10 Open Calls for Artists this Winter

Artists Wanted

Open calls are a vital gateway for artists to gain recognition and access to prestigious opportunities in the art world. It is arguably one of the only effective and industry-approved strategies artists can use to actively and directly pursue exhibition and career opportunities. As a result, we have selected ten exciting open calls currently accepting applications, with deadlines fast approaching.

Our number one recommendation for finding and applying to art opportunities is artenda.net—to develop a good habit and streamlined process.

1. The Glover Prize

The Glover Prize, held annually in Tasmania, Australia, celebrates contemporary landscape painting in honor of John Glover’s legacy. It offers a prestigious AUD 80,000 acquisitive prize and is open to artists worldwide. The submission deadline is January 24, 2025, with an application fee of 40 AUD.

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2. G. & A. Mamidakis Foundation Art Prize

In Crete, Greece, the G. & A. Mamidakis Foundation Art Prize supports the creation of monumental, site-specific artworks that engage with nature and culture. The award includes €30,000, an exhibition opportunity, and production support. All artists can apply until December 22, 2024. There is no application fee.

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3. The Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award 2025

The Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award 2025, organized by the National Portrait Gallery in London, offers a top prize of £35,000 and a chance to exhibit in a world-renowned institution. Open to global portrait artists, this prestigious opportunity has a deadline of January 14, 2025, and there is no application fee.

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4. Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours Exhibition

The Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours Exhibition 2025, hosted at the Mall Galleries in London, invites artists aged 18 and over to showcase water-based media artworks. With over £7,000 in prizes, the deadline to apply is January 28, 2025, and there is an application fee of £20.

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5. Kunstraum LLC Exhibition Program

In New York, Kunstraum LLC calls for emerging and mid-career artists to collaborate with curators for their 2025 exhibition program, offering a platform for innovative ideas. This opportunity is open to all artists until December 31, 2024, with an application fee of $35.

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6. Germaine Van Parys Award

The Germaine Van Parys Award in Brussels, Belgium, honors women photographers in the field of documentary photography by awarding an €8,000 production grant and an exhibition spot. Celebrating the legacy of Belgium’s first female photojournalist, the deadline to apply is this Sunday, December 15, 2024. There is no application fee.

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7. INHABIT Artist-in-Residence

The Max Planck Institute in Frankfurt, Germany, presents the INHABIT Artist-in-Residence Program. Artists from diverse disciplines can collaborate with researchers, and they provide a €10,000 grant and production budget, free studio accommodation, a rent-free stay, free travel, and an exhibition at the end of the residency. There are no specific eligibility conditions; applications close on December 29, 2024, and there is no application fee.

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8. Artists & Mothers Grant

A terrific grant both in terms of supporting artists and raising awareness for an often overlooked issue in the art world for artists juggling motherhood and creativity, the Artists & Mothers Grant in New York City offers a $25,000 grant to support childcare expenses. Applications are open to NYC-based mothers with young children, and they are due by January 2, 2025, and there is no application fee.

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9. Chiba City Arts Triannale 2025

The Chiba City Arts Triennale 2025 in Japan seeks artists to create community-focused projects that resonate with Chiba’s cultural identity. They have an open call for both international artists and young artists with ties to Chiba. Providing production budgets and exhibition opportunities, the submission deadline is January 5, 2025, and there is no application fee.

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10. Larnaca Biennale

Finally, the Larnaca Biennale in Cyprus invites global artists to explore the theme “Along Lines and Traces.” This biennale offers a significant platform for showcasing works that address connection and memory. The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2025, and there is an application fee of €50.

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Last Updated on December 13, 2024

About the author:

Sylvia Walker (b. 1986, US) is an art historian, essayist, art critic, and curator. After contributing to numerous publications, and curating exhibitions in the United States of America and beyond, she currently works as the assistant director of Contemporary Art Issue (CAI).