential bill. | Deadline: Ongoing | More information and application. 

Art Fluent | $1,000 Evolution Grant | Art Fluent’s grant cycle is now open to individual artists through an international open call. THE EVOLUTION GRANT will provide unrestricted funding to an individual artist with recognized artistic excellence in fine art media and a demonstrated commitment to their art. | Deadline: June 19, 2026 | Submission information. 

Pollock-Krasner Foundation | Grants for Artists | The Foundation provides unrestricted financial resources to exceptional visual artists. The grants can be used in any way that allows an artist to meaningfully pursue their practice. Grants are typically used to create new work, acquire supplies, rent studio space, prepare for exhibitions, attend a residency, and offset living expenses. | Deadline: Ongoing | More information and application. 

Wish Local Empowerment Program | Small Business Grants for Black-Owned Retail Stores | The Wish Local Empowerment Program provides grants to support Black-owned brick-and-mortar retail businesses across the United States. The $2 million fund awards approximately 4,000 grants to help cover operating expenses such as workforce retention, rent, inventory, customer outreach, and community engagement. The program aims to promote equity and strengthen diversity in entrepreneurship. Eligible businesses must have 20 or fewer employees and annual revenue under $1 million. | Deadline: None | More information and application. 

CERF+ | Emergency Relief Grants | CERF+ can help you get back to doing what you do best. CERF+ offers $3,000 Emergency Relief Grants to craft artists who experienced a recent and substantially disruptive emergency or disaster. | Deadline: Ongoing | More information and application. 

coLAB Arts | Monthly Artist Grant | coLAB Arts' Monthly Artist Grant celebrates artists in New Jersey who use creative practice to support their local communities and create greater public good. Please consider joining coLAB Arts as a recurring donor to expand and sustain this important grant making. If you’d like to nominate yourself or others to be considered for a future monthly artist grant, use the provided button to access the form. | Deadline: Ongoing | Nomination information.

Innovate Grants | Spring Artist Grants | Innovate Grant awards (2) $1,800.00 grants each quarter, to one Visual Artist and one Photographer. In addition, (18) honorable mentions (9 in art and 9 in photo), will be featured on our website and join a growing community of vibrant and talented artists. Innovate Grant’s commitment extends beyond the grant cycle by promoting the work of selected winners and honorable mentions into the future. | Deadline: June 18, 2026 | More information and application. 

Beautiful Bizarre | Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize | The Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, now in its 9th year, is an annual non-acquisitive international art prize that celebrates diversity and excellence in the representational visual arts. It includes all static mediums including Traditional Art media, Digital Art media, and Photographic media; and all styles including realism, imaginative realism, hyperrealism, surrealism, dark art, pop surrealism, super flat, lowbrow etc. The Prize seeks to inspire creatives from around the world to pursue a life and career in the arts, and to help careers grow through funding and increased exposure of their work to galleries, collectors and media globally. Enter today! | Deadline: July 17, 2026 | More information and applications.

Training & Resources

Artwork Archive | FREE WEBINAR: Write Now: The Essential Writing Workshop for Artists | In this Essential Writing Workshop for Artists, you'll get clear guidance on what goes into each key document—your Artist Statement, Bio, CV, and About Statement. You'll walk away knowing how to make each one truly reflect your voice. | Webinar. 

UCEDC | FREE WEBINAR: QuickBooks Basics | One of the most important, yet frequently overlooked components for most business owners is recordkeeping. This introductory webinar walks participants through the ground level stages of “bookkeeping.”  During the webinar, we’ll focus on the following areas: The effective use of an accounting system - How to set up your company in QuickBooks - Adding customers, vendors and employees to your records

How to produce accurate and timely reports to analyze your company’s performance and much more. | Date & Time: June 2, 2026 from 6PM to 7:30PM | More information and registration.

UCEDC | FREE WEBINAR: Build and Maintain Your Professional Brand | Having a strong professional brand and a well-thought-out career story can open many opportunities – whether you’re pursuing your next job or growing your business. Today, a business’s brand is often rooted in the story and visibility of its founder, making personal branding a powerful tool for entrepreneurs as well. | Date & Time: June 9, 2026 from 6PM to 7:30PM | More information and registration. 

SBDC New Jersey | FREE COURSE: Mission Ready Entrepreneurship (MRE) Academy: Pre-Venture "Ready To Start A Business" | Calling all veterans, service members and their family members interested in entrepreneurship: Unlock your entrepreneurial potential with the Mission Ready Entrepreneurship (MRE) Academy Spring 2026! Portal opens May 4th. Embark on an entrepreneurial journey with our on-demand virtual training courses, with professional consulting support. The New Jersey Small Business Development Center (NJSBDC) network is partnering with Fairleigh Dickinson University, Rutgers Camden and Stockton University to provide this no-cost business training course to veterans, service members and their families. From pre-venture to opening the doors, MRE Academy will give you all the necessary tools to launch your business from experts in their fields. Dreaming of starting your own business? MRE Academy is the program to take you from business idea to launch! Modules 0-5 are ideal for students potentially seeking entrepreneurship as a new path, generating business ideas, self-assessing skills and abilities, and testing feasibility. | Deadline: On Demand Until September 30, 2026 | More information and registration.

SBDC New Jersey | FREE WEBINAR: Keys to Success for Small Business Owners: What You Must Know | Running a successful small business takes more than a great idea—it requires strong financial discipline, efficient operations, and informed decision-making. This session delivers a practical overview of the essential building blocks every business owner needs to succeed and secure funding. You’ll gain a clear understanding of how to structure your business for growth, avoid common pitfalls, and build a solid foundation for long-term success. This session also sets the stage for deeper dives into critical areas, including: Recordkeeping, accounting, and software: How to organize and manage your financial data with confidence Financial statements: Using key reports to track performance, improve profitability, and manage cash flow Business operations and systems: Streamlining workflows, processes, and time management to increase efficiency and scalability Whether you're just starting out, developing your business plan, or looking to strengthen your business fundamentals, this session will equip you with practical insights you can apply immediately. | Date & Time: June 3, 2026 from 4PM to 5PM | More information and registration.

NJ Chamber of Commerce | FREE WEBINAR: AI for Business: Practical Tools to Save Time, Boost Productivity and Grow | Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the way businesses operate, creating new opportunities to improve efficiency, strengthen marketing efforts, better serve customers, and streamline day-to-day operations. From content creation and customer service to data analysis and administrative tasks, AI tools are becoming more accessible and impactful for companies of all sizes. Yet with the technology evolving so quickly, many businesses are still determining how to use AI effectively and where it can provide the greatest value. Attendees will learn about real-world applications, emerging tools, and strategies businesses are already using to save time, increase productivity, and remain competitive. | Date & Time: June 4, 2026 at 9AM | More information and registration.

Salem County Chamber of Commerce | FREE VIRTUAL WORKSHOP: Let’s Grow Your Business | Learn best practices to create or update your business plan! | Date & Time: June 9, 2026 from 8:30AM to 9:15AM | More information and registration. 

Networking & Opportunities

New Jersey State Council on the Arts | FREE WEBINAR: The Business of Being an Artist- Networking with NJ Service Orgs and Local Arts Councils | New Jersey is home to a rich arts landscape; it has a thriving artist community, a strong network of arts organizations, and multisector supports for the individual artists who live and work here. Join the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for this interactive networking event on Thursday, June 18th from 2:30 – 4:30 PM. Participants will hear from panelists at county arts agencies, folklife centers, service organizations, and more to hear how local and regional organizations provide meaningful support for artists. Breakout sessions will include an interactive discussion with the panelists on artist needs and supports that would help benefit and sustain artistic practice in our state. REGISTRATION CLOSES JUNE 11, 2026. | Date & Time: June 18, 2026 from 2:30PM to 4:30PM | More information and registration. 

Atlantic City Arts Foundation | 48 Blocks Festival Applications Open | The Atlantic City Arts Foundation is hosting our annual 48 Blocks Festival on September 19, 2026. Applications to participate in the festival open on May 22, 2026 through July 5, 2026. Application Info Session during Outside Lines on June 5, 2026, 2–4 pm at the Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University. | Deadline: July 5, 2026 | More information and application. 

Powell Lane Arts | Coffee For Creatives | Creativity is amazing … but takes energizing. Help renew and fuel it with Coffee for Creatives. Join us on a Sunday for great discussion about artwork and the artist’s process. You bring a piece of your art, and we’ll provide the coffee and snacks. This event is limited to 12 people to encourage room for discussion and time to focus on each participant. | Date & Time: June 7, 2026 at 12PM | More information and registration. 

Vineland Library | ARTIST OPPORTUNITY: Art Exhibits - Doris Tripp Room | Vineland Public Library welcomes the use of its facilities for art exhibitions and displays. The library seeks artists and photographers to display their art in its Doris Tripp Room, which features 64 running feet of exhibit area. Also available are two glass display cases for exhibitions of artwork, crafts, nonprofit displays, and collections of unique, interesting or historical items. | More information. 

Atlantic City Arts Foundation | FREE ARTIST MEETUP: Outside Lines | The June 5 Outside Lines will include a 48 Blocks Festival Application Info Session. Come with questions about participation! Arts Foundation is hosting free community meetups to convene artists, neighbors, collaborators, and the curious at rotating locations in Atlantic City. Not focused exclusively on happy hours or networking, these meetups are intended as informal and inclusive spaces to spark connection and conversation IRL. It’s Outside Lines and it’s happening in 2026. | Date & Time: June 5, 2026 from 2PM to 4PM | Location: Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University, 2200 Fairmount AvenueAtlantic City, NJ, 08401 | More information. 

The Kyoto Retreat | Application Opportunity Open for The Kyoto Retreat 2026 | The 2026 Kyoto Retreat is a program created by Japan-based, independent curator Dexter Wimberly. The Kyoto Retreat offers artists, curators, and writers, based anywhere in the world, an opportunity to spend four weeks in Kyoto, Japan, for research, exploration, and inspiration. If selected for the retreat, you will receive a roundtrip flight, a private bedroom, and $800 USD to supplement meals and local transportation. | Deadline: July 17, 2026 | Application Fee: $95 | More information and application. 

Burlington County Parks: Arts, Culture & Heritage | CALL FOR ARTISTS: Projection Art 2026 | Burlington County Parks is seeking digital artists, animators, and videographers to transform the historic landscape of Smithville Park into a living, breathing canvas of light. For the 2026 Arts After Dark festival, we invite creators to submit video works for projection onto the stately walls and surrounding structures of the Historic Smithville Mansion grounds. We are looking for content that celebrates the intersection of history and modern technology. Whether your work is abstract, narrative, or experimental, we want to see how you can use light to redefine our historic architecture. | Deadline: July 15, 2026 | Application. 

Burlington County Parks: Arts, Culture & Heritage | Seeking Crankie Storytellers | The 4th Annual Crankie Theater Festival is looking for moving panorama artists. Share your "scroll shows" and hand-cranked magic with an enchanted audience. | Deadline: Before September 19, 2026- Contact organizer. | Application. 

Burlington County Parks: Arts, Culture & Heritage | Call for Artists: Art Cars & Inventive Bicycles | For the first time ever, Arts After Dark is hitting the road—literally! We are seeking makers, mechanics, and visionaries to participate in our inaugural Art Car & Inventive Bike Showcase. Historic Smithville was once the international center for the production of the American Star Bicycle. In 2026, we want to honor that legacy of innovation by showcasing the most creative, eccentric, and artfully modified "wheels" in the region. | Deadline: July 15, 2026 | Application. 

Burlington County Parks: Arts, Culture & Heritage | Demonstrating Artist Application for Arts After Dark | We are seeking Artisans and Craftspeople to show off their craft in real time. | Date of Demonstration: September 19, 2026 4 PM - 9 PM | Application. 

Perkins Center for the Arts | Teaching Opportunities at Perkins | Are you an artist or instructor who wants to share your art form with others? We welcome proposals from artists and instructors of all backgrounds and disciplines to lead classes and workshops for youth, teens, and adults in visual arts, music, writing, movement, and cultural traditions, especially those rooted in community engagement, cross-cultural knowledge, or underrepresented practices. This is a contracted (1099) position, meaning instructors are engaged as independent contractors rather than employees of Perkins. Application forms are available for artists interested in teaching. | More information and application.