Opportunities
British Council Connections Through Culture
British Council
UK/International
Grant
Multidisciplinary
Supports international collaboration projects. Particularly relevant for artists seeking to build cross-cultural partnerships.
Mid-career
June 20, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
Up to £10,000
Open Call: ING Unseen Talent Award
Unseen Amsterdam
Netherlands
Open Call
Photography
Focused on emerging photographers. Good visibility within contemporary photography networks.
Emerging
June 30, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
€3,000 prize
Elephant Trust Grant
Elephant Trust
UK
Grant
Visual Arts
Small but respected UK grant supporting new work. Accessible and artist-focused, often supporting experimental practice.
Early to mid-career
July 5, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
£2,000–£5,000
Bloomberg New Contemporaries
New Contemporaries
UK
Open Call
Visual Arts
A key platform for recent graduates. Strong curatorial selection; significant career visibility if selected.
Emerging
July 10, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
Exhibition opportunity
Henry Moore Foundation Artist Awards
Henry Moore Foundation
UK
Grant
Sculpture
Prestigious award for sculptors. Highly competitive but significant in terms of recognition and financial support.
Mid-career
July 15, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
Up to £20,000
Creative Capital Award
Creative Capital
USA
Grant
Multidisciplinary
Major US-based funding body supporting innovative work. Highly competitive but transformative if secured.
Mid-career
July 15, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
$10,000–$50,000
Open Call: New Light Prize Exhibition
New Light
Yorkshire, UK
Open Call
Visual Arts
Focused on artists in the North of England. A credible platform with meaningful regional visibility and collector engagement.
All levels
July 20, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
Prize fund available
Open Call: The Other Art Fair
Saatchi Art
London/Global
Open Call
Contemporary Art
Commercially focused fair with direct collector access. Suitable for artists ready to sell and present independently.
Emerging to mid-career
July 25, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
Stand fee applies
Acme Studios Residency Programme
Acme Studios
London, UK
Residency
Visual Arts
A respected London-based studio provider. Offers long-term value through stability and access to a serious peer network.
Emerging to mid-career
July 25, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
Subsidised studio space
Freelands Foundation Open Call
Freelands Foundation
UK
Grant
Visual Arts
A respected funding body supporting emerging artists. Particularly relevant for painters and those with a strong studio-based practice.
Early-career
July 31, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
£5,000–£10,000
CuratorSpace Open Call Programme
CuratorSpace
UK
Open Call
Mixed disciplines
Accessible entry point for early-career artists. Quality varies by organiser, but useful for building exhibition experience.
Emerging
July 31, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
None / varies
Jan Van Eyck Academie Residency
Jan Van Eyck Academie
Netherlands
Residency
Multidisciplinary
Research-led residency with strong theoretical focus. Ideal for artists working conceptually or cross-discipline.
Mid-career
August 1, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
Stipend + studio
Hospitalfield Residency
Hospitalfield
Arbroath, Scotland, UK
Residency
Visual Arts
A highly respected residency with a strong emphasis on process and peer exchange. Particularly suited to reflective, research-led practices.
Emerging to mid-career
August 10, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
Partially funded
Jerwood Arts Bursaries
Jerwood Arts
UK
Grant
Visual Arts
Well-regarded small-scale bursaries aimed at early-career artists. Accessible and credible, often a useful stepping stone to larger funding.
Early-career
August 15, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
£1,000–£5,000
Delfina Foundation Residency
Delfina Foundation
London, UK
Residency
Visual Arts
Research-led residency with global reach. Best suited to artists engaging with critical or socially engaged practices.
Mid-career
August 20, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
Fully funded
Open Call: Wells Art Contemporary
Wells Art Contemporary
Wells, UK
Open Call
Visual Arts
Well-regarded regional exhibition with national reach. Strong for painters and sculptors looking to build exhibition history.
All levels
August 30, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
£20 entry fee
Aesthetica Art Prize
Aesthetica Magazine
UK
Open Call
Contemporary Art
A highly visible competition with exhibition exposure in York. Good for artists seeking both profile and publication.
All levels
August 31, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
£5,000 prize fund
Somerset House Studios Residency
Somerset House
London, UK
Residency
Multidisciplinary
A high-profile creative residency with strong institutional backing. Particularly relevant for interdisciplinary and digital practices.
Mid-career
September 1, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
Subsidised + support
The Gilbert Bayes Award
Royal Society of Sculptors
UK
Grant
Sculpture
A strong early-career award for sculptors with an emphasis on emerging talent and professional development.
Early-career
September 1, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
£5,000 prize
Developing Your Creative Practice (DYCP)
Arts Council England
UK
Grant
All disciplines
A core funding route for individual artists in England. Strong emphasis on development rather than production; best suited to clearly articulated growth.
Early to mid-career
September 5, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
£2,000–£10,000
Cove Park Residencies
Cove Park
Scotland, UK
Residency
Visual Arts + interdisciplinary
International residency programme in a rural setting. Offers both funded and self-funded routes with strong creative focus.
All levels
September 5, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
Funded options available
Open Call: Royal Society of British Artists Exhibition
Mall Galleries
London, UK
Open Call
Painting, drawing
A traditional but credible exhibition route. Particularly relevant for artists working within figurative or landscape traditions.
All levels
September 10, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
£20 entry fee
Gasworks Residencies Programme
Gasworks London
London, UK
Residency
Contemporary Art
Internationally recognised residency with strong curatorial networks. Highly competitive but offers significant career development and visibility.
Mid-career
September 10, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
Stipend + studio + accommodation
Open Call: ING Discerning Eye Exhibition
Discerning Eye
London, UK
Open Call
Painting, drawing, sculpture
A credible and long-standing exhibition platform. Good exposure with a selection panel model; competitive but accessible.
All levels
September 15, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
£15–£20 entry fee
Open Call: Whitechapel Gallery Open
Whitechapel Gallery
London, UK
Open Call
Contemporary Art
Institutional exhibition platform with strong curatorial credibility. Competitive but valuable exposure.
All levels
September 15, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
£20 entry fee
Triangle Network Residencies
Triangle Network
International
Residency
Visual Arts
Global residency network with strong peer exchange focus. Particularly suited to artists interested in process and collaboration.
Emerging to mid-career
September 20, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
Varies (often funded)
Künstlerhaus Bethanien Residency
Künstlerhaus Bethanien
Berlin, Germany
Residency
Contemporary Art
Prestigious Berlin residency with strong European networks. Competitive but career-enhancing.
Mid-career
September 30, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
Fully funded options available
Artangel Open Commission
Artangel
UK
Commission
Contemporary Art
Highly prestigious commission opportunity. Concept-driven proposals required; significant visibility if realised.
Mid to established
October 1, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
Major commission budget
Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant
Pollock-Krasner Foundation
International (US-based)
Grant
Visual Arts
Well-established international grant supporting painters and sculptors. Strong track record required; best suited to artists with consistent exhibition history.
Mid-career
October 15, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
$5,000–$25,000
Fondation Fiminco Residency
Fondation Fiminco
Paris, France
Residency
Visual Arts
Paris-based residency with growing international profile. Strong for artists seeking European exposure.
Emerging to mid-career
October 20, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
Studio + support
Open Call: Sunny Art Prize
Sunny Art Centre
London, UK
Open Call
Visual Arts
London-based prize with international reach. Offers exhibition and residency opportunities.
All levels
October 31, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
£6,000 prize fund
Banff Centre Visual Arts Residency
Banff Centre
Canada
Residency
Visual Arts
Internationally respected residency with strong facilities. Ideal for artists seeking concentrated production time.
Mid-career
November 1, 2026 at 12:00:00 AM
Partially funded