With summer approaching, it’s time for fresh inspiration, creative connection, and opportunities to grow. A thrilling adventure begins here – these open calls provide visual artists with opportunities to showcase their work, create amongst like-minded people, receive support and a platform from institutions, and get inspired by new regions! Whether you’re looking for a residency, an exhibition, or a thematic challenge, this summer’s opportunities could be the next step in your creative journey.
Cavendish Arts Science Fellowship at Girton College
Deadline: May 10th, 17:00 GMT+1.
The annual Cavendish Arts Science Fellowship is a transformative artistic fellowship supporting the Cavendish Arts Science ideal of experimenting, decentring and re-imagining. It offers artists the opportunity to develop intriguing ideas through engagement with physicists and those in other fields, as well as to playfully experiment with new approaches to their practice that are transformative and push conventional artistic and scientific boundaries.
The one-year Fellowship runs from October 2025 to October 2026, and includes a residency period in Cambridge lasting at least six months up to one year. Exact dates of the residency period are flexible and are to be agreed upon with the selected artist.
Who can apply?
Any artist internationally is welcome to apply, as the fellowship is not confined to an aesthetic, theme or medium. Artists with no previous experience of working with scientists or in a scientific environment are particularly encouraged to apply – adventurous artists who explore alternative ways of knowing the world, and who work with communities that are not privileged in the mainstream.
How to apply?
Fill the online submission form: https://form.jotform.com/250382883486367.
Fees and Support:
There is no application fee.
The artist will receive a stipend of £10,000, which includes all taxes and is a contribution towards the artist’s living costs and expenses, a travel budget of up to £3,000, depending on where the artist is based, and a production budget of £10,000. The artist will also be granted rent-free accommodation, and meals will be provided at Girton College during the residency period in Cambridge.
Sheepscot Arts Preserve – Artist Residency 2025
Deadline: May 15th.
Sheepscot Arts Preserve in Maine, US, is a new artist residency centre dedicated to supporting Visionary, Outsider, and Narrative Artists of all disciplines: art that has a searching existential quality to it. Art based on personal mythologies, that seeks the spiritual dimension, that has a conversation with the surrounding environment, that tells a linear story of who you are, or who your people are. Or simply, art that tells a compelling story that resonates in a way that allows the viewer to see their own story, or their own questions, within the context of it.
They offer 6 sessions, each lasting one week, ten days or two weeks.
Who can apply?
Visual artists, performers, and writers.
How to apply?
A proposal, CV, biography, artist statement, and samples of your work are necessary. Submit these through the application form: https://www.cognitoforms.com/SheepscotArtsPreserve/ApplicationForIndividualResidencies
Fees and Support:
There is a $40 application fee.
The residencies are free of charge to all artists.
Young Fresh Different’25 (Berlin and Istanbul editions)
Zilberman Gallery has announced two open calls that are currently open for submissions for its Young Fresh Different’25 exhibition in its Berlin and Istanbul locations. The exhibition runs annually to support young artists and takes place as the last exhibition of the season. There are no restrictions or limitations on the topic, style, or material.
Galeri Zilberman Berlin:
Deadline: May 16th, 23:59 CET.
Exhibition at Zilberman Berlin in Goethestr. 82, July 17 – August 23, 2025, opening July 16, 2025.
Who can apply?
Professional artists aged between 18 and 35 who live in Berlin and are not already represented by a gallery. The applicant shall submit a single work to be exhibited, which must not yet have been presented publicly.
How to apply?
To apply, submit one PDF document containing a CV, contact information, a short artist statement, a maximum of 3 high-quality images of the submitted work (including a detail shot), caption info (name, technique, year, dimension) and description of the work (max. of 1000 characters incl. spaces), a portfolio of previous projects along with the captions (max. 5 DIN A4 pages). Video works should be submitted with a link mentioned in the caption of the work in the related PDF.
The information must be in English or German. Send to [email protected].
Fees and Support:
There is no application fee.
Each selected artist will be financed with €300, which includes production and transport. Our team also supports the projects with a set-up team, press work, and visitor service. This artistic fee is to be paid after the end of the exhibition.
Galeri Zilberman Istanbul
Deadline: May 25th, 23:59 CET.
Exhibition at Galeri Zilberman in Mısır Apartmanı from August 2 to 23, 2025.
Who can apply?
Applicants must not be less than 35 years old on January 1, 2025, and must not be represented by any gallery. The artists’ works must not have been shown in the previous editions of Young New Different exhibitions.
How to apply?
The artist must propose a single work or series. Application material must be sent as a single PDF file of a maximum of 10 MB in size and consist of:
- A PDF file containing CV (resume), contact information (phone, e-mail, address) and artist text of a maximum of 300 words.
- PDF file containing images of the proposed work, imprint information (name, technique, year, size) and a work description of a maximum of 300 words.
- Portfolio in PDF format containing a maximum of 5 to 10 works with their citations.
- Photographs of the work must be high resolution. Detail photographs of the proposed work should be included.
- Applications for video works must be made with an encrypted video link (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) and by noting the imprint information in the PDF file mentioned above.
This can be submitted through the application form: https://docs.google.com/forms/viewform.
Fees and Support:
There is no application fee.
Each selected artistic position will be financed with 7500 TL. This artistic fee is to be paid after the end of the exhibition.
2415 Art Residency
Deadline: May 20th.
2415 Art Residency is an artist-run, independent non-profit residency programme dedicated to fostering artistic development and supporting artists’ projects. The name 2415 symbolises the altitude of the residency, and simultaneously a distorted sense of time – an instance where midnight and the unknown merge. 2415 Art Residency is housed in a renovated traditional Naxi courtyard, in Lijiang, China, where residents balance between its historical character and modern amenities.
The Residency will take place from June 20 to September 20, 2025, with a residency period of one to three weeks. Completion of an artistic project during the residency, along with a written residency reflection, is expected. Artists may be invited to participate in exhibitions, performances, workshops, or special events either during or at the end of their residency. Selected works or documentation may be featured on the 2415 Art Residency website and social media.
Who can apply?
Artists (emerging and established): Painters, sculptors, multimedia artists, performance artists, writers, musicians, filmmakers, dancers, and other creative individuals.
Curators, art directors, and visionaries who wish to propose events, gatherings, exhibitions, or other creative initiatives.
Artists with an interest in nature-inspired, site-specific, or research-driven projects are encouraged to apply. Applicants should be able to work independently and adapt to a high-altitude environment.
How to apply?
Create a folder in Google Drive with your full name as the folder title, and make sure the sharing permission is set to “Anyone with the link can view”. Then upload the required documents:
- Portfolio (5-10 relevant works),
- CV,
- Statement of Interest,
- Project Proposal,
- Preferred Residency Dates.
Then, complete the Google Form: https://forms.gle/Uzjvc7vT8YTYeQqS9, and paste the Google Drive link to your application materials in the designated section of the form.
Fees and Support:
There is no application fee, but you should factor in expenses such as food, transportation, travel costs, insurance, and art materials.
Selected artists will receive a studio and accommodation.
2415 Art Residency does not offer stipends or living allowances; artists should seek external funding to support their stay. They are, however, able to provide a letter of support for funding applications.
Designers in Residence Kortrijk 2025 – METAMORPHOSIS
Deadline: May 23rd.
Design Region Kortrijk invites three creatives to work as Designers in Residence on the theme Metamorphosis. The residency will run from September 5 to December 5, 2025, and will engage participants in an intensive design research journey in Kortrijk, inspired by the region’s rich ceramics tradition.
Designregio Kortrijk began as a collaboration between Intermunicipal Leiedal, Chamber of Commerce Voka West-Flanders, City of Kortrijk, University College Howest and Kortrijk Xpo. Since 2017, the Kortrijk region has been part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network: a worldwide network of 350 cities that use creativity as a lever for sustainable development.
The selected designers will participate in the LIVING SUMMERSCHOOL and WONDER Creativity Festival, which will run from October 16 to November 2, 2025. The Designers in Residence Kortrijk will have the opportunity to present their (ongoing) research to a wider audience. Furthermore, the results of the residency will be showcased at the Metamorphosis exhibition at Abby from April 3, 2026, to August 16, 2026.
Who can apply?
Designers who have recently graduated (at a minimum level of Master’s or equivalent experience), are a team player, and have manual skills – conceptual, craftsmanship, production, or fabrication.
How to apply?
By submitting the application form: https://designregio-kortrijk.be/en/open-call-designers-in-residence-kortrijk-2025
Fees and Support:
There is no application fee.
The artist is offered travel reimbursement, accommodation, an artist fee, access to Budalab Open Makerspace and workshop space, expert and practical support from Designregio Kortrijk & Abby Kortrijk.
OCA Funded Residencies at Artica Svalbard, 2026
Deadline: May 23rd.
Artica Svalbard and the Office for Contemporary Art Norway (OCA) invite international visual and performance artists to apply for funded residencies in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, to take place in 2026.
As Artica Svalbard is one of Norway’s leading non-profit arts and culture organisations, offering a platform for discussion and collaboration, they are committed to encouraging residents to raise awareness of Arctic issues and contribute to global conversations through their work, and to challenge existing perceptions of the Arctic while engaging in new ways of thinking. Svalbard is where questions of climate change, geopolitics, migration, and minority perspectives converge. The minimum stay is six consecutive weeks.
Who can apply?
Visual and performance-based artists with an interest in the polar regions and/or global perspectives, conversations, and issues emanating from the High North are encouraged to apply.
How to apply?
By filling out the application form: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx
Fees and Support:
There is no application fee.
Residents will receive funding to support travel, accommodation, and a stipend to cover living expenses. A workspace and access to resources will be provided.
MARK ROTHKO 2025 International Painting Symposium
Deadline: June 1st.
The Mark Rothko 2025 International Painting Symposium will be held on September 12–27, 2025, in Daugavpils, Latvia. The symposium commemorates Rothko’s birthday in his native town and spotlights Daugavpils as a creative, rich hub for contemporary artistic practices. You will have the opportunity to discover the place Rothko spent his childhood, learn about Rothko’s background and see his originals in the museum’s Rothko Room. This inclusive platform for discussion and learning is a wonderful opportunity for channelling these influences into new artworks, which will be exhibited and remain in the museum’s collection.
Who can apply?
Professional artists may apply, and 10 will be selected to take part.
How to apply?
By following the link, scrolling to the bottom of the page and completing the application form: https://rothkomuseum.com/en/museum/catalogues/symposia/mark-rothko
Fees and Support:
There are no application fees, but travel costs to Daugavpils and back are not covered, as well as specific materials and tools. There is a required donation of at least two artworks created during the symposium to the Rothko Museum.
You will receive catering and accommodation in Daugavpils for the duration of the symposium, an individual studio space, basic materials and tools, publicity, recreation, such as guided tours in the city, site visits to local art and culture institutions, and will take part of the Symposium exhibition, opening on September 26, 2025.
Wassaic Project 2025 Haunted Mill Open Call
Deadline: June 2nd, midnight EST.
The Wassaic Project is a non-profit organisation whose mission is to foster positive social change through art and arts education. Located in Wassaic, NY – southeastern New York, in the valley of the Ten Mile River, bordering to the East and West by mountain ranges, it promises to provide you with an unforgettable time
They’re inviting all artists to apply for a fully funded residency to participate in their 2025 Wassaic Project Haunted Mill, with a residency period of one to five weeks. The Haunted Mill is an annual Halloween event and will be open to the public from Friday, October 24, to Sunday, October 26, 2025. Proposals should be spooky and eerie; site-specific installations, outdoor creations, haunted games, creepy trick-or-treat stations, performances or any other ideas that will make your skin crawl!
Who can apply?
All artists are free to apply, but should submit one of two types of work: a site-responsive installation or a performance. The outdoor site-responsive installations will function as trick-or-treating stations for kids, and performance pieces should be PG-13.
How to apply?
You will need your contact information, a project proposal, 1 to 10 work samples (5 or more images of completed works and 1-5 sketches, mock-ups, or works in progress of what you’re thinking about for your installation), and a CV (PDF, 2 pages maximum). If your work is time-based or has video documentation (such as performances), you may also link to media from YouTube, Vimeo, or SoundCloud. Submit these through the form: https://wassaicproject.slideroom.com/#/login/program/83252.
Fees and Support:
There is a $25 application fee. Email Dani Klebes ([email protected]) if you cannot afford the application fee.
Haunted Mill artists will be granted housing in one of the residency houses for 1 to 5 weeks between October 1 and November 3, 2025, as well as a private studio space in Maxon Mills and additional space in the Luther Barn. $500 – $800 honoraria are offered depending on the project.
Fresh 2025 – British Ceramics Biennial
Deadline: June 4th.
Fresh provides a unique platform for early-career artists to inspire and challenge as part of the UK’s largest contemporary ceramics event. It will bring opportunities for networking and benefits from exhibiting alongside established artists.
It is organised by the British Ceramics Biennial (BCB), initiated in 2009, it has grown to be the largest contemporary ceramics event in the UK. Presenting artworks from the UK’s leading ceramicists alongside work by international artists, they work to develop, sustain, and expand innovative ceramics practices. They curate an engaging year-round programme of artist commissions, education and community projects, which feed into a contemporary ceramics biennial that takes place in Stoke-on-Trent.
Who can apply?
Artists who have been living in the UK or Ireland from the point of application to November 2025 and have been maintaining a sustained commitment to creative practice with clay for between 3 and 7 years.
How to apply?
By uploading an artist’s interpretative text and 5 supporting files through the application form: https://www.britishceramicsbiennial.com/about/opportunities/fresh/fresh-2025-application-form/,
as well as completing the BCB diversity and equality monitoring form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/viewform
Fees and Support:
There is no application fee.
Each selected artist will receive a £300 exhibition payment and a £50 transportation budget for the work to the exhibition venue. Fresh exhibitors will benefit from a national marketing campaign and will be considered for the Fresh Talent Prizes.
Singularity Exhibition Open Call by MSU
Deadline: July 4th.
The MSU Museum’s CoLab Studio invites international submissions for Singularity, an exhibition exploring the impacts of artificial intelligence surpassing human intelligence. Any bold, interdisciplinary ideas are welcome – artworks, research, games, performances, or any form that imagines utopian or dystopian futures shaped by AI. Themes to explore include ethics, identity, creativity, consciousness, and democracy.
Who can apply?
Submissions from individuals or groups working locally or internationally in fields related to computer or data science, communications, human-computer interaction, art, psychology, biology, music, or a diverse combination of fields and beyond are welcome. Any artist is eligible, including students.
How to apply?
By sending the application form through Submittable: https://msumuseum.submittable.com/submit/singularity-exhibition-open-call
Fees and Support:
There is no application fee.
Selected projects will receive funding of up to $3,000 to support production costs, shipping, and other expenses. Submissions must include a draft budget.
