Top Global Open Call Programs for Artists: Where to Find Grants, Competitions and Exhibitions

For a contemporary artist, an open call is one of the most practical ways to move beyond the local art market. Through open competitions, artists can take part in international exhibitions, receive grants, join residencies, publish their work or simply add a strong international project to their portfolio.

The challenge is that open calls appear constantly, have different deadlines and requirements, and are spread across dozens of websites. That is why we have compiled a selection of platforms and programs that artists should check regularly.

Bookmark this page: deadlines and new opportunities change frequently, so it is worth returning to this list at least once every few weeks.

Quick overview: where to find open calls for artists

1. KSE 150 / Talents for Ukraine

KSE 150 — Talents for Ukraine is a Ukrainian grant program by KSE Foundation created to support talented people and projects capable of making a meaningful impact.

The program has been running since 2022. In 2026, its annual budget is $1 million, with approximately 60% of the support expected to focus on STEM-related talent. Around 40% of the budget remains available to applicants from other fields without strict thematic restrictions.

For this reason, artists, designers and creators working on interdisciplinary projects should monitor the categories available in each new application round, as the program conditions may change.

Who should follow it: Ukrainian artists, creators of cultural and interdisciplinary projects, as well as those whose work intersects with technology, education or social change.

2. YICCA — International Contest of Contemporary Art

YICCA is an international contemporary art competition aimed at artists who want to present their work to an international audience.

New application rounds are launched regularly. For example, during the YICCA Prize 2025/26 season, the organizers offered several cash awards, including a €3,000 first prize and a separate award for students.

For artists, YICCA is valuable not only because of the potential prize money. Participation in an international competition can strengthen a CV, create new professional connections and help artists present their work beyond their home country.

Before applying, always check: the registration fee, current deadline, eligible art forms and image submission requirements.

3. Luxembourg Art Prize

Luxembourg Art Prize is one of the most recognizable international awards on this list. It is organized by La Pinacothèque, a private museum in Luxembourg.

An important feature of the competition is that it is open both to professional artists and to creators who are still developing their careers. The organizers state that there are no restrictions based on age or nationality.

In 2026, the total prize fund is listed as €35,000, with winners receiving €20,000, €10,000 and €5,000 respectively. Each year, the museum selects 24 finalists.

Best for: artists who want a recognizable international award on their CV and are ready to prepare a professional application.

4. ArtJobs

ArtJobs is not a single competition but a large international platform for opportunities in the creative industries.

Artists can find open calls, competitions, exhibitions, residencies, photography calls, festivals, jobs and other opportunities. This makes ArtJobs useful not only for a one-time search but as an ongoing monitoring tool.

It is especially useful if you work in painting, photography, video, contemporary art, installation or interdisciplinary practices.

Keep in mind that ArtJobs primarily acts as a listing platform. The terms of each individual opportunity are determined by its organizer, so they should always be checked separately.

5. Artwork Archive — Calls for Entry

Artwork Archive Calls for Entry is one of the most convenient databases for finding opportunities systematically.

The platform lists grants, residencies, exhibitions, competitions, public art proposals, workshops and other open calls.

Its main advantage is the filtering system. Opportunities can be filtered by deadline, location, eligibility, opportunity type, entry fee and artistic discipline.

Available categories include painting, photography, sculpture, drawing, mixed media, film/video/new media and many others.

Practical tip: check Artwork Archive once a week or every two weeks and focus on opportunities with deadlines within the next 1–3 months. This gives you enough time to prepare your portfolio, artist statement and other application materials.

6. BOOOOOOOM Open Calls

BOOOOOOOM Open Calls is particularly worth bookmarking for photographers, contemporary artists, illustrators and digital artists.

BOOOOOOOM runs its own submissions that may lead to features on its website and Instagram, while also compiling selections of external competitions, exhibitions, grants, publications and residencies.

Some opportunities are available only to platform members, so before joining, check whether membership is actually required for the specific open call you are interested in.

The BOOOOOOOM team also encourages applicants to independently verify organizers before submitting — a useful rule for any international competition.

How to choose an open call without wasting your time

Not every competition is worth applying to. Before preparing your application, check five key points:

• Eligibility. Are you allowed to participate based on your country of residence, age or professional status?
• Deadline. Do you have enough time to prepare a strong application?
• Entry fee. Is there an application fee, and does it make sense compared with the potential value of the opportunity?
• Artwork format. Painting, photography, sculpture, digital art and other categories may have different requirements.
• Rights to your work. Check what rights to submitted images or artworks the organizer receives.

What artists should prepare in advance

If you plan to apply regularly to international programs, there is no need to build every application from scratch. Create a separate folder and keep the following materials ready:

• 5–15 high-quality photographs of your current work;
• title, year, medium and dimensions of each artwork;
• a short artist bio;
• an artist statement;
• a CV including exhibitions, competitions and residencies;
• a link to your website or online portfolio;
• an English-language version of your main information;
• a professional portrait photo.

With these materials prepared, applying for a new open call can take a few hours instead of several days.

Final thoughts

Participating in international open calls does not guarantee an immediate artwork sale or a gallery contract. However, consistent applications increase the number of professional opportunities available to you: exhibitions, grants, residencies, publications, new connections and stronger entries on your CV.

The best strategy is not to wait for one “perfect” competition. Choose 3–5 platforms, check them regularly and apply to opportunities that genuinely match your artistic practice.

We will continue updating this selection and adding new international programs for artists, so it is worth bookmarking this page and returning to it regularly.