Artist Opportunities

Sarah Wiseman Gallery is pleased to share an open call for two 3D artists to exhibit in I DO & I UNDO, an exhibition exploring contemporary femininity in October 2026.

Who can apply: Open to UK-based 3D artists working across sculpture and mixed media, offering an opportunity to exhibit in Oxford’s largest independent contemporary art gallery.

What you get: Artists will have the opportunity to exhibit in Oxford's largest independent contemporary art gallery in October. This is a free opportunity.

Deadline 18 May 2026

FLAMIN Animations is a £3,500 commissioning programme for early-career Black and global majority animators living in the England. This year, the scheme is presented in partnership with the award-winning London-based animation studio Blinkink, who will be providing focused support to the selected animators throughout the development and production process alongside the FLAMIN team.

Who can apply: Artists who identify as Black and global majority (people of African, Asian, indigenous, Latin American, or mixed-heritage backgrounds) Artists must be able to attend masterclasses once every two months hosted at Blinkink or Film London (travel expenses can be covered for artists based outside of London) Applicants should be based in England Current students are not eligible No formal education in animation or art is necessary FLAMIN is open to artists working in partnerships.

What you get: £3,500 to create a new 3 minute animation (includes £500 fee for additional support with animation, e.g. colour, compositing etc.) Development and production support and advice from the FLAMIN team Dedicated one-to-one mentorship from Blinkink's roster of animation directors Masterclasses with animation professionals and artists organised by FLAMIN and Blinkink Guidance on distribution of the completed work and ongoing support as FLAMIN alumni.

Deadline 25 May 2026

A professional short course designed to help experienced practitioners challenge creative assumptions, take meaningful risks, and break free from habitual ways of working through a series of rapid, intensive briefs.

In today's fast-paced, delivery-focused environment, we often lose the permission to experiment, play, and explore without a defined objective. As professional practitioners, our vocational skills become strengths, but they can also become invisible safety nets. We programme ourselves to find functional solutions and make risk-free decisions, often losing touch with lateral thinking and true creative possibility.

Because of the themes and the desirable outcomes of the masterclass, we will not be disclosing any specific topics and briefs for this course. Nor will a timetable be released ahead of the start date. This is to allow you to come onto campus and be able to immerse yourself with no pre-existing notions. The one thing we ask is that you are prepared to be unprepared.

This executive level course is led by Professor Neville Brody, one of the most celebrated graphic designers of his generation – a leading typographer and internationally recognised art director and brand strategist.

Who can apply: Anyone

What you get:

In person course at Battersea campus with a debriefing session online.

This course is a dedicated space to challenge those built-in responses. It is an antidote to the demand for instant, perfect output, offering a framework to rediscover the value of thoughtful consideration, ambiguity, and play. It is a safe space to take creative risks, uncover your "go-to" props, and think differently about your practice.

Over three intensive days, you will engage in a rapid brief-and-response process designed to push you outside your comfort zone. This isn't about producing a perfect outcome; it's about embracing the process of response itself as a gateway to new learning, change, and creative revitalisation.

Entry Fee: £1,375

Deadline 25 May 2026

A grant supporting experimental collaborations between researchers and partners from cultural, creative, charity and community sectors to co design inclusive public engagement projects and strengthen cross sector collaboration.

Who can apply:
Collaborative teams including researchers, engagement professionals and partners from cultural, creative, charity or community sectors. The lead applicant’s institution must provide at least 25 percent match funding.

What you get:
Grants of up to £10,000 to support practice led public engagement projects. Additional contributions towards personal access costs may be requested.

Deadline 26 May 2026

Copeland Gallery are offering another block of Emerging Artist Exhibitions across August 2026.

This is an ongoing scheme (now in its 4th edition) aimed to get early career artists, collectives and curators exhibiting within a large gallery space by reducing the hire price.

Who can apply: Early stage artists, curators or collectives.

What you get: Over 80% discount on standard gallery hire, plus 0% commission on all art sales.

Deadline 26 May 2026

In the face of rising hostility and harmful rhetoric towards refugees and migrants; artists, creative practitioners, arts organisations, libraries, archives, and community art groups are invited to come together and stand in solidarity this Refugee Week (refugeeweek.org.uk). Whether you plan / list an event during the festival, use your platform to speak out, or pledge your support - your involvement matters! Let's use creativity to help recognise our shared humanity, imagine better futures and create spaces of welcome and belonging. Join the global movement from 15 - 21 June 2026.

Who can apply: Anyone.

What you get: Arts orgs / artists can pledge solidarity or to participate via our open letter.

Deadline 31 May 2026

Exhibit your work in the heart of London.

BEERS London invites bold, ambitious artists working across all media to apply for a major group exhibition taking place August–September 2026 at our gallery in the heart of The City.

Who can apply: Everyone.

What you get: Exhibition opportunity.

Entry fee: £10.

Deadline 01 June 2026

Leith School of Art’s Graduate Residency programme offers a unique opportunity to develop a substantial body of new work within an established Art School leading towards professional practice or further postgraduate study.

Who can apply: The programme is open to applications from current final year students or recent graduates (within two years) from BA or MA courses in Art and Design. In exceptional circumstances we will consider applicants who do not meet this criteria; please contact the School to discuss further.

What you get: Successful applicants will benefit from dedicated studio space, available at all times during School opening hours, allowing for flexibility of working practice and the scope to develop a new body of work. Graduates will be encouraged to develop an ambitious proposal challenging previous work or current practice and will be allocated a personal tutor to oversee their development throughout the year. Graduates will receive critical feedback on their work and learn how to situate their practice in the wider context of the contemporary art world.

Deadline 05 June 2026

FishTank Workshop & Gallery is seeking applicants for its 26/27 studio residency in Kings Cross. We are looking for motivated individuals who want to develop their work, connect with others, and help build a supportive creative community. FishTank aims to create a welcoming entry point into the arts by building bridges with the wider community, schools, youth projects and arts organisations.

Who can apply: We are looking for artists from all backgrounds and disciplines - including but not limited to photographers, illustrators, painters, animators, art directors, filmmakers, fashion and set designers. No previous training or education required.

What you get: Free studio space in Kings Cross, use of our gallery/workshop and facilities, mentoring, a chance to take part in exhibitions, events, and public presentations.

Deadline 05 June 2026

SET Film Festival, a grassroots platform for contemporary, artist and archival film, is now accepting submissions for its 2026 edition, taking place from 5 November to 3 December at SET Social in Peckham. Filmmakers and artists worldwide are invited to submit short films across all genres, including animation, documentary, drama, experimental cinema, essay film and artists’ moving image. Submissions are free and open internationally; films must be under 30 minutes and completed after 1 January 2023.

Who can apply: Filmmakers and artists of any nationality may apply. Submissions are open internationally, with no restrictions on age or level of experience. We welcome both emerging and established practitioners working across all genres and forms, including animation, documentary, drama, experimental film, essay film and artists’ moving image. Films must be under 30 minutes in length, completed after 1 January 2023, and submitted by the filmmaker or artist. One submission per artist. SET Film Festival is committed to accessibility and inclusivity across its programme and submissions. We welcome filmmakers working across diverse cultural, geographic and economic contexts, and actively encourage submissions from emerging and underrepresented voices.

What you get: Selected filmmakers will receive a £150 screening fee. Films will be presented as part of curated, themed screening programmes at SET Film Festival (5 November – 3 December 2026, Peckham, London), alongside opportunities to take part in filmmaker Q&As and discussions. Filmmakers will benefit from dedicated promotion across SET’s channels before, during and after the festival, including social media and programme communications. The 2026 edition marks an expansion of the festival beyond Peckham, with selected works having the opportunity to be included in additional screenings across London and potentially further afield through new partnerships. Selected artists will also be part of a wider international programme of filmmakers working across experimental, documentary and artists’ moving-image practices.

Deadline 07 June 2026

Join Theatre Peckham as a Development Officer to support fundraising and expand impact, championing access to the arts and underrepresented voices.

Who can apply:
Fundraising professionals passionate about arts access, inclusion and community engagement, with relevant experience in development or partnerships.

What you get:
Opportunity to work within a leading community arts organisation, contributing to fundraising strategy and impact during its 40th anniversary year.

Deadline 10 June 2026

As we prepare for a summer of celebrating Portsmouth’s 100 year anniversary as a recognised city, Aspex Portsmouth is excited to host an Open Exhibition in our communal space. We are inviting people from Portsmouth and Hampshire to submit artwork responding to Letters to Tomorrow. Resonating with themes in our main gallery exhibition 2126: What If? by Matt Westbrook, Alice Hume, and Maria de la O’Garido, this open call asks our community to reflect on the future of our city a hundred years from now, and what they hope to see change, grow, or remain the same.

Who can apply: We welcome all abilities, ages, and levels of artistic experience in this open call. Whether you are a professional artist or a keen creative, we want to hear your views, hopes, and dreams for the future of our city. This opportunity is open to individuals based in Portsmouth and across Hampshire.

What you get: Selected artworks will be exhibited in Aspex Portsmouth’s communal space as part of a summer programme celebrating the city’s centenary. This is an opportunity to share your work with the public and contribute to a collective exploration of Portsmouth’s future. Artists will gain experience exhibiting in a gallery setting.

Deadline 21 June 2026

MAKING IT is a biennial exhibition celebrating emerging artists, makers, & designers from across the Southwest. Hosted in the prestigious Jubilee Gallery at MAKE Southwest from 16 January – 17 April 2027, the exhibition will showcase up to 20 early-career artists working across contemporary craft & making, from traditional materials & techniques, to digital practices (e.g. photography, film, print). The 2027 exhibition will explore the theme ‘The Maker’s Journey’, inviting applicants to reflect on aspects such as innovation in materials & techniques, sustainability, diversity, & collaboration.

Who can apply: The exhibition offers a valuable platform for artists, makers, and designers in their first five years of practice, whether self-taught, trained through apprenticeships, or recent graduates. As a craft organisation, we cannot accept applications from artists who work purely in visual art (e.g. painting, drawing) if no craft discipline is incorporated. As a charity dedicated to supporting creatives at every stage of their careers, MAKE Southwest is committed to removing barriers and strongly encourages applications from individuals currently under-represented in the creative and cultural sector.

What you get: Selected exhibitors will not only show their work to thousands of visitors in one of the region’s leading craft venues, but will also take part in a tailored professional development programme. This includes funded CPD sessions, mentoring opportunities, networking with industry professionals, and the chance to receive awards and prizes from leading organisations. Previous editions of Making It have provided an important springboard for emerging talent in the region. If you are a Southwest-based artist, maker or designer looking to expand your audience, develop professionally and connect with the wider craft community, Making It 2027 is an exciting opportunity to take the next step in your creative career.

Deadline 29 June 2026

The Studio Prize was established after a number of our members’ spoke of the economic challenges they faced when starting their artistic careers. ACS realises how difficult it is for recent graduates to focus on their art, especially after leaving university. The ACS Studio Prize was founded to help.

ACS is delighted to announce that this year's Prize will be judged by art dealer and historian Philip Mould OBE, artist and Director of the Lucian Freud Archive David Dawson, Director of the National Gallery Sir Gabriele Finaldi and the Chairman of ACS, Viscountess Bridgeman CBE.

Who can apply: If you are a national of the UK, EEA, Australia or New Zealand and are an undergraduate or postgraduate university student on an accredited art course who is about to graduate, or if you have graduated from a university accredited art course within the last four years, and you work in pictures, collage, painting, sculpture, tapestry, ceramics, glassware or photography, then you are also eligible to apply for the prize.

What you get: ACS is offering a recent graduate £6,000 to contribute to the cost of an artist’s studio in a UK city of their choice.

Deadline 30 June 2026

Are you an unagented or emerging writer looking to publish new work? We're inviting pitches for short writing or poetry that considers how stories are communicated - or withheld - across generations, and creatively reflect on issues of memory, language and migration in response to Autograph's new exhibition Of Walking on Fire by Nhu Xuan Hua.

Who can apply: This open call is for emerging writers with an idea for a new piece of creative writing or poetry

What you get: Successful applicants will receive a £400 fee, publication on Autograph's website and will be invited to read at our upcoming poetry event

Deadline 13 July 2026

The Royal Society of Marine Artists (RSMA) invites artists worldwide, aged 18 and over, to submit artwork for the RSMA Annual Exhibition 2026 at Mall Galleries.

Submission deadline: Friday 24 July 2026 at 12pm.

Who can apply:

• Artists may enter a maximum of six artworks each.

• Works should be no larger than 2.4m along the longest dimension.

• All works must be an original creation by the artist

Acceptable media: Oil, acrylic, watercolour, original prints of any media (excluding photography), mixed media, textiles, drawings, pastels, or sculpture.

What you get:

Selected artists will have their work exhibited at Mall Galleries, London, with potential for sales and commissions.

There are £5,000 worth of incredible prizes and awards on offer, including The Baltic Exchange Award of £2,000.

Deadline 24 July 2026

The Online Drawing Development Year (ODDY) is designed for arts graduates and artists with an evolving studio practice who seek live online drawing tuition and a structured critical dialogue with tutors, mentors, and peers. Spanning three terms, this programme offers sustained guidance and skill development while supporting each student's artistic practice.

This flexible course allows students to curate their own selection of courses each term, ensuring a balance between work, studio practice, and other commitments. Delivered entirely online, it is ideal for those based outside London, international students, or individuals with specific access needs.

Application deadline 29 July, for January 2027 start.

Who can apply:

Places for the Online Drawing Development Year are offered through an application process. While most applicants have completed a BA degree in a creative subject, this is not essential. We also consider a strong studio practice, commitment to drawing, and readiness for study at a postgraduate level.

What you get:

• 18 hours live tuition a week

• Small global cohort

• 1-2-1 mentoring & tutorials

• Final exhibition

Entry Fee: £4150

Deadline 29 July 2026

We are delighted to be back with The British Art Prize 2026, brought to you by STAEDTLER. Enter today for the chance to win some fabulous prizes, have your work exhibited at TWO major London galleries and be featured in Artists & Illustrators magazine.

Eligibility: This major international art competition is back with bigger prizes, broader exposure, and even more ways to get your work seen by thousands of art lovers, collectors, and curators. Open to everyone – whether you’re an amateur, emerging, or professional artist – all styles, media* and techniques will be considered.
*AI art will not be considered.

What you get: A stellar prize fund worth more than £10,000 which includes cash, art materials and a solo show at Panter & Hall's Cecil Court gallery. Winners and finalists will also feature in a special 10-page editorial in Artists & Illustrators, the UK's best-selling art magazine. All shortlisted artworks will be showcased in an exhibition at Oxo Gallery from 21-25 October 2026 in London. Shortlisted artists will also be invited to a prestigious private view reception on 22 October 2026 alongside artists, collectors, and other VIP guests.

Deadline 07 August 2026

Positive Life Workshops CIC is seeking artists to deliver creative workshops as part of our Future Focus programme — a series of artist-led sessions exploring wellbeing, resilience, and community connection through art.

We’re looking for inspiring, inclusive artists who can engage participants of all backgrounds and help shape meaningful creative experiences in St Helens.

Apply now to be part of a project that celebrates creativity, collaboration, and positive change.

Who can apply: Artists or community groups.

What you get: £250 per session, total £750 for 3 sessions.

Deadline 20 December 2026

We’re inviting artists and creatives to propose workshops, talks, performances, readings, and other creative or participatory events to be hosted in our gallery.

Our space is designed to feel welcoming and informal making it ideal for any kind of intimate workshops, conversations, events and community-led sessions. If you have an idea you’d like to share - whether fully formed or still in development - we would love to hear from you.

Eligibility: Anyone can apply.

What you get: Nicola Arts provides the space, promotion, and a welcoming audience, but the financial terms are completely up to the artist.

Deadline 31 December 2026