As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, autumn brings with it a new season of opportunities for artists. As you’re looking ahead towards the last months of the year, it’s the perfect moment to consider residencies, fellowships, and awards that can spark new directions in your practice. From international programmes to local initiatives, residencies and open calls are designed to support big ideas and emerging and established artists.
Whether you’re looking for a quiet retreat to develop a project, a platform to present your work, or the recognition that comes with a competitive award, this season brings opportunities designed to nurture ambition and creativity. Here are 10 carefully selected opportunities worth putting on your radar this autumn.
India Art Fair
Deadline: September 22
The leading platform for modern and contemporary art from South Asia. The fair provides international exposure for artists, galleries, and cultural practitioners.
Who can apply: Partially-realised project proposals from emerging artists with no prior solo exhibitions and none scheduled before March 2026.
How to apply: Send the following materials to opencall@praf.in: an updated CV, an artist statement, information on the proposed project, along with a booth plan for 25 sq metres of space, a detailed production budget and installation requirements, and 8–10 images of previous work as a single PDF file.
Fees and Application: There is no application fee. The selected project proposal will receive production support of 2 lakh rupees, installation support of 3 lakh rupees, and a dedicated space to showcase their work at India Art Fair 2026.
Foundwork Artist Grant
Deadline: September 26
A competitive grant open to contemporary artists working across disciplines. Foundwork supports independent practices with unrestricted funding to advance artistic research and production.
Who can apply: Open to emerging and mid-career artists worldwide, working in any artistic medium.
How to apply: Register for a Foundwork artist membership – if you don’t already have one—and create or update your artist profile. Ensure your profile includes a minimum of 6 artworks and a clear artist statement, maintained throughout the full selection period (5:00 pm PT September 26, 2025 – 5:00 pm PT December 31, 2025).
Fees and Support: There is no application fee. This year’s honoree will receive an unrestricted $10,000 USD grant, remote studio visits with each of the jurors, and an interview published in the Foundwork Dialogues program. Three additional artists will be named to the 2025 Short List.
2025 Ecco Eco Award
Deadline: September 30
The ECCO Awards recognise outstanding contributions to contemporary art, offering visibility and resources to artists pushing conceptual and aesthetic boundaries.
Who can apply: Emerging and established artists. Applicants must demonstrate a particular connection to or with Rome. Two main categories will be considered: (a) physical pieces such as paintings, sculptures, installations or constructs, and (b) digital works, whether encapsulated in a USB, a program, NFT or other electronic means.
How to apply: Fill out the application form: https://www.classicalromanartsfoundation.org/inauguration and send it, together with all visual material, by email to contact@classicalromanartsfoundation.org.
Fees and Support: There is no application or submission fee required. The first prize consists of 1,000 Euro and 500 Euro for the second prize for the acquisition of certain rights (some or all) of one or more selected works.
500 Capp Street Residency
Deadline: September 30
Hosted at the historic David Ireland House in San Francisco, this residency invites artists to engage with the founder’s legacy while creating new work that resonates with the site’s unique context. Artists will have two months for research, which will culminate in a two-month exhibition after the research period ends. This year’s program will highlight the conceptual and urge artists to create work that pushes the boundaries of material and medium.
Who can apply: Any artist over the age of 15 based anywhere in the world can apply. Basic English requirements are necessary.
How to apply: Complete the application form: https://500cappstreet.org/2025-2026-500-capp-international-artist-residency/
Fees and Support: There is a $10 application fee. The artist in residence will receive a $2,500 honorarium (if a collective, or more than one artist, the amount will be split between participants), $5,000 travel stipend, and up to a $10,000 production budget for their exhibition.
25 x 25 Art Gene Residency
Deadline: October 1
A residency program designed to support emerging and mid-career artists, based in Barrow-in-Furness, England. Art Gene provides time, space, and resources for experimentation and the development of ambitious new projects.
Who can apply: Artists or collectives focused on social engagement, community, and sustainability.
How to apply: A CV, proposal, and images of your work are required. Applicants are also asked to complete the Art Gene Equalities Survey. Send your complete application via email to rachael.barker@art-gene.co.uk.
Fees and Support: There is no application fee. Total Budget: £10,500 – encompasses all financial support provided to the selected artist(s). Artist Fee: £7,500 – based on a 25-day residency at £320 per day. Travel & Accommodation: Up to £1,500 reimbursable (upon receipt submission). Materials Budget: £1,500 allotted for materials and production needs.
Project for Empty Space Artist in Residence Program
Deadline: October 6
This two-year residency invites four visual artists to join our Newark, NJ–based community to create work that centres social impact and engagement. The mission of the program is multifaceted, designed to benefit both the Artists In Residence and the broader public. It aims to create a symbiotic relationship between artist and audience, serving as a conduit for new artistic practices and socially driven interventions. Throughout the residency, artists receive critical resources and support to sustain and deepen their practices.
Who can apply: The programme is open to visual and interdisciplinary artists based in the United States. Applicants are typically late-emerging or early mid-career.
How to apply: Complete the online application form: https://projectforemptyspace.submittable.com/
Fees and Support: There is no application fee. The residency includes: two years of free studio space at Project for Empty Space in Newark, NJ, $5,000 unrestricted honorarium, $2,500 materials stipend, a culminating solo exhibition at one of our Newark-based gallery locations, support for community-facing programming and public engagement initiatives, and access to professional development, including studio visits, feedback sessions, and networking opportunities.
The Earth Partner Prize
Deadline: October 10
An international prize that highlights artists engaging with ecological, environmental, and sustainability themes. The award supports creative practices that foster new dialogues around humanity’s relationship with the Earth.
Who can apply: Artists and creatives aged 14 to 30.
How to apply: Complete and submit the online application.
Fees and Support: Application is completely free—no fees required. Eight finalists will be awarded cash prizes of $10K, $5K or $2K. An additional 20 creatives will receive honourable mentions by a globally recognised panel of judges.
Art Omi Open Call
Deadline: October 15
Art Omi is an international artist residency based in Hudson, New York, that brings together artists from around the world. Through a competitive jury process, residents are invited to attend Art Omi’s residencies at no cost to themselves, except travel expenses. Art Omi offers residents the time and space to hone their own craft while cultivating a vibrant community of artists from around the globe. You can also apply for Art Omi residencies in the following categories: Architecture, Music, and Writing.
Who can apply: Artists from all over the world who have been professionally active for at least the past five years. Disciplines include visual arts, sound art, performance, and social practice. Having studied art is not a requirement: applications from self-taught professional artists are accepted.
How to apply: Complete the online application form and submit required materials: https://artomi.submittable.com/submit/332375/art-omi-artists-2026-application
Fees and Support: There is no application fee. Art Omi fellowships ensure that artists from specific groups are represented in the residency cohort. When applying, you will be asked if you are eligible for any of the available fellowships.
Sonntag Grant for Photography
Deadline: October 31
The Sonntag Grant for Photography is launching its first edition in Berlin in 2025. This grant supports FLINTA (female, lesbian, inter, non-binary, trans, agender) artists with €3,000 to develop new or ongoing projects. This open call welcomes all photographic approaches, emphasising clarity of thought over polished results.
Who can apply: This grant is only available to FLINTA artists. The term originated in Germany and may not be common in other countries or parts of the world.
How to apply: Read the details and complete an online application.
Fees and Support: There is a submission fee of €10.
ArtWorks Open 2025: Barbican Arts Group Trust
Deadline: November 4
Summary: A London-based residency program offering affordable studio space and exhibition opportunities. BAGT supports artists developing new work within a vibrant creative community.
Who can apply: 2D and 3D artists may apply. Please note that only works with dimensions (including frame) up to 100 cm height, width, or depth will be accepted for exhibition.
How to apply: Pay for submissions and complete the online form.
Fees and Support: There is a fee of £12 per artwork submitted. Up to four works may be submitted per artist.
