September 29, 2026

October 2026 Artist Opportunities: Key Open Calls, Grants, and Residencies

October 2026 brings a dense slate of opportunities for artists and designers across media. Highlights range from an annual group exhibition at Arch Enemy Arts in January 2027 to The Hopper Prizes $13,000 in artist grants, alongside juried shows, prizes, and residencies with deadlines spanning early October through December, plus several rolling programs.

Open Calls and Prizes

Arch Enemy Arts Call for Artists (International): Annual January 2027 group exhibition spotlighting new and emerging talent; the gallery focuses on representational, dark surrealism, magical realism, post-graffiti, pop-surrealism, narrative, illustrative, and figurative work across mediums. Open worldwide; submit up to three works. Deadline: 11:59 p.m. EST on November 13, 2026.
The Hopper Prize (International): Two awards of $4,500 and four awards of $1,000 from a total pool of $13,000; all visual media eligible. Additional exposure via a 30 artist shortlist, an online journal, and an Instagram account currently reaching over 175,000. Deadline: 11:59 p.m. PST on November 17, 2026.
Black Public Media Open Call for Documentaries (U.S.): Independent filmmakers may submit feature-length nonfiction projects suitable for public media distribution for the 10th PitchBLACK Forum & Awards. Deadline: 11:59 p.m. PDT on October 1, 2026.
American Color Print Society 86th Annual Fall Exhibition (U.S.): Open to members and non-members; all accepted artists are eligible for awards. Fee: $45 non-members ($20 members). Deadline: October 1, 2026.
The Defiance Award (Australia): Prize for exceptional Australian painters, offering financial support and professional development. The overall winner receives a solo exhibition at Defiance Gallery, a two-week residency at Giverny Artist Residency in Queenstown, New Zealand (sponsored by the Nock Art Foundation), return flights to Queenstown from an Australian capital city, and $5,000 cash. Deadline: October 7, 2026.
Royal Institute of Oil Painters Annual Exhibition 2026 (International): Founded in 1882; exclusively promotes and exhibits oil painting. Optional theme: winter rituals. Fees: a322 per work, or a314.50 per work for artists aged 35 or under. Deadline: 12 p.m. BST on October 9, 2026.
MAKE Commercial Workshop (International): Two-semester, mentor-led experience for junior and senior BFA/BA students to produce a 15-second, character-driven animated ad. Deadline: 11:59 p.m. EDT on October 11, 2026.
YICCA Art Prize (International): Open to all media and techniques; prize pool of 5,500. Application fee starts at 50. Deadline: October 8, 2026.
2027 ArtFields Festival (Southeastern U.S.): Lake City, South Carolina, April 9 to May 1, 2027; artworks compete for over $100,000 in cash prizes. Fee: $25. Deadline: November 1, 2026.
2027 Beam Camp Project Open Call (International): Beam Center (Strafford, New Hampshire) seeks design proposals for an ambitious public artwork realized with more than 100 young people. Award: $5,000; fabrication budget approx. $15,000. Deadline: 11:59 p.m. EST on November 30, 2026.
Material Works Art Award 2026 (International): One-time $2,500 awards in exchange for original works for its collection. Fee: 40. Deadline: December 6, 2026, or when the first 300 artworks are submitted, whichever comes first.

Grants, Residencies, & Fellowships

The Supporting Act Foundation Artist Grants (Europe): 10 unrestricted grants of 10,000 each, paid in monthly 1,000 installments; eligible in Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, or the U.K. Deadline: October 1, 2026.
New York City Film Production Grant (New York City): Production grants up to $30,000 for early career film directors. Deadline: 4 p.m. EDT on October 1, 2026.
Printed Matter Publisher Work Grant (International): Three unrestricted $10,000 grants for independent artists book publishers, plus a featured exhibitor presence at a forthcoming Printed Matter NY or LA Art Book Fair. Deadline: October 4, 2026.
The Meridian Award (International): $1,000 unrestricted cash prize; $25 application fee. Deadline: October 15, 2026.
Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition Grants for Artists (Oklahoma): Community/Artist Partnership and Creative Projects grants up to $1,500; Education Assistance and Professional Basics grants of $500. Deadline: October 15, 2026.
MAKE Animation Thesis Grants (International): First place $2,000; second $1,000; third $500. Deadline: 11:59 p.m. EST on November 6, 2026.
Asian Cultural Counsel Grants (Asia): ACC offers the six-month New York Fellowship, the one- to six-month Individual Fellowship, and the Graduate Fellowship for a student from Asia to study in the U.S. Deadline: 9:59 a.m. EST on November 10, 2026.
The Adolf and Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant (International): One-time assistance for painters, printmakers, and sculptors; awardees typically receive $5,000 and up to $15,000. Deadline: Rolling.
Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant (International): One-year grants up to $50,000 for painters, sculptors, and artists working on paper. Deadline: Rolling.
Art Omi Dance, Music, and Architecture Residencies (International): Three tracks; application fee $15. Deadline: October 1, 2026.
Lighthouse Works Fellowship (International): Six-week fellowships on Fishers Island, New York, with housing, food, studio space, and $1,750 support; shared three-story Victorian house; studios about 1.5 miles/a 30-minute walk. Fee: $25. Deadline: October 1, 2026.
Woodson Art Museum Glass Box Studio Residency (International): On the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum campus (Wausau, Wisconsin); honorarium plus reimbursement for travel, mileage, and meals; supplies covered for workshops, classes, and outreach. Fee: $25. Deadline: October 1, 2026.
Abrons Art Center Visual Artist AIRspace Residency (New York City): Supports three visual artists for a 20-month residency; each fellow is paired with a professional artist mentor (an alum) for creative and professional development.