The arts world is in an emerging bloom this year, with opportunities to foster creative minds in their blossoming talent across Europe and the international stage. From open calls, widely held residencies, gallery partnerships, and foundation grants, the open call landscape has never been a more fertile ground for artists working across numerous disciplines, whether in film, visual arts, or photography.
For those with the vision and drive, here are several international initiatives, hand-picked by our team, waiting to be seized this spring.
Krupa Art Foundation Young Prize 2026
Deadline: March 31, 2026
Following the success of its first edition, the KAF Young Prize – an international competition for young artists aimed at supporting creators at an early stage of their careers and presenting the most compelling artistic developments of the past two years – has been expanded to include new artistic categories.
This year, artists are invited to apply in three media: painting, digital art, and sculpture and installations. Instead of selecting a single winner, the jury will award three equal financial prizes of EUR 12,000 gross each. All remaining finalists will receive an exhibition fee of EUR 400 gross for participation in the final exhibition, which will take place in Wrocław in Autumn 2026.
Who can apply? The competition is open to international adult participants, as well as students and graduates of art academies, up to 36 years old. Submitted works must have been created within the last two years and correspond to one of the three competition categories.
Fees and support: Participation in the Competition is free of charge.
How to apply? Submission to the Competition must be made in English by completing the online application form available at www.youngartprize.krupaartfoundation.pl.
14th Edition of Wystaw się w CSW
Deadline: March 22, 2026
Since its first edition in 2012, the character of the event has remained unchanged. It aims to create an opportunity for independent photographers to present their work to a wider audience through a post-competition exhibition held at the CSW, where every year the works of the winners are viewed by thousands of visitors. It is also an initiative intended to give participants the chance to share their passion and to encourage them to further develop their artistic interests.
The prize in the competition is the presentation of selected photographs in a post-competition exhibition organised at the CSW Znaki Czasu in Toruń, between May 8 and June 14, 2026
Who can apply? The competition is open to adults residing in Poland. Each participant may submit a maximum of six photographs, which can form a series or constitute a presentation of separate images.
Fees and support: Free to enter.
How to apply? Submit your photographs via https://tally.so/r/A7lp8D.
Underneath the Floorboards
Deadline: March 25, 2026
Underneath the Floorboards is an international open call for avant-garde and experimental image work, within London’s cultural corridor of Hackney. Selected works in its 15th edition will be screened for four weeks on Visual Container TV (an online platform reaching audiences worldwide), and a live screening event is expected in the South of France. The feature welcomes work that creates its own language, free of bias, prejudice, or preference for art school credentials. Recipients will be awarded for outstanding works in Experimental Film, Video Art, Animation, and Documentary.
Who can apply? The call is open to artists and filmmakers from anywhere in the world working in experimental or non-linear forms, including experimental film, video art, visual art, digital art, animation, and experimental documentary. Films are limited to 40 minutes. Multiple entries are accepted, each with a separate submission form.
Fees and support: Fees are charged and range from $6 (Opening) / $12 (Extended).
How to apply? Applications open here
Entanglement. Photographic Exploration Project
Deadline: March 26, 2026
The Photographic Exploration Project and Loop are collaborating on a new open call in the heart of Berlin in July 2026. The theme, Entanglement, invites photographers to explore the intricate networks of connection and expand the concept of the ever-changing shaping of contemporary experience through intimate human relationships to ecological, political, and technological systems, connecting the notions that shape the world.
Who can apply? The call is open to photographers of all ages, nationalities, and backgrounds, with no restrictions on experience or career stage. Selected works will be chosen by an international jury of artists and curators, and a printed exhibition catalogue will be published on the opening day.
Fees and support: €5 (1 image) / €10 (3 images) / €15 (Series).
How to apply? Applications open here
Taliesin. Tabernacle Art Competition (MoMA Machynlleth)
Deadline: April 24, 2026
MOMA’s localised Welsh institution in Machynlleth hosts the annual Tabernacle Art Competition, inviting artists to submit new work inspired by the theme Taliesin. Hosted at the Tabernacle Arts Centre, each selected work will be exhibited from June 27 to September 9, 2026, with a collective prize-giving ceremony on opening day.
Work can be submitted in any medium, including textile-form and photography, though all pieces must be two-dimensional, framed or wood-backed, and available for sale. Prizes include an Adult First prize of £1,200, a Second Prize of £600, and a Third Prize of £300. Youth prizes: Ages 12–17 £100, ages 11 and under £50.
Who can apply? The competition is open to all ages. Artists may submit one new work per entry in any medium. Works must be for sale, inclusive of commission.
Fees and support Adults: £17.50 / Under 18: £5.
How to apply? Pay your entry fee in person, by phone, or online to receive your printed entry pack, entry form, and yellow work label. Deliver completed work to MOMA Machynlleth during delivery week. Further details here
Villa Lena Foundation Residency 2027
Deadline: April 30, 2026
The Villa Lena Foundation is a non-profit organisation nurturing international contemporary voices across art, music, film, literature, fashion, and other disciplines. Set within hectares of Tuscan olive groves and vineyards, located an hour from Florence and Pisa, the 2027 residency places collaborative exchange at its heart. Selected applicants reside in a 19th-century villa, given a dedicated studio space, and partake in weekly events and open studios. All successful applicants are asked to donate one artwork to the Foundation at the close of their residency.
Who can apply? The residency is open to international artists working across all creative disciplines. Artists in Residency (AIR) join the programme between 4-5 weeks from April to October. Artist fee and a contribution to the public program apply. A letter of recommendation is strongly encouraged and may impact selection.
Fees and support Application fee: €21.
How to apply? Applications open here
The Hopper Prize – Spring 2026 Artist Grants
Deadline: May 12, 2026
The Hopper Prize is a reputable international open call offering unimpeded cash grants to artists and photographers at any stage of their career. Now in its latest cycle, the programme awards a total of $13,000 across six recipients, two grants of $4,500 and four grants of $1,000, alongside archiving, editorials, features, and journal interviews for a broader selection of finalists.
Who can apply? The call is open to all artists and photographers worldwide, aged 18 and older, working in any medium, genre, or subject matter. There are no restrictions on experience, background, or career stage.
Fees and support: $40 submission fee.
How to apply? Applications open here
8th MEAM Hall
Deadline: May 31, 2026
MEAM Museum and Fundación de las Artes are collaborating on a new international small-format group exhibition in the heart of Barcelona and Madrid in 2026. MEAM invites artists to explore contemporary figurative art and expand the concept of the ever-changing shaping of contemporary involvement through small-format works, connecting various notions that shape the world.
Who can apply? The call is open to artists of all ages, nationalities, and backgrounds, with no restrictions on experience or career stage. Selected works will be chosen by an international jury of artists and curators, and a printed exhibition catalogue will be published on the opening day.
Fees and support: Participation is free of charge.
How to apply? Applications open here
Mark Rothko 2026 International Painting Symposium
Deadline: June 1, 2026
The Rothko Museum invites applicants to its annual International Painting Symposium, held in Daugavpils, Latvia, the home of the artist, in the autumn season of 2026. Now in its third decade, the symposium leads ten selected painters into residence within the museum’s framework, placing practice in dialogue with Rothko’s original works and the city’s distinctive atmosphere.
Rooted in Rothko’s layered, meditative, melancholic language, the programme culminates in a cross-cultural group exhibition, opening on October 2, 2026, with new works entering the museum’s permanent collection.
Who can apply? The call is open to professional artists of all nationalities. Ten participants will be selected through an open competition, with applications assessed by a jury in accordance with the completed form, CV, and submitted visuals.
Fees and support: Participation is free of charge.
How to apply? Selected participants will be notified after June 10, 2026, and must confirm within five days of receiving their invitation. Apply here
6th Officine Saffi Award
Deadline: June 26, 2026
Welcoming artists, designers, and craftspeople, the Officine Saffi Award is an international prize dedicated to contemporary ceramics. Its current annual theme, Forms of Belonging, explores the human need for connection and questioning how, in an increasingly fractured social and political structure, the material world can both generate and reach a sense of shared humanity.
Selected finalists will exhibit their work in the exhibition, with the winner receiving a First Prize of €10,000, alongside six Residency Prizes with leading international names. Prizes include a First Prize of €10,000, six international Residency Prizes, and the opportunity to exhibit in the finalists’ exhibition.
Who can apply? The award is open to artists and designers of all nationalities committed to ceramics as their primary medium. Submitted works must respond to the theme Forms of Belonging.
Fees and support: Free to enter.
How to apply? Artists are encouraged to read the Rules of Entry and familiarise themselves with the application. Applications open here
Arte Laguna Prize
Deadline: June 30, 2026
Now in its 21st edition, the Arte Laguna Prize is one of the most prestigious international competitions for contemporary art, with over two decades of history in supporting emerging talent. Organised by the Museum of Contemporary Art Venice (MoCA), selected finalists will exhibit at the esteemed Arsenale Nord in Venice.
Special prize partners, including galleries, foundations, and other establishments, each select one winner for bespoke prospects and opportunities, from residencies to festival participation. FOMAS (Forgiatura Moderna Acciai Speciali) is additionally offering three cash prizes for works exploring the transformation of steel, alongside a three-month residency in Shanghai.
Who can apply? The prize is open to emerging and established artists of all nationalities working across any medium, including painting, sculpture, photography, video art, digital art, performance, and land art.
Fees and support Over 35: €122/ Under 35: €97,60.
How to apply? Applications open here
14th International Ceramics Exhibition in Mino, Japan
Deadline: January 29, 2027
The International Ceramics Festival Mino and Ceramics Park MINO are organising the 14th edition of one of the world’s largest international ceramics competitions in Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan, in autumn 2027. The theme, Innovation Without Borders, invites ceramicists to explore modern and technological approaches and expand the concept of the shaping of contemporary experience through forms of ceramics, bridging the 10,000-year tradition of the medium with future-oriented proposals.
Who can apply? The call is open to ceramic artists of all ages, nationalities, and backgrounds, with no restrictions on experience or career stage. The previous edition attracted thousands of entries from over 70 countries. Selected works will be chosen by an international jury, and the festival includes various events highlighting local culture and industry.
Fees and support: Participation is free of charge.
How to apply? Applications open here
