Our July art opportunities list has arrived, and you know the drill!
We seek out and compile the best artist grants, exhibitions, and residencies with deadlines coming up this next month—so you can save the endless hours searching online and instead put that valuable time toward applying.
And, don't forget to download the Complete Guide to 2020 Artist Opportunities and save a copy of all the best opportunities this year to your desktop!
Ready to find the perfect opportunity for your art business? Check out the July guide for artists below (sorted by those deadlines coming up first), then read on to learn how to make sure you’re ready to hit “send” as soon as these opportunities arise.
TILA Studios COVID-19 Above Four Fund
In an effort to sustain black women’s contributions in the art industry during the COVID -19, TILA Studios is launching a recurring monthly fund beginning at $1,000 to support black women artists nationwide. This fund supports black women who have: experienced a stalled gig or opportunity, lost of income from day job being temporarily closed, stipend for on-going art project with a specific purpose and direction. We want to sustain our momentum, continue empowering black women and their practice, the only way we do this is if we are the change and the support we want to see.
WHO: Black women artists
AMOUNT: Beginning at $1000
DEADLINE: July 1, 2020
FINE PRINT: The funding will occur monthly from April 2020 until August 2020. If we continue to witness and experience the economic impact of the COVID-19 we will continue awarding an unrestricted financial award until January 2021. Learn more here.
The Lester Prize
The Lester Prize is one of Australia’s premier art prizes—an award that places artists and community proudly front-and-centre. Our prize is about the advancement of portrait artists, not the celebrity of the sitters—it always has been and always will be. The Prize pool consists of: The Richard Lester Prize for Portraiture (selected by a panel of judges) | $50,000 cash; Tony Fini Foundation Artist Prize (selected by artists’ peers) | $10,000 cash; Baldock Family People’s Choice Prize (selected by the general public) | $7,500 cash; and Highly Commended x 2 (selected by a panel of judges) | $1,000 cash, $550 domestic art transport voucher, $500 framing voucher plus $250 art supplies voucher each.
WHO: Australian portrait artists 18 and older (see Youth Award for high school entries)
AMOUNT: Prize amount vary (see above)
DEADLINE: July 10, 2020
FINE PRINT: Entry fee is $45.00 (inclusive of GST) per portrait. Artists are permitted to enter an unlimited number of portraits in 2020. Learn more here.
Artadia Awards - San Francisco
Artadia is now accepting applications for the 2020 San Francisco Awards from all visual artists who have lived and worked in the San Francisco Bay Area for a minimum of two years. Individual artists and collaboratives working in all visual media and at any stage in their career are strongly encouraged to apply. Awardees will be selected through a two-tier jury process that employs a panel of prominent curators in the summer of 2020.
WHO: All visual artists living and working in the current award city of San Francisco
AMOUNT: $10,000
DEADLINE: July 15, 2020
FINE PRINT: The five counties include Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo. Awards are based on merit. The award money can be used however the artist sees fit. Learn more here.
The Ruth and Harold Chenven Foundation Grant
The Ruth and Harold Chenven Foundation gives annual awards of $1500 to individual artists living and working in the United States, and who are engaged in or planning a new craft or visual art project.
WHO: U.S. artists
AMOUNT: $1500 each to six artists
DEADLINE: July 15, 2020
FINE PRINT: The Foundation does not accept film, video, performance art or music submissions (except as those media are integrated into a larger craft or visual art project). Applications must include Artist Statement, CV, Project Description, Images, and Image List. Learn more here.
Artist Relief Emergency Grants: Cycle IV
To support artists during the COVID-19 crisis, a coalition of national arts grantmakers have come together to create an emergency initiative to offer financial and informational resources to artists across the United States. Artist Relief will distribute $5,000 grants to artists facing dire financial emergencies due to COVID-19; serve as an ongoing informational resource; and co-launch the COVID-19 Impact Survey for Artists and Creative Workers, designed by Americans for the Arts, to better identify and address the needs of artists.
WHO: U.S. artists
AMOUNT: $5,000
DEADLINE: July 23, 2020
FINE PRINT: Please note that the Artist Relief coalition partners will make final eligibility determinations as needed. The fund will operate through September 2020 and will fund at least 100 artists per week. Learn more here.
Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant
Established as part of Lee Krasner’s legacy, the Pollock Krasner Foundation Grant was set up to support and strengthen the creative lives of artists. A competitive grant for artists with extensive exhibition records, this grant has a long list of impressive alumni. Since its start in 1985, the foundation has granted over 65 million dollars in award money to artists in over 77 countries.
WHO: Mid-career professional artists with demonstrable financial need. Artists must be actively exhibiting their current work in professional artistic venues, such as gallery and museum spaces.
FIELD: Painters, sculptors, and artists who work on paper, including printmaking.
AMOUNT: Awards range from $5,000 to $30,000, depending on need and circumstance.
DEADLINE: Ongoing
FINE PRINT: Commercial artists, video artists, performance artists, filmmakers, crafts-makers, and computer artists are not eligible. Students not eligible. Detailed FAQ here.
CERF+ (Craft Emergency Relief Fund)
CERF+ provides rapid relief and career recovery loans through their own grants (for artists working in craft disciplines) as well as a list of emergency resources for artists in other disciplines. Additionally, CERF+ just launched the COVID-19 Response Fund to support artists working in craft disciplines.
WHO: Craft artists in the U.S.
AMOUNT: $3,000
DEADLINE: Ongoing
FINE PRINT: In light of the anticipated volume of requests for assistance, for the time-being, CERF+‘s emergency relief grants related to Covid-19 will focus on those infected with the virus that requires intensive medical care. It is a two-stage process. First, an inquiry process, then the application. Learn more here.
Foundation for Contemporary Arts
Emergency Grants are available by application to artists in all disciplines who have sudden opportunities or unexpected expenses to present work to the public. Artists should apply 6-8 weeks before funding is needed for last-minute support.
WHO: U.S.-based artists
AMOUNT: $500-$2,500 (Average $1,600)
DEADLINE: Ongoing
FINE PRINT: To meet artists' last-minute needs in a timely manner, FCA's Emergency Grants panel meets monthly to review requests. We recommend that artists review all of our eligibility guidelines and FAQs before applying. You may also complete our Eligibility Questionnaire, but please note that the questionnaire is not a substitute for a thorough review of program guidelines. Learn more here.
Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund
The Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund is intended to help those pursuing careers as artists or arts administrators whose income has been directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This fund is for those who self-identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color).
WHO: US-based BIPOC artists and administrators
AMOUNT: $200
DEADLINE: Ongoing
FINE PRINT: These one-time micro-grants will be disbursed on a first-come-first-served basis. Learn more here.
The Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant
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.
WHO: Artists must work in the disciplines of painting, sculpture or printmaking, and must be able to demonstrate a minimum involvement of ten years in a mature phase of his or her work.
AMOUNT: Average $5,000, maximum $15,000
DEADLINE: Ongoing
FINE PRINT: While we recognize the economic toll of the Covid-19 crisis, we regrettably are not able to assist with funds to replace lost or interrupted income. The Emergency Grant Program will continue to function as they have for the past forty years to assist mature visual artists. Learn more here.
Awesome Foundation Grant
A micro-granting organization, funding “awesome” ideas, The Awesome Foundation set up local chapters around the world to provide rolling grants of $1000 to “awesome projects.” Each chapter defines what is “awesome” for their local community, but most include arts initiative and public or social practice art projects.
WHO: Anyone is eligible for a grant — individuals, groups, and organizations alike.
FIELD: Any Field. Each chapter has its own requirements, most consider arts projects.
AMOUNT: $1000
DEADLINE: Ongoing
FINE PRINT: Grants not given for studio space or strictly salary or supplies. Needs to make the community more “awesome.” Think public works. More info here.
Mayer Foundation Grant
The Mayer Foundation offers economic relief grants to needy individuals who are distressed or suffering as a result of poverty, low income or lack of financial resources.
WHO: Artists living in the New York City area
AMOUNT: Average $2,000
DEADLINE: Ongoing
FINE PRINT: The Foundation may require additional information, an interview, or a site visit. If a proposal clearly is not within the giving interests of the Foundation, the applicant will be notified immediately. Learn more here.
For more regional grants for artists affected by COVID-19, see our full resource list here.
JULY CALLS FOR ART:
Boynes Emerging Artist Award
This award is a 2D art competition dedicated to giving talented emerging artists around the world a platform to launch and/or grow their career. For us to help you do that we need your best, we simply require that you submit what you consider your best work to be, the work that is really the greatest representation of your portfolio.
WHO: 2D artists worldwide
LOCATION: Online
DEADLINE: July 1, 2020
FINE PRINT: Awards include $300 to $1000 in cash, marketing on the website for 3 months, social media marketing, and a permanent place on our website. We accept all forms of 2D work, from paintings (digital, oil, watercolor, etc), etchings, photography, drawings, etc. Learn more here.
5th Annual Cityscapes Art Competition
Fusion Art invites submissions for the 5th Annual Cityscapes art competition for an online exhibition during the month of July 2020. The theme includes any art which depicts cities, towns, urban scenes and/or any related metropolitan subjects.
WHO: Artists worldwide
DATES: July 5 - August 4, 2020
LOCATION: Online
DEADLINE: July 1, 2020
FINE PRINT: All artists, regardless of location or experience, are invited to submit their best representational and/or abstract cityscapes art and photography. Cash prizes and an invitation to Fusion Art's 5th Annual Group Show in Palm Springs for Best in Show winners. Learn more here.
Color
The Color exhibition hosted by The SC Center for Photography explores this essential aesthetic decision that every photographer has to address. A particular emphasis of the Color exhibition will be put on how the photographer incorporates color as a means of creating atmosphere, mood, balance, and rhythm within a photograph.
WHO: Photographers worldwide
DATES: September 4 - 26, 2020
LOCATION: Greenville, SC
DEADLINE: July 5, 2020
FINE PRINT: 35-40 Selected images will hang in the SE Center’s main gallery space for approximately one month with the opportunity to be invited for a solo show at a later date. All photographers regardless of location, age, or skill level. Images previously selected for exhibition at the SE Center for Photography within two years of the current exhibition are not eligible. Learn more here.
Annual Art Ability Exhibition & Sale
Art Ability at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital is a year-round program that serves as a showcase and marketplace for talented artists. The program educates the community about the remarkable abilities of people with disabilities and inspires artists to reach beyond their limitations and explore their own creativity. The annual, international juried Art Ability exhibition and sale is twelve-weeks in length and features art and fine crafts by artists with physical, cognitive, hearing and visual impairments.
WHO: Artists worldwide with physical, cognitive, hearing and visual impairments
DATES: November 7, 2020 - January 31, 2021
LOCATION: Malvern, PA
DEADLINE: July 6, 2020
FINE PRINT: In light of the current pandemic, we have decided to pivot the annual Preview Reception and Dinner & Auction events to a virtual format. As we celebrate Art Ability’s 25th year, we invite you to join us for the Livestream virtual Kick-Off Party on Saturday, November 7, 2020. Learn more here.
Art Explosion 2020
AuSable Artisan Village is thrilled to announce a call to artists for the 2nd annual Great Northern Art Explosion public and juried art contest. Artwork will be exhibited publicly this August in the downtown Grayling area at designated Art Explosion exhibit sites.
WHO: Open to all artists in the US, especially the Michigan/Midwest region, any theme or medium.
DATES: August 8 - 23, 2020
LOCATION: Grayling, MI
DEADLINE: July 10, 2020
FINE PRINT: Artists will compete for a $5,000 grand prize sponsored by Kirtland Community College, and $3,000 in juried awards selected by juror, artist and MONA founder Jef Bourgeau. Learn more here.
10th Artist Spotlight Solo Art Competition
Fusion Art is now accepting entries for the 10th Artist Spotlight Solo Art Competition, which highlights individual artists who have an overall body of work to showcase. From this competition, Fusion Art will select up to 12 winning artists - four traditional artists, four digital & photography artists and four 3-dimensional artists (if the gallery has received 3-dimensional entries) for individual month-long solo art exhibitions on the Fusion Art website starting in August 2020.
WHO: 2D and 3D artists worldwide
DATES: August 5 - December 4, 2020
LOCATION: Online
DEADLINE: July 10, 2020
FINE PRINT: Winning artists receive one-month solo art exhibitions on the Fusion Art Website. The gallery will promote the winning artists, worldwide, on the website, through its marketing and publicity channels and the winners will be invited to the 5th Annual Group Show in Palm Springs in 2021. Learn more here.
The Art of Aging
J. Mane Gallery in conjunction with Homewatch CareGivers® of New Haven invites submissions for The Art Of Aging online juried art exhibition. For this competition, artists are encouraged to share their artistic vision of aging.
WHO: Artists worldwide
DATES: July 18 - August 31, 2020
LOCATION: Online
DEADLINE: July 11, 2020
FINE PRINT: Artwork may vary from realism to surrealism to abstraction, and all 2-dimensional media will be accepted. All artists over the age of 18, regardless of location or experience, are encouraged to submit their best inspired work. Learn more here.
Sali National Abstract Art Exhibition XVI
Southside Art League invites 2D artists to apply to this juried exhibition. Two-dimensional work, less than 2 inches deep, of oil, acrylic, watercolor, mixed media, pastel, or drawing may be entered. No computer art, photographs, reproductions or sculptures.
WHO: U.S. artists
DATES: October 2 - 30, 2020
LOCATION: Indianapolis, IN
DEADLINE: July 11, 2020
FINE PRINT: Any work executed in class or under the supervision of an instructor, copies of paintings or published photos, or improper subject matter is prohibited. Learn more here.
Reality and Art
Art is often about searching for and expressing reality, whether literally or conceptually. In our last juried show, “Consciousness of Abstraction”, ARC Gallery was interested in the movement away from imagery. This exhibition is a continuation of the conversation—from the consideration of abstraction to the consideration of its sibling genre, realism, reality and representation—or Reality and Art. The gallery is seeking works that are representational in both the traditional sense of being compelled to express what you see and reality as a conceptual sense of using the contemporary current environment as a reference.
WHO: All artists
DATES: September 2 - 26, 2020
LOCATION: Chicago, IL
DEADLINE: July 11, 2020
FINE PRINT: Due to COVID-19, ARC Gallery has lowered the application fee to $25 ($20 for students) to make it affordable to more folks. We hope that by the summer, galleries will be open again and we can mount a traditional opening and exhibition. But if we are still closed, we will use all our creative energy to post the show online, making it available to the thousands of folks who follow us on social media. This is one way to stay connected. Learn more here.
Catch Phrase Art Exhibit
Catch Phrase will be an open-themed, contemporary, and fine art exhibition at Armadillo Art Gallery. Eligible media include, but are not limited to: drawing, painting, photography, mixed media, oil/chalk pastels, block/ink print, hanging sculpture or assemblage, digital art, collage, metalwork, hanging fiber/textile art, woodwork and contemporary craft.
WHO: Artists worldwide
DATES: September 2 - 30, 2020
LOCATION: Denton, TX
DEADLINE: July 12, 2020
FINE PRINT: All work must have been completed within the years 2015-2020 and not previously exhibited at any Envision Arts Exhibition. If a genre, medium or material you specialize in is not listed, please email [email protected] to provide specifics about your work. Learn more here.
Inspired by DANCE
For this exhibit, Studio Montclair invites artists to submit works of art that are inspired by live dance. All artistic genres and mediums will be considered including sculpture, photography, and video. Work does not have to be representational but must show movement and relate to the subject of dance. We are defining inspiration broadly, existing artwork that fits this theme may be submitted for this call.
WHO: Artists worldwide
DATES: September 10 - October 16, 2020
LOCATION: Montclair, NJ
DEADLINE: July 12, 2020
FINE PRINT: Non-members SMI may apply, but must pay the annual membership fee of $65 if accepted. Learn more here.
Food, Glorious Food
Las Laguna Gallery is now accepting submissions of artwork by artists who create works depicting food. There are no restrictions on style, medium or context. Works can be still art, drawings, paintings or photography of any kind of food or beverage.
WHO: Artists worldwide
DATES: August 6 - 29, 2020
LOCATION: Laguna Beach, CA
DEADLINE: July 12, 2020
FINE PRINT: *Sorry no sculpture, video or jewelry at this time. Please note that if due to COVID-19 we are unable to hold a show our gallery show at our brick and mortar location it has been decided that ALL artists will have at least one of their works accepted for our online exhibition on our website, promoted on Facebook, Instagram and other social media sites. Learn more here.
West of Center: Juried All-Media Exhibition
The Northville Art House (Northville, MI) seeks contemporary artworks created in any media by artists who experiment with traditional techniques, technologies, and media or employ new and emerging developments for the annual West of Center: Juried All-Media Exhibition.
WHO: All artists
DATES: September 1 - 26, 2020
LOCATION: Northville, MI
DEADLINE: July 12, 2020
FINE PRINT: Enter up to 3 works in any media, maximum size 54 inches. Nonrefundable fee $25 for members and $35 for non-members. Learn more here.
Teachable Moment
Teachable moments create space for rethinking, for cross-examination, and to draw on abstract concepts deploying them not only as a method, but also as authentic behavior in the heat of the moment. It is the generative collision of authentic world experience and the practice-realm of thoughts.
WHO: Artists worldwide
DATES: December 18, 2020 - February 7, 2021
LOCATION: Chattanooga, TN
DEADLINE: July 15, 2020
FINE PRINT: Stove Works invites proposals of up to 300 words with 10 supporting or related images/videos/reference links/documents/etc to develop new work or that contextualizes existing projects for Teachable Moment, a group exhibition opening in our main gallery. Learn more here.
International Exhibition Art Resilience
Musée de peinture de Saint-Frajou (art museum) is pleased to announce the launch of the 6th International Art Resilience Exhibition in Saint-Frajou, France.
WHO: Artists worldwide
DATES: August 8 - September 8, 2020
LOCATION: Saint-Frajou, France
DEADLINE: July 15, 2020
FINE PRINT: Categories include: paintings, gouaches, drawings, photography, sculpture. The files must be titled in the following format: name of the artist, the title of the work, technique, size (H x W in cm.), Price (in €). Learn more here.
Climate Change: What Will You Do To Help?
The Oxford Arts Alliance is having a national juried exhibition in September called "Climate Change: What Will You Do To Help?". We're asking artists to respond to one or more of these questions with your art: What can you do? What will you do? What are you doing? What if we don’t?
WHO: U.S. artists 18 and older
DATES: September 18 - October 9, 2020
LOCATION: Oxford, PA
DEADLINE: July 17, 2020
FINE PRINT: Due to the current global pandemic we will be hosting a virtual exhibition for our juried exhibition with an in-person exhibition as well for those who would rather view the artwork from the comfort of their home. The exhibition is subject to be virtual-only depending on the severity of the crisis in the fall. Please keep this in mind when submitting your digital artwork as it will be used in the virtual exhibition. Learn more here.
Pretty in Pink
Pink is a color that invites opinion. Visually, pink is a pale tint of red. Traditionally, it is often associated with femininity, tenderness, sweetness, and romance. A pastel pink often symbolizes childhood and innocence, whereas a shade of bold or hot pink links to eroticism and seduction. For this online feature, Treat Gallery invites artists of all mediums to submit pink works for consideration.
WHO: All artists
DATES: August 2020
LOCATION: Online
DEADLINE: July 25, 2020
FINE PRINT: Application includes short statement and biography. You may submit 1 image for $5, 2 images for $10, or 3 images for $15. Learn more here.
Open Call: Superfine! Art Fair | Seattle 2020
Meet your next collector and gain lifetime career benefits at Seattle’s first art fair for independent artists.
WHO: Artists worldwide
DATES: August 19 - 22, 2020
LOCATION: Seattle, WA
DEADLINE: July 27, 2020
FINE PRINT: Booths are selling quickly, so they recommend applying early. Superfine! takes no commission on any artwork sold either in person at the fair or via our online E-Fair. Learn more here.
10th Annual "Animals" Online Art Competition
Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery announces an art call for the gallery’s 10th Annual “Animals” Online Juried Art Competition. The “Animals” theme will be the artist’s interpretation and depiction of animal art. Animal subjects include any living organisms, mammals, birds, insects and any animals that may also live in water.
WHO: 2D and 3D artists worldwide
DATES: August 1 - 31, 2020
LOCATION: Online
DEADLINE: July 27, 2020
FINE PRINT: We invite them to send the gallery their best abstract or representational art for this competition. Learn more here.
2020 Juried Exhibition: Masters as Muses
Many artists can look back and find master artists who have provided inspiration for their style of execution or subject matter. In “Masters as Muses” artists are challenged to include an image of a master artist’s creation in their application that has inspired their style of art or a specific subject matter. The idea is not to copy or re-create the master but to re-invent.
WHO: Artists worldwide
DATES: September 30, 2020 - January 10, 2021
LOCATION: Cedarburg, WI
DEADLINE: July 31, 2020
FINE PRINT: At the time of online entry, submit a digital image of the masterful artwork that inspired it along with a brief artist statement. Learn more here.
International Online Juried Bi-Monthly Solo Exhibition
Camelback Gallery is hosting an online juried solo exhibition. Visual art mediums allowed are painting, photography, drawing, sculpture, digital art, fiber art & collage. All subject matter allowed. The artwork must be a cohesive body of work with the same distinct style, consistency and theme.
WHO: All artists 18 and older
DATES: 6 artists will be chosen from the two deadlines for the upcoming year's solo exhibition schedule and artists will be assigned in random order for following show dates: September 1 - October 31, 2020, November 1 - December 31, 2020, January 1 - February 28, 2021, March 1 - April 30, 2021, May 1 - June 30, 2021, July 1 - August 31, 2021
LOCATION: Online
DEADLINE: July 31, 2020
FINE PRINT: The artist must have at least 6 cohesive pieces for the solo exhibition but may present up to 10 for Jury. Learn more here.
Mixed Media Exhibition
Art Center is hosting a juried group exhibition of Mixed-Media Art. Mixed-media is the creative combination of two or more different mediums that are used to create a new and distinctive piece of art. Mixed-media artwork can incorporate elements of collage, 3-D assemblage, found objects and pages from books, maps, photographs as well as innumerable paint, paper, and cloth combinations.
WHO: All artists working in mixed media
DATES: September 15 - October 24, 2020
LOCATION: Dover, NH
DEADLINE: July 31, 2020
FINE PRINT: All mixed-media works will be considered. The exhibition will be available to view in person by appointment. Learn more here.
ARTIST RESIDENCIES
SPAO’s Artist Residency
The School of the Photographic Arts: Ottawa (SPAO) invites applications for the Artist in Residence for Photographers and Photo-Based Artists. This 6-month photographic mentorship and residency is one of the most unique residencies of its kind. This residency is designed for visual artists who have previously completed formal training in visual arts and/or lens-based media and are ready to intensely focus on an aspect of their existing career or on a specific upcoming project.
WHO: Photographers worldwide. Candidates should have completed formal training in the field of photography, visual arts or equivalent.
START DATE: October 1, 2020
DURATION: Six months
LOCATION: Ottawa, Ontario
DEADLINE: July 31, 2020
FINE PRINT: SPAO welcomes all visual backgrounds, motivations and styles. As a self-directed residency, artists are afforded the time and environment needed to research, experiment, and produce an on-going body of work as a professional working artist. Learn more here.
Are you ready to apply?
Don’t miss out on the perfect call for your art business just because you can’t get your application together in time.
With Artwork Archive, you can manage jury-ready photos of your work, their inventory details, and up-to-date documents like artist statements and bios that make submitting easy. Plus, track the locations of your artwork so you never submit a piece that’s supposed to be showing somewhere else.
The best part is you can add the application and show dates to the “My Schedule” feature and receive email reminders before it’s time to submit and send off your work. You’ll never forget these opportunities or appear unprofessional again.
And, don’t forget to check out our Call-for-Entry page!
We showcase the best opportunities for artists, from juried shows and artist grants to public art commissions and residencies, with more opportunities being posted each day.
It’s free to use for artists across the globe. And, you can filter by opportunity type, location, event dates, eligibility, and more to find exactly what your art career needs to thrive.
Download the Complete 2020 Opportunity Guide for Artists here.
