Resources for artists
Useful information for artists and creative practitioners about funding, grants, residencies, fellowships, open calls, work opportunities and wellbeing.
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Last updated 5 December 2024
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Open Calls Ending Soon
Stay on this page to see an overview of resources for artists, including open calls, work opportunities and other useful links for creatives. If you want a summary of opportunities for artists ending soon, then visit this page.
Useful information for artists
Making Design Circular
https://makingdesigncircular.org/about/
ONCurating
Free curatorial journal
https://on-curating.org/issues.html
DAZED: How to get an art education without going to art school https://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/26908/1/how-to-get-an-art-education-without-going-to-art-school
Access Docs for Artists
https://www.accessdocsforartists.com/
How to Put On An Accessible Exhibition
Shape Arts have created this short guide for curators, programmers and exhibition organisers to give an overview of how to ensure that the exhibition you’re putting on is accessible and inclusive of disabled people.
https://www.shapearts.org.uk/news/accessible-exhibitions
Artquest Salon: bookings open
Online semi-independent artists’ forums with ongoing peer-to-peer feedback on your work and presentations by art world professionals. Artquest Salon bridges gap between one-off Artquest Crits and running your own independent artist peer mentoring groups. Bookings are now open for the new season.
https://artquest.org.uk/project/advice-and-networks/artquest-salon/
Rebel Business School
Free two-week courses supporting people in self-employment and teaching them how to set up a business for free.
https://therebelschool.com/rebel-nation/
Digital Accessibility: Best Practice
The Space has published an overview of best accessibility practices when designing and delivering a digital art project.
https://www.thespace.org/resource/digital-accessibility-best-practice/
Clear Water Creation: Free Access Support for Artists
Clear Water Creation offers free access support for artists living with disability, mental health conditions or neurodiversity, to complete Arts Council applications.
https://clearwatercreation.co/access-support
Hickman Design
Useful resources for artists such as various printmaking guides and an art pricing calculator.
https://hickmandesign.co.uk/blog/history/intaglio-printing/
Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) Facilitator Training Course
VTS conversations guide people through a process of curious exploration, critical reflection and collective meaning-making. This evidence-based professional development programme is tailored towards fostering collaborative, inclusive, community-building dialogue. The course is particularly relevant for (arts) educators, but will also be of use to artists and therapists or anyone interested in developing their own critical thinking, visual literacy, and collaborative communication skills.
https://www.thinkingeye.org/vts-facilitator-course
Arts Emergency: Become a mentor
Arts Emergency mentors support young people interested in the creative and cultural industries in taking their first steps out of college.
https://www.arts-emergency.org/get-involved/become-a-mentor
Mobility Funding Guide to the United Kingdom
On the Move and Arts Infopoint UK have published ‘Mobility Funding Guide to the United Kingdom’ for the international mobility of artists and culture professionals.
http://on-the-move.org/resources/funding/mobility-funding-guide-united-kingdom
V&A Youth Collective
The V&A Youth Collective is a group of young people ages 18-24, who help shape V&A events and content for young people, while gaining inspiring insights into creative careers, the museum sector and skills development opportunities.
https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/young-people?srsltid=AfmBOoqBIiIpOA4kCfZpnGVk5nd7EMxlyKunvYQnyTER97Ui0hNNCtYc
Dolbryn creative retreats
The Dolbryn Creative Retreats Programme takes the form of a two-day residential retreat, which offers thinking opportunities aimed specifically at artists, cultural leaders and managers. Retreats starts from £300 per person.
https://www.justaddwater77.com/creative-retreats
Craft Hub’s Practitioner Gallery
Craft Hub’s Practitioner Gallery showcases the work of professional craft practitioners from across Europe. The gallery gives a glimpse into the working practice, motivation and passions that drive craft makers. If you’re a maker and would like to apply for a profile use the link to the form below.
https://www.crafthub.eu/apply-for-profile/
Reads DACS advice for creatives on what you need to know before signing a contract.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CrgZM48se9R/
Easy-read sample artist contracts
a contract for artists that was accessible, easy to read, and free of jargon.
https://www.fact.co.uk/resources/2022/03/easy-read-artist-contract
Create South East
Create South East helps creative businesses develop the skills to secure investment and grow. It is tailored to the needs of different creative disciplines, their respective markets, governance and distribution models.
https://createsoutheast.org.uk/
MAMA Youth Training
MAMA Youth offers a series of training programmes throughout the year that equip young people with the skills to become work ready and gain employment within the broadcast and media industries.
https://www.mamayouth.org.uk/training
Arts & Health Hub Peer Groups Sessions
The group is open to artists from all backgrounds and experiences and is a place to share thoughts, ideas and works in a non-judgemental and open environment. The group is inclusive, built on the notion of sharing, not competing.
https://www.artsandhealthhub.org/artist-peer-groups
How to write & illustrate a children’s picture book → various courses
Learn how to bring new worlds to life on the page as you create stories and characters that capture the imaginations and hearts of young readers.
https://www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/how-to-create-a-childrens-picture-book
Artadmin Creative Support Sessions
Artsadmin offers a unique and free one-to-one support service to UK-based artists working in contemporary performance, at any stage of their career
https://www.artsadmin.co.uk/project/creative-support-service/
Lakeside darkroom: Saturday photography affordable workshops
Lakeside darkroom offers affordable film processing, printing and technical advice workshops on Saturdays.
https://www.lakesidedarkroom.com/workshops
The Design Museum: Entrepreneurs Hub
A programme to help emerging entrepreneurs develop and grow their ideas into viable, sustainable businesses. Join free online introductory sessions open to all aspiring designers.
https://designmuseum.org/the-design-museum-campus/entrepreneurs-hub
Mother House Studios
Mother House Studios’ new site in Catford is seeking new artists who self-identify as women or queer. The space is open every day with the option of integrated childcare provision three days a week.
https://www.motherhousestudios.com/
Craft Toolkit
Whether you’re a craft maker, artisan, designer or someone who works with them, Craft Toolkit can help you to plan for the future and grow your business.
Through simple bitesize exercises, you can learn all of these skills and begin your own business plan.
https://crafttoolkit.com/
The Artist Support Centre
The Artist Support Centre guides artists on their path into the creative working world.
https://www.theartistsupportcentre.com/
The Supporting Act Foundation
The Supporting Act Foundation is an independent non-profit organisation which provides grants and bursaries to artists at the beginning of their careers, with a particular focus on marginalised groups and community-centred initiatives.
https://www.thesupportingact.org/
Crafts Council: How to price your work
Pricing your work properly will ensure that you can make a viable living from your practice. Crafts Council provides a simple formula for pricing your work and explains all of the factors to consider when doing so.
https://www.craftscouncil.org.uk/business-skills/craft-business-resources/pricing-your-work
New artists’ surgeries at Shubbak
Shubbak are inviting Arab/SWANA artists and creatives working in the UK, the Arab region or internationally to meet the organisations’ joint CEO Alia Alzougbi for 30-minute-long surgeries.
https://www.shubbak.co.uk/shubbak-announces-a-new-artists-surgeries/
ARC Getaways → rolling
ARC Getaways can be used for research and development processes, rehearsals, writing or thinking time.
https://arconline.co.uk/take-part/for-artists/opportunities/arc-getaways/
Arts Council England
Arts Council England is a government-funded body dedicated to promoting the performing, visual and literary arts in England. Since 1994, Arts Council England has been responsible for distributing lottery funding. This investment has helped to transform the building stock of arts organisations and to create much additional high-quality arts activity.
https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/
Artquest Primer → ongoing
Essential advice and information for artists in England starting in their professional careers.
https://artquest.org.uk/project/primer/
Access Support
Sara Dziadik (artist, producer, Access Support Worker) is offering advice and access support on funding applications. Email sara.dziadik@gmail.com for more information.
Artsadmin Guide to Touring Across Europe for UK Performing Artists
A simple, practical guide to support and empower UK-based individual artists and small companies working in theatre, dance and live art to continue to tour work across Europe.
https://www.artsadmin.co.uk/touring-guide/
SPACE Advice Bureau
A SPACE Artist Initiatives programme, providing free advice and guidance to all members of the SPACE community. Launched during the pandemic in 2020 in response to your requests and suggestions in the Tenant Survey, this programme includes one-to-one mentoring, webinars, coaching and peer-to-peer sessions to support you in developing your artist practice.
https://spacestudios.org.uk/space-advice-bureau/
Balance: toolkit for creatives
Created in partnership with the Creative Industries Federation and Mindapples, and funded by Arts Council England, the Balance toolkit is a free resource of mental health talks and business-focused training for creatives.
https://thehubbalance.com/
This is Wyld offers grant application writing and access support
If you have an idea for a project and are interested in getting funding for that project email info@thisiswyld.com. Jamie Wyld, director of This is Wyld, has worked as an access support worker to help artists write grant applications since 2013. Arts Council England will pay for an access support worker to help write your grant application.
https://thisiswyld.com/projects/ongoing-grant-application-writing-access-support-for-funding/
RE—SET—GO is an accessible, hands-on, paid workplace experience and mentoring programme for 19-25-year-olds or new practices and start-ups, established with the mission of diversifying architecture practices. Keep an eye out for 1-to-1 mentoring sessions and “CV surgeries” through a series of free, regular and bookable slots with London Practice Forum architecture practices.
https://re-set-go.xyz/activities
Brexit Guidance for Artists and Arts Organisers
The a-n has been collating useful information to serve as guidance to creatives as the UK exits the European Union, access it here.
https://www.a-n.co.uk/news/brexit-information-and-guidance-for-artists-and-arts-organisers/
Artquest
Agency that researches, compiles and offers advice to artists. Artquest have adapted their website to focus on support available during the current pandemic.
https://www.artquest.org.uk/
Artists’ Union England rates of pay guidelines, designed to help artists’ and their employers to determine fair remuneration for artists’ labour.
https://www.artistsunionengland.org.uk/rates-of-pay/
Working Safely Online
Guidance to support anyone working online: a general guide to meeting online, and how to make the space as welcoming and safe as possible; and online safeguarding if you are working with vulnerable participants or groups.
https://64millionartists.com/working-safely-online/
Arts Council England: The Digital Culture Network
Provides practical support to the arts and culture sector, helping you to explore and harness the benefits of technology to achieve your goals, find new ways to reach and engage audiences, and develop sustainable business models.
https://digitalculturenetwork.org.uk/
UK Covid-19 Freelance Artist Resources List
A very thorough list of most mutual support and funding opportunities for UK artists available at the moment.
https://ukcovid19freelanceartistresource.wordpress.com/
UK Artist Grant Writing Support
Network created to provide in-kind support to artists requiring help with emergency grant applications.
http://autoitaliasoutheast.org/news/uk-artist-grant-writing-support/
The Creative Industries Federation
Sector-specific advice, guidance and legal support provided by unions and sector support organisations. You are advised to contact these organisations directly for specialist advice.
https://www.creativeindustriesfederation.com/
Artist Menteeship Masterclasses
Ceri Hand’s masterclasses: Artist’s Statements, Online Marketing for Artists, Pricing & Selling Your Work, Copyright for Artists
Cost £25-30
https://cerihand.com/
Arts Emergency Free Mentorships
Arts Emergency provides 16-25-year-olds with free mentoring, advice, guidance and opportunities to help them embark on higher education and careers.
https://www.arts-emergency.org/
Funding, grants, scholarships, fellowships
Arts Council England National Lottery Project Grants → Open Now
Grants available from £1,000 to £100,000 for arts, libraries, and museums projects. Open access for individual practitioners, community groups, and cultural organisations.
https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/projectgrants
Black Heart Foundation Art Scholarship Programme → Open Now
A scholarship programme providing financial support to underrepresented and under-resourced young people pursuing arts education.
https://www.blackheartfoundation.org
Artcry Responsive Grants → Open Now
Grants up to £2,500 (with one exceptional £5,000 grant) for time-critical political artworks in public spaces across the UK, responding to current social or political events.
https://www.artcry.co.uk
Frame Contemporary Art Finland Grants → Ongoing
Grants for artists, art professionals, and organisations promoting Finnish contemporary art internationally. This includes travel grants and project grants for exhibitions, publications, and art fairs.
https://frame-finland.fi/en/grants/how-to-apply/
Digital Artists Grant (DAG) → Rolling Monthly
A £500 grant for emerging digital artists worldwide to support creative projects, materials, travel, or personal expenses. Open to individuals, groups, and collaborations working with digital mediums.
https://www.monikerartfair.com/dag
Paul Mellon Centre Funding Opportunities → 31 January
Various Fellowships and Grants for individuals and organisations researching British art. Fellowships include Senior, Mid-Career, Postdoctoral, Junior, and Rome Fellowships, alongside New Narratives awards (e.g., MA/MPhil Studentship, Doctoral Scholarship, Early Career Fellowship). Grants include Research Support (up to £2,000) and Event Support (up to £3,000).
https://www.paul-mellon-centre.ac.uk
Funded collaborative PhD opportunity → 13 January
A fully-funded PhD investigating the relationship between contemporary art and rural places, with Wysing Arts Centre as the central case study.
https://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/museumstudies
Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards (VACMA) → 4 February
Grants of £1000 or £500 (early-career) for Scotland-based visual artists and craft makers to support creative development. Open to those living, working, or maintaining a studio in eligible local authority areas.
https://www.creativescotland.com/resources/professional-development/visual-artist-and-craft-maker-awards
Jonathan Ruffer Curatorial Grants → Small grants: Rolling, Large grants: 17 March
Grants supporting UK-based curators, museum professionals, and researchers to fund travel, training, and collections research. Small grants up to £2,000, large grants over £2,000.
https://www.artfund.org/supporting-museums/jonathan-ruffer-curatorial-grants
Developing Your Creative Practice (DYCP) Grant → Rolling
Provides grants ranging from £2,000 to £10,000 for independent creative practitioners in England to invest time in personal artistic and professional development. This includes activities such as research, skills development, mentorship, or cultural exchange.
https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/dycp
Artists Futures Fund
Artists Futures Fund supports talented individuals to overcome barriers that would prevent them from pursuing careers as artists, through both place-based grants and professional development opportunities. Artists Futures Fund co-delivers programmes with Higher Education Institutions and cultural organisations across the UK.
www.artistsfuturesfund.org
Goldsmiths’ Centre access grants → Open all year
Grants to cover the fees for skills training programme.
https://www.goldsmiths-centre.org/apply-for-grants/jewellery-industry-access-grants/
Film Travel Grants Fund → rolling fund
Our Film Travel Grant Fund is supported by BFI National Lottery funding in partnership with BFI NETWORK and the BFI International Fund. The grants are designed to enable filmmakers to represent work abroad, develop new contacts and networks, and reach new audiences. It is particularly created to increase the exposure of new and emerging UK films, XR projects and talent on an international stage. Open to: UK filmmakers and XR creatives.
https://film.britishcouncil.org/opportunities/travel-grants-fund
QEST Emerging Maker Grants
The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) offers Emerging Maker Grants of up to £10,000 for the training and education of talented craftspeople at an early stage in their career. Applications are open twice a year: January to February with awards made in May and from July to August with awards made in November.
https://www.qest.org.uk/apply/emerging-maker-grants/
British Design Fund
The British Design Fund 5 is currently open to new applications and are seeking to invest between £150,000 and £200,000 into eligible businesses that meet their criteria. Supporting enterprise and innovation in the UK, the Fund works with extraordinary entrepreneurs to scale their products, accelerate growth and build long-term value – both for investors and business owners.
https://www.britishdesignfund.co.uk/apply/
Funding opportunities for Scotland-based artists
creativescotland.com/funding/funding-programmes/open-funding
The White Pube Creatives Grant → rolling monthly
The White Pube Creatives Grant is a one-off £500 grant to be given out to a different working-class creative practitioner based in the UK once every month. This grant has been set up to support creatives of all ages who are early in their careers and would benefit from this no-strings-attached financial support to help them in whatever they like – be that money to cover time to make, or fund materials, equipment, research, subscriptions, development, travel, or even rent and bills.
https://thewhitepube.co.uk/grants/
National Lottery Project Grants → reopened
National Lottery Project Grants is an Arts Council England open-access programme for arts, libraries and museum projects. The fund supports thousands of individual artists and community and cultural organisations. You can apply for up to £30,000 and get your decision within 8 weeks.
https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/ProjectGrants
Digital Artists Grant → rolling monthly
No-strings-attached financial support to help digital artists of all ages who are in the early stages of their careers. The Digital Artists Grant (DAG) is offered by The Moniker Foundation in collaboration with Creative Debuts.
https://www.monikerartfair.com/dag
Migrant Artist Fund → ongoing
The Becoming British Lottery recognises the financial burden of migrant artists to make work in the UK. The lottery is specifically to cover the costs of visas/citizenship paperwork for working in the UK. It is a random draw of multiples of £200 every 3 months. It is non-taxable as it is a random prize, not a competition and is not ‘talent-based’. To be eligible you must: Work or have worked in the arts industry (the widest definition is applicable here as we are aware individuals define their practice in a number of ways); Have costs relating to a Visa / Citizenship application within the UK.
https://www.lorakrasteva.com/migrant-artist-fund
#CIRCAECONOMY Scholarship Programme → Apply after being granted a place in the course
CIRCA and Goldsmiths, University of London, launched a scholarship programme for postgraduate arts education for students with non-traditional educational backgrounds, alongside those with undergraduate degrees. Two scholarships worth a total of £30,000 will be awarded to students to complete the MA Art & Ecology and MFA Curating degree programmes.
https://circa.art/goldsmiths/
Annuity Freedom micro-grants to improve your site’s discoverability (SEO) and cash grants → on a rolling basis
– Artists https://www.annuityfreedom.net/financial-literacy/artists/
– Black or Minority business owners https://www.annuityfreedom.net/financial-literacy/black-grants/
– Women who own businesses https://www.annuityfreedom.net/financial-literacy/women-grant/
Black Artists Grant → ongoing
The Black Artists Grant is £500 given out monthly to three black artists in the UK. The BAG is no-strings-attached financial support to help the selected artist in whatever they want – be that make new work, buy equipment or materials, travel, research, visit exhibitions or conferences, or cover some life expenses. This is specifically for Black artists; not politically black, not POC or BAME.
https://creativedebuts.co.uk/bag/
National Lottery Project Grants
For individuals, organisations, museums and libraries.
https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/projectgrants
Self-employment and Universal Credit
Universal Credit is a monthly payment to help with your living costs. You may be able to get it if you’re on a low income or out of work.
https://www.gov.uk/self-employment-and-universal-credit
Artists’ Opportunities
RA Schools Three-Year Postgraduate Programme → 6 December
A three-year postgraduate programme for early-career contemporary fine artists, offering access to a vibrant community, specialist workshops, lectures, critiques, tutorials, and artist talks. Open to artists of all backgrounds, practices, and mediums.
https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/page/ra-schools-how-to-apply
Starr Fellowship Programme → 6 December
A one-year artist residency open to U.S. citizen artists, providing access to RA facilities, workshops, and the opportunity to engage with and contribute to the academic programme as part of a creative community.
https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/page/ra-schools-how-to-apply
1853 Studios Open Call → 8 December
Proposals are invited for a solo or group exhibition in the Mill 1 Gallery. Open to artists of all mediums and career stages, with particular consideration for those connected to Oldham. Exhibition dates: 15–30 March 2025.
https://1853studios.co.uk/opportunities
Barnsley Council: Leader Call Out for Barnsley’s Cultural Strategy → 9 December
Lead on developing Phase 2 of Barnsley’s Cultural Strategy with a budget of up to £20,000. This involves creative engagement, research, and collaboration across the Borough.
https://www.barnsley-museums.com/news/opportunity-to-support-the-development-of-barnsleys-cultural-strategy
Artist/Group Commissions Call Out → 9 December
Three one-month artist commissions with Ground Up in Burnley, Lancashire, focusing on socially engaged practices. Offers £2,000 artist fee and £400 materials budget. Includes four in-person sessions, culminating in an exhibition opportunity.
www.facebook.com/GroundUPBurnley
Open City Documentary Festival 2025: Call for Entries → 13 December
Opportunity for documentary filmmakers to showcase work in non-fiction cinema. Note: Application fee applies.
https://opencitylondon.com/entries/
Curate Edmonton Green Public Art Commission → 13 December
£20,000 stipend for artists or creatives to develop public artwork, especially projects promoting greening and landscape design.
https://letstalk.enfield.gov.uk/edmontongreen/news_feed/curate-edmonton-green-artist-call-out
Seedbed 2025 Artist Callout → 16 December
£2,500 R&D funding for projects engaging with Greenham Common’s landscape, heritage, and inclusion themes.
Open to artists with 3+ years’ experience, focused on outdoor arts and public engagement.
https://101outdoorarts.com/seedbed-2025-artist-callout
Handmade Oxford → 17 December
Join the 5th edition of Handmade Oxford at Waterperry Gardens, Oxfordshire, from 12-14 June 2025. Exhibitors, live demonstrators, workshop leaders, and speakers are welcome to apply. There are no application fees.
https://www.handmadeinbritain.co.uk/handmade-oxford/
Making Your Mark and David Peace Prize → 29 December
An online exhibition for UK and international students, featuring the David Peace Prize, which awards £500 for the most original and talented use of engraving on glass. The prize honors Dr. David Peace MBE, known for his lettering on glass and support for emerging artists.
To apply, email gge.exhibition@gmail.com for an application pack.
Find more details about the Guild of Glass Engravers here: https://www.glassengravers.co.uk
The Scene Podcast: Submissions Open → 31 December
Chance to have a script produced as a “PodPlay” audio performance, later showcased in live theatre shows.
https://thescenepodcast.co.uk/
Call for Proposals for a Public Work of Art – The Button Project → 31 December
Budget of $50,000 to $150,000 for an artist with public art experience to create a significant artwork.
https://www.bristolcc.edu/about/inthecommunity/bristolholocaustandgenocidecenter/thebuttonproject.html
Queer East Festival 2025 → 1 January
Seeking proposals for film events that explore queer experiences in East/Southeast Asia or its diaspora.
https://queereast.org.uk/news/open-call-announced-for-guest-curatorial-programmes-at-queer-east-2025/
Thames Festival: Thames Lens Photography Competition → 1 January
Open to young photographers under 25 and students to capture the River Thames.
https://thamesfestivaltrust.org/artistic-programme/thames-lens/thames-lens-photo-submission/
Fuse International 2025: Applications open for Creative Youth → 5 January
Be part of the multi-arts festival in South West London for artists under 30, with programming decisions in February 2025 and performances in June-July 2025.
https://creativeyouthcharity.org/get-involved/take-part-at-fuse-international/
V&A Digital Fashion Design Course 2025 → Deadline: 5 January
A free course for creatives aged 18–26 exploring digital garment design for virtual environments, emphasising sustainability and innovation. Includes workshops, industry talks, and a public showcase at the V&A.
https://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/digital/open-call-digital-fashion-course-2025
Culture Within: Artist Call Out East London Creative Communities → 6 January
A bespoke training programme for artists in Redbridge, Newham, Barking & Dagenham, and Havering, focused on community-led and co-creation projects.
https://www.culturewithin.org.uk/opportunities/east-london-creative-communities
Spirit of London: Event Proposal Call → 6 January
Autograph is inviting emerging creative practitioners (with less than 3 years of experience) to propose an event that explores themes of community, celebration, and cultural preservation, to be held at their Hackney gallery in March 2025. The successful applicant will receive £1000 and full support from Autograph staff.
https://autograph.org.uk/blog/news/open-call-for-events-spirit-of-london
Make It Happen 2025 Creative Health Grants → 6 January
Grants of £1,000 to £15,000 for projects aligning with creative health, taking place in Waltham Forest.
https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/libraries-arts-parks-and-events/arts-and-culture/make-it-happen-grants
Farfield Mill Textile Competition – Celebrating Wool → 7 January
Open to textile artists working with at least 75% textiles; submit an original creation interpreting the theme “Celebrating Wool.”
https://www.farfieldmill.org
New Glass Review 45 → 7 January
Artists are invited to submit works made over the past year to New Glass Review 45, showcasing innovative glass art.
https://www.cgs.org.uk
Royal Society of British Artists → 8 January
Artists are invited to submit work for exhibition alongside members of the Royal Society of British Artists at the RBA Annual Exhibition 2025.
https://www.craftscouncil.org.uk/sector-support/opportunities/royal-society-of-british-artists-open-call
CVAN London: Curate Brent: Emerging Curators Training Programme → 12 January
A training programme for emerging curators to curate exhibitions at Willesden Gallery, Brent, with a bursary and hands-on experience in exhibition planning.
https://www.cvanlondon.art/programme/education/2024/11/curate-brent-programme/
Whitechapel Gallery: London Open Live → 13 January
A call for live art works to be showcased in the London Open exhibition at Whitechapel Gallery.
https://www.whitechapelgallery.org/exhibitions/london-open-live-open-call/
Cove Park x Business of Broadway Residency for Creative Theatre Producers → 13 January
One-week residency for early to mid-career theatre producers based in the UK and Ireland. Workshops on commercial theatre producing, including Broadway-related topics.
https://covepark.org/announcing-new-creative-producers-res
Amsterdam Fringe: Open Call → 13 January
Opportunity for artists to participate in Amsterdam Fringe Festival. Includes workshops on marketing, fundraising, and networking.
https://amsterdamfringefestival.nl/home-eng/join-us/
Bridget Riley Fellowship: Drawing, Painting, Sculpture → 15 January
A fellowship for an early- to mid-career artist in painting, drawing, and/or sculpture to spend six months at the British School in Rome, including board, accommodation, and a £1,500 monthly grant.
https://bsrome.slideroom.com/#/login/program/82276
FluxusMuseum Prize for Experimental Video → 15 January
€45,000 in prizes for experimental video works, with selected artists receiving €600 to support their projects. Works will be exhibited in the FluxusMuseum gallery and online platforms.
https://fluxusmuseum.org/prize2025/#Dates
DBACE 2025 → 29 January
Creative entrepreneurs (18+) with game-changing ideas or established ventures can apply for the Deutsche Bank Awards for Creative Entrepreneurs.
https://dbace.org/
BBA Photography Prize (fee applies) → 10 February
20 international photographers and artists selected by an acclaimed jury will showcase their work.
https://bba-prizes.com/photography-prize
Contemporary Cutlery Design Competition → 23 March
Design a set of knife, fork, and spoon integrating form and material for function and experience. Open to UK-based art and design students or recent graduates. Winners receive £750, a crafted six-piece set, and runner-up £250.
https://cutlerslondon.co.uk
Fellowships at the School of Advanced Study → Ongoing
Opportunities for researchers to apply for fellowships through institutes such as The Warburg Institute and the Being Human Festival.
Apply via the portal for details and registration.
https://apply.schools.ac.uk
Palazzo Monti Artist Residency → Ongoing
A residency in a 13th-century palace in Brescia, Italy, for national and international artists across mediums. Offers dynamic workshop spaces, inspiration, and collaborative opportunities. Open to creatives working in painting, sculpture, photography, and design.
https://palazzomonti.org
Project Residency → Ongoing
A short-term project residency for ceramicists and artists, offering studio access, specialist equipment, storage, and expert guidance for 1-3 months.
https://www.clayshed.co.uk/
Potfest 2025 Exhibitor Applications → Ongoing (check individual show deadlines)
Exhibit at various Potfest events across the UK, including Potfest in the Pens, Potfest South East, Potfest Scotland, and flagship shows like Potfest in the Park.
https://potfest.co.uk/
Space Clarence Mews: Year of Making 2025 → Ongoing
Residency for emerging and established artists/companies from various performance disciplines.
https://spaceclarencemews.com/one-year-residency/
Black Heart Art Programme Scholarship → Applications are accepted and reviewed twice a year (August and October)
The Black Heart Art programme aims to provide financial scholarships to underrepresented and under-resourced young people for arts education, empowering the next generation of diverse arts talent.
https://blackheartfoundation.org/art-scholarship-faqs/
Making Design Circular: How to Reset Your Year in Line With Your Values → Rolling
Three-part workshop to help to reflect, reset and replan your environmental actions for the year. This is a self-paced course that will help you to plan your year to make space for your environmentalism efforts so that you, your business and the planet can thrive.
https://makingdesigncircular.org/learning/a-new-leaf/
British School at Rome: Fine Arts awards → various deadlines
Fine Arts awards at the BSR offer artists at different stages of their careers the superb opportunity to research and focus on their work away from normal pressures, and to use the BSR as a base to explore Rome and Italy.
https://bsr.ac.uk/awards-residencies-fine-arts/
apexart’s Open Calls
apexart’s Open Calls are opportunities for artists, curators, and other professionals to turn their curatorial idea into an apexart exhibition, combined with inviting apexart’s international community to collectively determine our programming through an online jury process. Winning proposals become part of apexart’s next exhibition season and receive funding and staff support.
https://apexart.org/opencalls.php
Woodturning Connect 2023
The Worshipful Company of Turners holds its turning competitions every two years. They attract entries from turners of all ages and skill. Check the website below for more details.
https://turnersco.com/turning-competitions-2023/
Join the Procreate Archive
This archive is part of Procreate Project, a pioneering grassroots arts organisation supporting the professional development of women and non-binary artists who are mothers/parents. The Procreate Project (PCP) Archive is a digital archive and a collection of printable posters of works made by contemporary artists who are mothers/parents made in response to the ongoing crisis, the isolation and the invisibility of unpaid care work.
https://archive.procreateproject.com/join/
Special Dispensations: Residency → no deadline
Special Dispensations (Norwich, UK) invites proposals from artists working in any medium, whether or not they usually make small works, multiples, or works on paper. There is no requirement for the submitting artists to have any formal qualification or specific experience
https://hnr.fyi/
Art From The Heart: Artists of the Month → deadline 20th of every month
Showcases work by artists whose practices are inspired by environmental and/or social issues.
https://www.artfromheart.co.uk/submission-form
Open call to take part in Niya B’s project “912” → now
Niya B seeking adult participants (18+) based in Birmingham or Sheffield, who identify as trans or non-binary and have lived experience of ‘waiting’ related to their gender transition, currently or in the past. This can be being in the waiting list of a gender identity clinic, waiting for a treatment related to their gender transition etc. Participants will be offered an honorarium of £50 to cover expenses.
https://www.niyab.com/912
Tangle Theatre: Amplify – Paid Mentoring & Training Programme → no deadline
Tangle is inviting applications to Amplify, a paid mentoring and training programme designed to support technical theatre professionals from the Global Majority at any career stage.
https://www.tangletheatre.co.uk/amplify
AiR Drop remote residency programme → monthly, no deadline
AiR Drop is a residency programme from satellite designed to support underrepresented voices. AiR Drop is open to moving image artists based in England who are unable to make work due to lack of access to facilities. A minimum of one in every four residencies will be awarded to Black artists.
http://www.satellitefilms.org/air-drop
Flabbergast TV: Opportunity for Artists
Flabbergast TV are looking for amateur artists with a talent and passion for any and all art mediums who do it as a hobby but have been thinking of turning it into a business, for a new TV series which will air on a major UK channel. Email MIFM@flabbergast.tv if you’re interested.
Screening Room Programme → ongoing
Open call for films to be featured on the Looking Forward website and other events. There are no requirements or restrictions in regard to duration or content or subject matter. Please email submissions to hello@lookingforward.online.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYvx_NqoAGY/
ARTCRY Fund → rolling
ARTCRY aims to encourage artists to create bold political work, with fast-turnaround funding to enable fast action.
https://www.artcry.co.uk/apply
Virtual Reality Climate Change → rolling
A curated VR space for art relating to Climate Change
https://www.instagram.com/vrccm_/
https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vThFbmERgVCz2Xv6av3rU04wVF399xs3Bzps5fkPS1RJtZXVdZohY6xixS7hi0vu0zr2L7jPGHqe0kr/pub
OSE Young Associates Programme → ongoing
The Young Associates Programme is a free 10-month programme for young people aged 18-21 living in the Thanet area. It is an innovative, alternative approach to arts education with an emphasis on developing essential creative and employability skills. The programme encourages the development of a sustainable career in the arts and creative industries by offering young people direct experience working with leading international arts and creative practitioners and professionals to develop their own arts practice and projects. Young Associates will have exciting opportunities to work on curatorial projects, live briefs, attend specialist skills-building masterclasses, and mentorship as well as developing their own programmes.
https://openschooleast.org/programmes/young-associates-programme/
Seeking Scenic artists
Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch seeking scenic artists based in East London. For more details please contact christinep@queens-theatre.co.uk
Create/Disrupt Open Call → ongoing
Create/Disrupt is a new programme by The NewBridge Project for artists, aspiring arts workers, makers and producers who have not had formal training or undertaken a degree and are interested in pursuing a career in the arts.
https://thenewbridgeproject.com/news/open-call-create-disrupt/
Unlimited: Board
Seeking people with finance and/or legal skills.
https://weareunlimited.org.uk/new-roles-want-to-work-for-advise-support-unlimited/
People’s Pavilion
The People’s Pavilion by Beyond The Box Consultants are offering young East Londoners a chance to work with professionals from design, construction and creative arts industries to design and build their own Pavilion
https://future.london/project/the-peoples-pavilion/
GOOD WICKEDRY Film submissions → rolling deadline
Online cinema platform driven by carefully considered curation accepting new or old films, from any genre, and any format, with an especial focus on shorts – narrative films, docs, art vids, music vids, experimental, animation, etc. GOOD WICKEDRY works to platform BIPOC and female filmmakers.
https://www.tapecollective.co.uk/about
Somerset House Young Producers Programme → ongoing
The programme offers London Living Wage paid opportunities to develop skills and creative practice for 18 to 30 years old. Subscribe to Somerset House’s mailing list to receive updates on the programme.
https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/engagement-and-skills/young-producers
OVER Journal Open Call → various deadlines
Call for papers, articles, interviews and artistic projects, different deadlines.
https://overjournal.org/submissions/
ON WHEELS Open Call → ongoing
ON WHEELS are looking for BAME artists and activists to exhibit / perform / protest / play.
https://www.instagram.com/onwheeeels/
No Jobs in the Arts Artist Spotlight → ongoing
Inviting artists with connections to the East Midlands to be profiled on Instagram. Email a link of your artwork and a short description to nojobsintheart@hotmail.com
http://www.nojobsinthearts.co.uk/opportunities/
Artquest Want To Write For Art Worlds? → ongoing
Write about your local art scene and promote your work for up to £200 per article. Must be a member of Exchange.
https://www.artquest.org.uk/art-worlds/want-write-art-worlds/
The White Pube Writers Grant → ongoing
£500 given out monthly to a working class writer based in the UK, no strings attached. Funded by Creative Debuts.
https://www.thewhitepube.co.uk/writersgrant
HOAX → No deadline
Online platform for text-based work now accepting submissions.
https://www.hoaxpublication.co.uk/p/submissions-guidelines.html
Work opportunities
Nicholas H Wood – Freelance Studio Assistant → 6 December
Assist with plaster casting and day-to-day operations in a sculpture studio based in Wiltshire. No prior plaster casting experience required—full training provided. Freelance position, 20 hours per week with flexible hours. Applicants must be self-employed with a UTR number.
info@nicholashwood.co.uk
Yorkshire Contemporary – Assistant Curator → 9 December
A full-time, fixed-term role supporting artist development and community-focused projects in West Yorkshire. Includes a 35-hour working week, 33 days of annual leave, 3% pension contribution, and health insurance option. Open to individuals passionate about contemporary visual art and community engagement.
https://www.yorkshirecontemporary.org
West Midlands Hub Manager → 9 December
Outside In is looking for a Hub Manager to lead artist development activities in the West Midlands, coordinating local partnerships and managing events to support artists.
www.outsidein.org.uk
Spike Island: Curator → 12 December
A full-time, permanent role (£35,000–£37,000 per annum) to develop and deliver the artistic programme at Spike Island, Bristol. Open to individuals with strong exhibition delivery and artist development skills.
https://www.spikeisland.org.uk
Hiring Sunday Technician → 31 December
Ceramics Classes London is seeking a permanent freelance technician to work Sundays in Hammersmith, handling studio maintenance, kiln operations, and teaching ceramics courses.
www.ceramicsclasseslondon.com
ACAVA Trustee Recruitment → 6 January
ACAVA is recruiting new trustees to shape the future of the organisation, with opportunities for those experienced in creative health, practice, communications, public sector, or digital strategy.
www.acava.org
Exhibitions Coordinator (Maternity Cover) → 6 January
Outside In is seeking an Exhibitions Coordinator to support the delivery of their national exhibitions, including ‘Shelter’ at The New Art Gallery Walsall. The role involves logistics, artist support, and exhibition administration.
www.outsidein.org.uk
Create: programme for emerging artists → yearly
Nurturing Talent is Create’s programme for emerging artists. It offers an opportunity to six artists (all studies must have been completed) who are interested in gaining hands-on workshop experience to apply their professional practice in a community setting.
https://createarts.org.uk/about-us/our-artists/nurturing-talent/
Create: Join artist pool → ongoing
Create is looking for artists/workshop leaders to join its pool of freelancers.
https://createarts.org.uk/join-our-artist-pool/
Create: Artists/Workshop leaders → ongoing
Create is recruiting artists to run workshops for their change:matters project, which educates and upskills young carers across the UK on money and family finances.
https://createarts.org.uk/artists-workshop-leaders-needed-for-our-financial-literacy-project/
Create: Artists/Workshop leaders in the North West → ongoing
Create is seeking freelance artists / workshop leaders to join the charity’s freelance artist pool in the North West of England.
https://createarts.org.uk/create-is-seeking-professional-artists-workshop-leaders-in-the-north-west/
Bronze Chaser & Bronze Welder/Metalworker
Morris Singer Art Foundry Limited (Lasham, Hampshire) looking for experienced workers to join their creative team.
https://www.morrissinger.co.uk/foundry-worker-vacancies
Run The Check
Regularly updated list of paid opportunities for creatives based in London.
https://www.runthecheck.com/
Health and Wellbeing
How to Find Hope in a Climate Crisis → 31 December
A free, three-part online mini-course designed to help individuals navigate feelings of helplessness, reconnect with nature, and take aligned action on climate issues.
https://www.makingdesigncircular.com/
How to Reset your Year in Line with your Values → 31 December
A three-part, self-paced programme for individuals and businesses to reflect, reset, and align environmental actions for the year ahead.
https://www.makingdesigncircular.com/
Outside Edge Theatre Company, UK’s theatre focused on addiction
Drama sessions for adults suffering from addiction, in-person and online.
http://edgetc.org/monthly-schedule-of-activities/
Creativity Works Mental Health Creative Support Service
For those living in Bath and Somerset: Opportunity to learn some creative skills, make new friends, suitable for people who are in the process of recovery from ongoing mental health challenges, anxiety or depression to help build confidence, learn new skills and make friends. There are also spaces to attend creative peer support groups, which are managed by group members and have occasional visiting art tutors
https://www.creativityworks.org.uk/what-we-do/for-mental-health/
NHS
Latest advice on looking after your health during the pandemic.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
Mind: Coronavirus and your wellbeing
Support and practical advice on the impact lockdown can have on your mental health.
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/
Industry Minds
Industry Minds is a podcast created to discuss mental health for people in the creative industries and now offers free one to one counselling sessions over Skype.
https://www.industryminds.co.uk/
Addiction: what is it?
An overview of what addiction is, the various types of addictions, and how they can be treated. Link below also takes you to the page where you can search for NHS services near you.
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/addiction-what-is-it/
Addiction and Homelessness
Resource page on addiction and homelessness to educate people on this issue and provide insight on ways to help the homeless in their community.
https://socalsunrise.com/addiction-and-homelessness/
Is your colleague struggling with their mental health?
Useful information around employee well-being.
https://www.pawsinwork.com/blog/colleague-struggling-with-mental-health
BAATN Online Directory
Hosts a directory of counsellors and psychotherapists from Black, African, Asian, and Caribbean heritage in the UK.
https://www.baatn.org.uk
Black Minds Matter UK
Provides mental health support and resources specifically for Black people in the UK.
https://www.blackmindsmatteruk.com
The Black Trans Foundation’s QTIPOC Therapist Directory
Lists therapists who are Queer, Trans, and Intersex People of Colour to improve accessibility for marginalised identities.
https://www.blacktransfoundation.org
Black River Counselling
A free online service supporting people of Black African and African-Caribbean heritage.
https://www.mind.org.uk
Brown Therapist Network
A global hub for South Asian therapists offering a range of accredited therapeutic services.
https://www.browntherapists.com
Burnt Roti Magazine
Provides a directory of South Asian and East Asian women therapists in London, along with mental health articles.
https://www.burntroti.com
Nafsiyat
An intercultural therapy centre offering psychotherapy and counselling to diverse communities in over 20 languages.
https://www.nafsiyat.org.uk
Our Naked Truths
Provides free and low-cost life art therapy and wellness programmes for Black women.
https://www.ournakedtruths.com
Radical Therapist Network
A network of therapists practicing anti-racist, anti-capitalist, and trans-cultural therapy.
https://www.radicaltherapistnetwork.com
South Asian Therapists
A directory of South Asian therapists with resources on self-care and therapy options.
https://www.southasiantherapists.com
Resources for Supporting Young People:
The Mix
UK’s leading support service for young people dealing with mental health, addiction, and more.
https://www.themix.org.uk
Give Us a Shout
Offers 24/7 free text support to young people experiencing mental health crises.
https://www.giveusashout.org
Childline
A confidential helpline for young people to talk about any issues, provided by the NSPCC.
https://www.childline.org.uk
Young Minds
Provides mental health support for young people and resources for parents and professionals.
https://www.youngminds.org.uk
Muslim Youth Helpline
Offers confidential, culturally sensitive support via phone, chat, WhatsApp, and email.
https://www.myh.org.uk
PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide
UK charity offering support and advice for young people struggling with suicidal thoughts.
https://www.papyrus-uk.org
Parents and caregivers in the arts
Pregnant Then Screwed
A charity dedicated to ending the motherhood penalty
https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/
Maternity Action
A maternity rights charity dedicated to promoting, protecting and enhancing the rights of all pregnant women.
https://maternityaction.org.uk/
Artist in Residency in Motherhood (everywhere)
Conceptual residency
An Artist Residency in Motherhood is the reframing of parenthood as a valuable site for creative practice, rather than an obstruction to be overcome. Conceived by Lenka Clayton
https://www.artistresidencyinmotherhood.com/
Artist/Mum (Online/UK)
A publication in progress recording conversations with artists (who are also mums)
https://www.instagram.com/artist_mums
Flourishing (or is that Surviving?) as a Parent in the Art World
Jo Harrison and Hettie Judah introduce the Art Working Parents Alliance and share a list of resources that offer support to parents in the arts.
https://vasw.org.uk/resources/flourishing-or-is-that-surviving-as-a-parent-in-the-art-world
Environmentally sustainable practices
Gallery Climate Coalition
The goal of GCC is to facilitate the decarbonisation of the visual art sector and promote zero-waste practices.
https://galleryclimatecoalition.org/
Julie’s Bicycle
Non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting the arts and culture sectors in tackling climate change and promoting sustainability. They offer resources, training, and programs for artists and organisations to reduce their environmental impact, integrate climate action into creative work, and advocate for climate justice. Through initiatives like Creative Climate Leadership and Creative Green, Julie’s Bicycle empowers artists to lead impactful environmental change within their industries.
https://juliesbicycle.com/
Artist Open Call – GHT Climate Action Community Projects (Wednesday 26 October, 9am – Sunday 20 November, 5pm)
We’re looking for artists to apply to our latest open call as part of our ongoing work at ‘a space’ arts to raise awareness of the current climate emergency. In 2023, we will be hosting a new programme of exhibitions and activities with a focus on climate action. At the centre of the programme will be a major new commission at our flagship venue, God’s House Tower (GHT). Alongside this, we would also like to support two community-focused projects led by artists who live or work in the SO postcode.
https://aspacearts.org.uk/events/artist-open-call-ght-climate-action-community-projects
ClimateCultures
Online space for creative minds to share responses to our ecological and climate predicaments. Launched in 2017, we are a growing network of artists, researchers and curators across the UK and around the world working across many practices, disciplines and spaces.
https://climatecultures.net/about/predicament/
Future Materials Bank
Archive of materials that supports and promotes the transition towards ecologically conscious art and design practices. It is part of the Future Materials Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation located at the Jan van Eyck Academie in Maastricht (NL).
https://www.futurematerialsbank.com/
PLATFORM
PLATFORM brings workers and communities together to create new, liberatory systems that tackle injustice and climate breakdown.
https://platformlondon.org/
Cape Farewell
Cape Farewell acts as a catalyst, producing opportunities for artists, scientists and communities to work together. By creating art founded in scientific fact, our projects highlight humanity’s destructive impact on the earth and inspire people to act towards a sustainable cultural shift.
https://www.capefarewell.com/
Climate Museum UK
Climate Museum UK is a group of artists, designers and educators who help people make sense of environmental issues through creative conversations.
https://climatemuseumuk.org/
ONCA
ONCA is a Brighton-based arts charity that bridges social and environmental justice issues with creativity. We promote positive change by facilitating inclusive spaces for creative learning, artist support, story-sharing and community solidarity. ONCA Gallery works with artists, educators and organisations to co-deliver exhibitions, events and workshops that explore social and environmental issues.
https://onca.org.uk/
Climate Justice Code: For artists, art workers, and arts organisations situated in the Global North
The Climate Justice Code (CJC) invites arts practitioners and arts organisations to reconcile the values they (re)present with the ways they organise and operate. It proposes that they extend their sense of responsibility towards the (eco)systems they are embedded in, in order to recognise and act on the urgency of climate and environmental breakdown.
https://casco.art/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/CJC_online-171123-2.pdf
GroundWork Gallery
GroundWork Gallery is dedicated to art and environment in its mission and in all its activities. All exhibitions are about the environment – the main mission of the gallery focuses on exhibiting the work of artists who are concerned about the environment through their work. The gallery engages in associated environmental campaigning.
https://www.groundworkgallery.com/resources/
ArtUK Learning Resources: Climate change and the environment resources
https://artuk.org/learn/learning-resources/climate-change-and-the-environment-resources
Chrysalis Arts Development: Greening Arts Practice Resources and Links
https://www.chrysalisarts.com/resources/greening-arts-practice-resources-links
Recommended
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