Art Grants & Opportunities

Paddo Painting Prize 2026

A $30,000 Annual National Acquisitive Prize, now in its 23rd year for a painting inspired by the Australian landscape.

Paddo Sculpture Prize 2026

An inaugural $10,000 Annual National Non-acquisitive Prize for a 3D free-standing sculpture inspired by the Australian landscape.

Every Reader Has A Story — NZ Children's Books Week Creative Writing Competition

Young NZ readers in Years 5–13 share a true personal story about a book that changed them, with book prizes and publication in The Sapling.

BigCi Environmental Awards 2026

Two international artists win a 4-week residency plus A$5,000 to create environmentally focused work near the Blue Mountains, NSW.

New Emergence Art Prize 2026

International open call for emerging artists working in any medium, with prizes worth over £5,000 including cash, materials, mentoring and a residency.

Takawaenga Akoranga | Learning Facilitator

Casual role delivering art-based learning programmes for school and community groups at Auckland Art Gallery and through outreach.

New Music Kids Funding

Funding up to $11,000 for NZ children's music artists to professionally record and promote singles for tamariki.

Call for Web Residencies No. 22 »Ignore All Previous Instructions«

Six-week online residency with €1,200 grant for artists creating work that disrupts, hijacks, or glitches extractive digital platforms and AI systems.

Creative Communities Scheme

Community arts grants of typically under $5,000 NZD for local arts projects focused on access, diversity, or young people.

Projet Betula Screening Series Open Call 2026: Deafening Silence

International open call for experimental films and moving-image works exploring silence as shaped by power, displacement, and survival — screened in Paris, Sept

2027 Summer Exhibition – The Wassaic Project

Open call to exhibit in the historic Maxon Mills building in New York, welcoming ready-to-hang work, site-specific installations, performances, and printed work

Request for Proposals for the 2027 Courtyard Plinth Commission

Commission for a craft, design or architecture installation on Objectspace's outdoor courtyard plinth, displayed March 2027–March 2028.

Wells Art Contemporary (WAC) 2026 - Gallery Show

Showcase your innovative visual art at the prestigious Wells Cathedral. Open to international artists working in any medium, with cash awards and prizes availab

K3 Residency Programme 2027/2028

Three paid 8-month choreography residencies in Hamburg for early-career choreographers, running August 2027 to April 2028.

TaDA Residency 2027

A Swiss residency for international artists and designers to collaborate with leading textile companies and institutions in Eastern Switzerland.

Call for Exhibition Proposals 2027

Submit exhibition proposals for Auckland Council's five community arts venues across Tāmaki Makaurau for their 2027 programme.

Connections Through Culture Grants 2026

Grants of up to £5,000 for bilateral creative collaborations between UK and Aotearoa New Zealand practitioners, with priority themes of Climate and Māori & Paci

National Secondary School Art Awards 2026

Annual art prize open to Year 11–13 students nationwide, with finalists exhibited at Pah Homestead in Auckland and prizes totalling $6,500 NZD.

Proximity to Damage — Visions of a Compromised Everyday Life

International photography contest exploring damage as an everyday condition — environmental, emotional, social, and relational. Open to all photographers 18+.

Decay, Corrosion, Rust

International juried photography open call exploring decay, corrosion and rust, with $4,000 in cash prizes and an online gallery exhibition.

London Short Film Festival 2027

Submit your short film to the UK’s leading BAFTA-qualifying short film festival. Open to all genres under 45 minutes, with cash prizes awarded.

MADA Gallery Curator-in-Residence 2027

Year-long curatorial residency at Monash University's Melbourne gallery, offering two curated exhibitions, an $18,000 exhibition budget, and a $6,000 curator fe

Wā kāinga: An Indigenous Moving Image Wānanga

A collaborative wānanga for 3 Pōneke-based Indigenous artists exploring land and water through moving image, with a $1,000 commission per artist.

Landscape Open 2026

Submit your landscape-inspired artworks to the Landscape Open at Salisbury Museum. The winning artist receives £1,000 and a solo exhibition!

ILT Murihiku Art Awards 2026

National contemporary visual art competition based in Invercargill offering a $20,000 total prize pool across eight award categories.

Hamilton Arts Festival Toi Ora ki Kirikiriroa 2027 – Expressions of Interest

Submit an expression of interest to perform or show work at Aotearoa's largest regional arts festival, held in the Hamilton Gardens in February 2027.

Creative Communities Scheme – Tauranga

Community arts grant for Tauranga projects that increase participation, celebrate cultural diversity, or engage young people in the arts.

Christchurch Creative Communities Scheme

Community arts funding of up to $6,000 for Christchurch-based individuals and groups to deliver local arts projects.

Forsyth Barr New Zealand Clay Awards

A national clay art award and exhibition open to NZ-based artists, with prizes up to $8,000 and a public showcase in Nelson.

Ursula Bethell Writer in Residence

A paid writing residency at the University of Canterbury for published NZ writers to pursue a fiction, poetry, scriptwriting or creative non-fiction project.

Call for Expressions of Interest 2027

Submit an EOI to exhibit at DEPOT Artspace in Devonport, Auckland as part of their 2027 exhibition programme.

Cliff Edge – Textile Art on the Brink

Open call for textile artists exploring themes of disruption, risk, and tension, exhibited at Artspace on the Prom in Cromer, UK, October 2026.

Development Fund for Artists and Practitioners

Grants of up to $5,000 for NZ artists and practitioners to undertake professional and creative development activities that benefit their careers.

Creative Communities Scheme

Community arts grants for Wellington projects focused on participation, cultural diversity, and young people's engagement with the arts.

2024/25 Reo Māori Content Cofund

Co-funding for the production of te reo Māori content across broadcast and digital media platforms in Aotearoa.

Hamilton City Creative Communities Scheme Fund

Community arts grants of typically under $5,000 NZD for local arts projects focused on access, diversity, or young people.

PADA International Residency 2027

Independent artist-run residency in a unique post-industrial warehouse in Barreiro, Portugal, offering time, space, and curatorial support.

Quilt National '27

International juried exhibition of contemporary quilt art exploring textile as a medium for material, conceptual, and political inquiry.

Künstlerdorf Schöppingen Artist Residency 2027

Funded residency in Germany for visual artists, authors and composers of all nationalities, offering €1,500/month for 2–6 months.

Grants for Organisations

Annual philanthropic fund supporting NZ arts, culture, and natural heritage projects for registered charities, with grants typically ranging from $3,000–$62,000

The World of Interiors x Montblanc Open Call for New Writing 2026

Submit a 500-word piece on 'Doors & Drawers' for a chance to be published in The World of Interiors January 2027 issue.

Liu Shiming Artist Grants 2026

Project-based grants of $5,000 USD for early-career visual artists worldwide, supporting new or in-progress work across sculpture, painting, drawing, installation

Grainger Museum Creative and Research Residency

Flexible residencies for artists and researchers to engage with the Grainger Museum Collection and Archive, with a $5,000 AUD research grant.

Rome Open Art Festival

International open call for artists of all mediums to exhibit at Medina Roma Gallery in the heart of Rome. Open theme, students and emerging artists welcome.

KHN Residency 2027 – Session 1

Juried self-directed residency in Nebraska offering 2–8 weeks of dedicated studio time, housing, and a weekly stipend for artists worldwide.

CUSP Artist Residency Open Call — Reykjavík 2027

Four-week residency in Reykjavík for artists working in time-based media and emerging technologies, focused on preservation and conservation.

Call for Proposals 2027

Submit an exhibition proposal to play_station gallery for a month-long public show with full curatorial, installation, and design support.

Paris Photo–Aperture PhotoBook Awards

Annual international prize celebrating excellence in photobook publishing across three categories, with a $10,000 USD prize for First PhotoBook.

Aesthetica Art Prize

Enter the Aesthetica Art Prize. Win £10,000, a major gallery exhibition & magazine publication. Open to all media & career stages. Challenge the world through art.

Grants Available for Visual Arts & Science & Technology

Grants of up to $50,000 for Visual Arts and Science & Technology projects benefiting the Manawatū and Rangitīkei region.

Brave New Visions: Creativity as Rebellion — PhotoVogue Global Open Call 2026

PhotoVogue's global open call inviting photographers and video makers to submit bold, urgent work that resists indifference — $12,000 in grants up for grabs.

Brave New Visions: Creativity as Rebellion — PhotoVogue Global Open Call 2026

A free global open call for photographers and video makers to submit bold, urgent work that resists indifference — with $12,000 USD in grants up for grabs.

Feature Film Production Investment

NZFC invests up to $2.5M NZD in NZ feature films at production or post-production stage, for scripted and documentary projects.

Belmond Photographic Residency

International jury-led photography award offering a €15,000 prize, residency, mentorship, and publication for early career photographers.

Creative Impact Fund 2026 – Round 2

Grants up to $125,000 NZD for NZ artists and practitioners to create, share and present work that enriches audiences and communities.

Walker & Hall Waiheke Art Award 2026

National two-dimensional art award open to NZ residents, with a $10,000 Premier Prize and exhibition on Waiheke Island.

Exhibition Space Hire — Photosynthesis Community Gallery

Affordable hire of photography gallery spaces in Ōtautahi Christchurch, open to emerging through established artists, collectives, and curators.

Berlendis Venice Art Prize 2027 | Second Edition

Open call for artists of all ages and nationalities to compete for prizes and an exhibition at Spazio Berlendis in Venice, February–March 2027.

Louis Johnson New Writer's Bursary

Annual $25,000 bursary for a published writer or playwright at an early stage of their career to create new work.

Creative Fellowship Fund 2026 - Round 2

Creative NZ funding round supporting artists and arts practitioners for activities taking place from December 2026 onwards.

Tup Lang Choreographic Award

Annual $25,000 award supporting early career NZ choreographers to develop a new contemporary dance work over six months.

Nature and Humans Photography Competition – Fourth Edition (2026)

International nature photography competition with 15 award categories and over €17,000 in prizes, open to amateur and professional photographers worldwide.

The Queer Britain Art Award

A UK art award celebrating LGBTQ+ artists, with winning work acquired for the Queer Britain national museum collection.

Social Dive Open Call – Tokyo Biennale 2027

Open call for artists and curators worldwide to develop site-specific art projects across ten Tokyo neighbourhoods for Tokyo Biennale 2027.

Archetypes in Motion Artist Residency & Sanctuary

Year-round live/work residency in Trieste, Italy for creatives drawn to nature, mythology, and embodied practice — from €1,800/month.

Creative Communication Award (C2A) 2026

International award recognising excellence in communication design, advertising, and digital media across graphic, illustration, photography, and multimedia cat

Early Career Fund - Toi Tipu Toi Rea

Grants of up to $10,000 for early career artists and practitioners in Aotearoa to develop new work, skills, and share their practice with communities.

Earth Partner Prize 2026

Free, open-call prize for climate-focused art by young creators aged 14–30, anywhere in the world, with cash prizes up to $10k.

Starling Magazine Open Submissions

Starling Magazine welcomes submissions of poetry, creative nonfiction, short fiction, and hybrid work from writers worldwide. The publication features emerging and established voices in contemporary literature.

He Kauahi Catalyst Fund

NZFC grant of up to $90,000 NZD for NZ filmmakers to produce exceptional narrative short films or animated proof-of-concept shorts.

Dora Maar House Residency Fellowships

Fully funded residencies of one to two months for mid-career arts and humanities professionals at the Dora Maar House in Ménerbes, France.

Waiata Takitahi – New Music Funding

Funding of up to $15,000 for NZ artists to record and release a bilingual single with a minimum of 25% te reo Māori in the lyrics.

Adam NZ Play Award 2026

Submit your unproduced script to the Adam NZ Play Award, New Zealand's premier playwriting competition, for a chance to win a share of $8,000 in prizes.

Applications for Residencies in 2028

Three-month residency in Taos with housing included. Open to visual, literary, and musical artists from any country.

Awesome Foundation Monthly Micro-Grants

Monthly $1,000 no-strings-attached micro-grants for awesome projects in arts, technology, community development and more — open to anyone globally.

Feature Film Finishing Grant

Non-recoupable grant of up to $60,000 NZD to help NZ-based filmmakers complete independently made feature films with a distribution or festival pathway.

Billboard Project – Street-Front Gallery for Artists

Free public billboard spaces on Dominion Road, Mt Eden for artists, poets, designers and storytellers to display work at street level.

Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant for Visual Artists

Rolling grants of up to $50,000 USD for professional painters, sculptors, and works-on-paper artists worldwide, based on artistic merit.

Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant

Emergency financial assistance of up to $15,000 USD for painters, sculptors, or printmakers facing a sudden catastrophic crisis.

40-Day Residency (BEERS London)

Apply for a 40-day residency in London with BEERS. Selected artists receive studio space, an honorarium, professional support, and a gallery exhibition.

NARS International Artist Residency Program

Three- and six-month residencies offering dedicated time and space for international visual artists with at least three years of professional practice.

Single Image Competition (Sony World Photography Awards)

Free global photography competition celebrating standalone images across ten categories, with a $5,000 USD prize and Sony equipment for winners.

Sony World Photography Awards – Series Competition

Free global photography competition for series of 5–10 images across any category, with finalists and winners announced in April 2027.

MacDowell Fellowship (Fall/Winter 2027-2028)

Prestigious US residency for 300 artists/year. No fees, plus need-based stipends & travel grants. Focus on artistic excellence across 7 disciplines.

Larnaca Biennale 2027 – International Open Call for Artists, Designers & Performers

International open call for artists, designers & performers to exhibit across multiple venues in Larnaca, Cyprus, with awards and catalogue publication.

Believers Fund III

Grants of $5k–$25k for people, projects and programmes unleashing creativity in young people across Australia and New Zealand.

World Buskers Festival 2027 – Call for Artists

Expression of Interest for street performers, circus artists, comedians, musicians and more to perform at Christchurch's World Buskers Festival in January 2027.

Seoul National University International Student Scholarship 2027

Forrester Gallery Exhibition Proposals – Tarapirohe and Kakī 2027

Open call for 2027 exhibition proposals at Forrester Gallery, Ōamaru — community and general categories welcome.

Fish Factory Creative Centre Residency 2025–2026

A multidisciplinary residency in Stöðvarfjörður, Iceland, offering 24/7 studio access and private accommodation.

Fish Factory Creative Centre - Music Residency

Inviting composers, producers, and bands to develop new work in a uniquely equipped coastal arts hub in Iceland.

International Travel Grants for Filmmakers

Grants of up to NZ$6,500 for NZ directors and producers travelling to major international film festivals and markets.

Residencia Corazón Residency Programs

One-month artist residencies in La Plata, Argentina, open to international emerging artists, writers, curators, and researchers on a rolling basis.

Smithsonian Magazine Submissions

Smithsonian Magazine freelance pitch call. Seeking features on art, science, & history. Open internationally. Ongoing deadline.

2026 Residency and Studio Programs

Live and work in Chiang Mai, Thailand at a creative hub offering 2-month residencies with exhibition outcomes or flexible monthly studio memberships.

The Old Knitting Factory Residencies

Artist and rest residencies on the wild west coast of Ireland, with a fully funded track exclusively for single parents.

The Ou-telier Artist Residency & Writing Retreat 2027

A fee-based, process-focused artist residency in a historic boatbuilding workshop in Duncan, Vancouver Island, hosting up to four artists at a time.