Guide

Open Calls for Artists — May 2026

Curated opportunities for painters, sculptors, photographers, and visual artists. Updated monthly.

Deadlines approaching. If you need a portfolio PDF, artist bio, or artist statement before you apply — ExhibitFolio generates everything in minutes →


May brings a strong round of opportunities — international open calls, grants with unrestricted funding, and residencies with deadlines worth marking now. Below is a curated selection with notes on what each one requires so you can decide quickly whether it's right for your practice.

As always, read each prospectus carefully before applying. Requirements vary significantly and submission materials are often more involved than the headline suggests.


BEERS London Group Exhibitions

Deadline: Rolling · International · All media

BEERS London offers an opportunity for artists working across all media to apply for group exhibitions at their London gallery. A good option if you're looking to build an international exhibition record.

What you'll need: Portfolio images, artist statement, bio.


The Hopper Prize

Deadline: May 2026 · Open to all media · No application fee

The Hopper Prize offers a total of $13,000 USD awarded across multiple grants — all unrestricted, with no restrictions on subject, medium, or approach. Selected artists receive ongoing editorial exposure beyond the award cycle.

What you'll need: Portfolio images, artist statement, bio.


Earth 2026 Art Awards

Deadline: May 12, 2026 · International · All media

The 6th edition of the Earth 2026 juried awards invites artists worldwide to explore the power, beauty, and resilience of our planet. Selected artists receive an exhibition, Artsy exposure, global promotional materials, catalogue publication, and editorial reviews.

What you'll need: Portfolio images, artist statement, bio.


CIFRA Award

Deadline: May 8, 2026 · International · Digital art and video

CIFRA welcomes any form of digital art submitted as video, themed around "RestArt Reality." Five winners each receive €1,000. A strong opportunity if your practice includes digital or time-based work.

What you'll need: Video submission, artist statement, bio.


Clio Art Fair — New York City

Deadline: May 29, 2026 · Application fee waived for early bird submissions

Clio Art Fair is accepting applications for its September 2026 editions in New York, designed for independent artists — particularly those without exclusive gallery representation — offering direct access to collectors, curators, and the public. Three participation tiers available.

What you'll need: Portfolio images, artist statement, bio.


Canal Convergence — Scottsdale Public Art

Deadline: May 2026 · Free to apply · Public art proposals

Scottsdale Arts seeks proposals for large-scale temporary light-based public artworks for Canal Convergence, a free public art event featuring 10 nights of interactive art installations along the Arizona Canal at the Scottsdale Waterfront.

What you'll need: Project proposal, portfolio images, artist statement, bio.


Most of these opportunities require the same core materials — a polished artist bio, a clear artist statement, and well-presented portfolio images. If your submission packet isn't quite ready, ExhibitFolio can help you put it together quickly and beautifully, so you're not scrambling before the deadline.

Open The Studio →


Applying to One of These?

Most open calls ask for some combination of the same core materials:

The difference between applying and not applying is usually whether those materials are ready. ExhibitFolio generates all of them in one pass — upload your artwork images, fill in your details, and download everything ready to submit.

Create your portfolio PDF — $19, one-time →

See your portfolio before you pay · No subscription · Print-ready PDFs


This page is updated monthly. Bookmark it and check back in June for the next round of opportunities.

Know of an open call we should include? Email us at hello@exhibitfolio.com