Get ahead of the game this year. Check out this list of the top international open calls, residencies, fellowships, and awards that can benefit artists in 2019.
Applying for artist grants is a great way for artists to supplement their income to ease the financial burden that often comes as part of being a working artist. These grants listed help artists pay for materials, studio space, or even their rent, allowing artists the time to make work without the day-to-day pressure of paying bills—giving them the freedom to make work in an unrestricted manner and dedicate their time to being fully creative.
If you are seeking time away from your routine and obligations to create work in a new environment with new influences, a residency might be more your speed. Residencies vary in their offerings and funding, so make sure to check the fine print section of each listing. Most importantly, make sure your portfolio and professional documents are ready to present.
Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant
Established as part of Lee Krasner’s legacy, the Pollock Krasner Foundation Grant was set up to support and strengthen the creative lives of artists. A competitive grant for artists with extensive exhibition records, this grant has a long list of impressive alumni. Since its start in 1985, the foundation has granted over 65 million dollars in award money to artists in over 77 countries.
WHO: Mid-career professional artists with demonstrable financial need. Artists must be actively exhibiting their current work in professional artistic venues, such as gallery and museum spaces.
FIELD: Painters, sculptors, and artists who work on paper, including printmaking.
AMOUNT: Awards range from $5,000 to $30,000, depending on need and circumstance.
DEADLINE: Ongoing
FINE PRINT: Commercial artists, video artists, performance artists, filmmakers, crafts-makers, and computer artists are not eligible. Students not eligible. Detailed FAQ here.
The Harpo Foundation Grants for Visual Artists
The Harpo Foundation seeks to stimulate creative inquiry and to encourage new modes of thinking about art. Applications are evaluated on the basis of the quality of the artist’s work, the potential to expand aesthetic inquiry, and its relationship to the foundation’s priority to provide support to visual artists who are under-recognized by the field.
WHO: Under-recognized US visual artists over the age of 21.
FIELD: Any field.
AMOUNT: Awards are made of up to $10,000.
DEADLINE: The 2019 grant cycle will open in February 2019 with a deadline in April 2019.
FINE PRINT: Students are not eligible. $15 application fee is required. You will need to submit an artist resume, artist statement, and work samples on the online application. Detailed FAQ here.
Artadia Awards
Artadia is a national non-profit organization that supports visual artists with unrestricted, merit-based awards and fosters connections to a network of opportunities. In the past 18 years, Artadia has awarded over $3 million to more than 300 artists throughout its participating award cities of Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco.
WHO: U.S. visual artists who work in the program city (or its eligible counties) and who have resided there for at least two years.
FIELD: Any field.
AMOUNT: Ranges between $5000 to $20,000, plus ongoing assistance through the lifetime of your career.
DEADLINE: Applications dates for participating cities are as follows—Los Angeles: January 1 – February 1, New York: March 1 – April 1, Houston: April 15 – May 15, Chicago: May 1 – June 1, San Francisco: July 1 – August 1, Atlanta: September 15 – October 15.
FINE PRINT: Students are not eligible. Award money can be used however the artist sees fit. Continued support is achieved through close collaborations with its host cities to create exhibition opportunities for artists, arrange studio visits with local as well as national curators, source residency programs, and make introductions in the field. Learn more here.
John Simon Guggenheim Foundation Fellowships
The Foundation offers Fellowships to further the development of scholars and artists by assisting them to engage in research in any field of knowledge and creation in any of the arts, under the freest possible conditions.
WHO: Visual artists from the U.S. and Canada.
FIELD: Any field.
AMOUNT: The amounts of grants vary, and the Foundation does not guarantee it will fully fund any project.
DEADLINE: Applications for 2019 grants were due by September 17, 2018. Stay tuned for the 2020 grant cycle open later this year.
FINE PRINT: On the application, you must include a chronological list of shows, citing dates and places, and a list of collections in which your work is represented. Work exhibited on websites and blogs alone does not constitute a sufficient record of accomplishment for our competition. Learn more about applying here.
Aaron Siskind Foundation – Individual Photographer’s Fellowship
The Aaron Siskind Foundation is a 501(c)(3) set up by preeminent photographer Aaron Siskin’s estate, which he had asked to become a resource for contemporary photographers. The award was established to support and encourage contemporary artists working in the photographic field.
WHO: Any US artist over 21 years of age
FIELD: Work must be based on the idea of still-based photography, but can include digital imagery, installations, documentary projects, and photo-generated print media.
AMOUNT: Up to $10,000
DEADLINE: The 2019 Grant Cycle will begin in Spring 2019
FINE PRINT: Varied amounts of grants gifted up to $10,000. Students not Eligible. Doctoral candidates considered on a case-by-case basis. Check out the FAQ here.
Awesome Foundation Grant
A micro-granting organization, funding “awesome” ideas, The Awesome Foundation set up local chapters around the world to provide rolling grants of $1000 to “awesome projects.” Each chapter defines what is “awesome” for their local community, but most include arts initiative and public or social practice art projects.
WHO: Anyone is eligible for a grant — individuals, groups, and organizations alike.
FIELD: Any Field. Each chapter has their own requirements, most consider arts projects.
AMOUNT: $1000
DEADLINE: Rolling—monthly grants offered.
FINE PRINT: Grants not given for studio space or strictly salary or supplies. Needs to make the community more “awesome.” Think public works. More info here.
PAAM’s The Lillian Orlowsky and William Freed Grant
The Provincetown Art Association and Museum (PAAM) is a nationally recognized, year-round cultural institution that fuses the creative energy of America’s oldest active art colony with the natural beauty of outer Cape Cod that has inspired artists for generations. Today, PAAM continues to offer an ever-changing line-up of world-class exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and cultural events.
WHO: U.S. painters aged 45 years or older at the time of application. A need for financial support must be clear and demonstrated. Applications must be submitted by an individual working artist or collaborators in an artist group; organizations cannot apply.
FIELD: Painting. For the purposes of this grant, painting is considered the application of various wet media (oil, acrylic, gouache, ink, tempera, watercolor, egg tempera, casein) on paper, canvas, fabric, or wood. This excludes mixed media, encaustic, collage, pastels, digital paintings, prints, and work in graphite or drawings. The use of multiple paint mediums is allowed (i.e. mixing acrylics with oil paints).
AMOUNT: Awards include a cash grant, ranging from $5,000 to $35,000 and an exhibition at PAAM.
DEADLINE: April 1, 2019
FINE PRINT: Full grant information and the online application is available at www.paam.org/grant.
Artist Grant
Founded in 2017, Artist Grant is a new venture that aims to support and fund artists. To that end, this charitable organization funds the efforts of artists to continue their important work and contributions to society, providing a modest competitive grant of $500 to one artist every quarter.
WHO: Visual artists 18 and older from anywhere in the world
FIELD: Painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, stills of video/film, sculpture (of any type of material), ceramics, mixed/multiple media, installation, and other new or alternative media.
AMOUNT: $500 each grant cycle
DEADLINE: There are four grant cycle deadlines per year – January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15.
FINE PRINT: There is an application fee of $25 USD that helps defray the costs of administering this grant so that they may continue to support and fund artists’ important work. You can learn more here.
Lydon Emerging Artist Program (LEAP)
The LEAP award provides a $1000 grant to one grantee for an early career artist in the contemporary craft field. The gift is intended to be used towards a new product line or body of work. The Society for Contemporary Craft will commit to promoting the work for the duration of one year along with providing special features on six finalists.
WHO: Emerging Artists
FIELD: Contemporary Craft (ceramics, wood, metal/jewelry, glass, found materials, mixed media, fiber or a combination of these materials)
AMOUNT: $1,000
DEADLINE: December 31, 2018 for the 2019 grant cycle
FINE PRINT: One artist chosen for a cash prize; six chosen for auxiliary benefits. $25 application fee. Learn more here.
Joan Mitchell Foundation: Emergency Grant
The Joan Mitchell Foundation provides emergency support to U.S.-based visual artists who have suffered significant losses after natural or man-made disasters that have affected their community on a broad scale. The Foundation has historically granted funding to assist in the repair of homes and studios following flooding and material destruction, to replace art materials such as brushes, paints, inks, other materials such as hand or power tools and computers, and to assist in rent for a temporary studio space in which to work while cleaning up after a disaster.
WHO: U.S. artists who have been impacted due to natural or man-made disasters
FIELD: Painting, sculpture, or drawing
AMOUNT: TBD based on need.
DEADLINE: Applications are accepted throughout the year, starting January 1, 2019.
FINE PRINT: Unfortunately, the Joan Mitchell Foundation cannot grant funds towards the retail value of any lost or damaged artwork. Applicants will receive a response within 1-2 months. Check out their FAQs here.
Sustainable Arts Foundation Award Program
The Sustainable Arts Foundation’s goal is to encourage parents to continue pursuing their creative passion, and to rekindle it in those who may have let it slide. The foundation offers unrestricted cash awards and residency grants to artists and writers with families — specifically, at least one child under the age of 18.
WHO: Artists and writers with at least one child under the age of 18 and a strong portfolio of work
FIELD: Fine arts and writing
AMOUNT: $5,000
DEADLINE: Check back later for the 2019 grant cycle announcement.
FINE PRINT: Application fee is $20. 100 percent of this fee goes to the jurors, who are all parent artists and writers themselves. Charging this fee ensures that at least two jurors will review each application and be compensated for their work. Learn more here.
Creative Capital
Creative Capital supports adventurous artists across the country through funding, counsel, and career development services. This impact-driven arts organization provides each funded project with up to $50,000 in funding and career development services valued at $45,000.
WHO: Artists in any discipline working on a specific project.
FIELD: Painting, Sculpture, Works on Paper, Photography, Public Art, and more.
AMOUNT: Up to $50,000 in direct funding.
DEADLINE: 2019 cycle TBA
FINE PRINT: Besides funding, you’ll have access to consultations with legal, financial, marketing, public relations, and web consultants; artist retreats and regional gatherings; ten meetings with a strategic planning coach; and more. Letter of Inquiry must be submitted. You can learn more here.
National Parks Arts Foundation Residencies
The National Park Arts Foundation started their Artist-in-Residence program in 2006 to provide opportunities to artists to live and work in National parks to create a body of work. Programs are specifically tailored to the artist’s project and the selected park. Residencies are one month and can accommodate artists from multiple disciplines such as sculpture, ceramics, dance, theatre, textiles, writers, new media, printmaking, and film.
WHO: Visual artists
FIELD: Sculpture, ceramics, dance, theatre, performing arts, music, literature, new media, animation, printmaking, film-making, ethnographic art.
DATES: Check website for individual residency dates
LOCATION: One-month residencies are offered in the following locations: Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park (Big Island, HI), Death Valley National Park (California), Fort Union National Monument (New Mexico), Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida), Chaco Culture National Historical Park (New Mexico)
DEADLINE: Application deadlines vary. Check here for details.
FINE PRINT: $2000 stipend offered to accepted artists. Application fee required. Learn more about each residency here.
Bogliasco Residency Program
An American nonprofit with a program in Italy, the Bogliasco Foundation awards one-month residential Fellowships to gifted artists and scholars of all ages and nationalities. During their month-long stay at the Center, Bogliasco Fellows are provided with living quarters, full board, and a separate private studio.
WHO: Artists worldwide
FIELD: Visual Arts, Film/Video, Theater, Dance, and more
DATES: Fall 2019 semester dates are as follows: September 9 – October 11, October 14 – November 15, or November 18 – December 20
LOCATION: Bogliasco, Italy
DEADLINE: January 15, 2019 for residencies during the subsequent fall semester, and April 15, 2019 for residences during the subsequent spring semester.
FINE PRINT: To be eligible for a Fellowship, applicants should demonstrate significant achievement in their disciplines, commensurate with their age and experience. Although there is no cost for a residency, Fellows are responsible for their own travel to and from the Study Center. Learn more here.
The Alfred and Trafford Klots International Program for Artists
Eight-week artist’s residency, just a short walk along the river Rance from Dinan, a “Ville d’Art et d’Histoire.” The selection committee and program directors seek four to eight artists whose mix of media, approaches, styles, and focus will create a dynamic and collegial community
WHO: Artists worldwide
FIELD: Visual arts
DATES: June 1 – July 27, 2019
LOCATION: Léhon, France
DEADLINE: February 1, 2019
FINE PRINT: Application, accommodation in a private bedroom in a historic house with a fully-equipped communal kitchen, and studio space in a 9th-century abbey are free. Residents are responsible for transportation to and from the residency, most supplies, and most meals. Learn more here.
CRETA Rome Artist Residencies
C.R.E.T.A. Rome offers self-funded residencies to international ceramicists, visual artists and writers for periods of 4 or 5 weeks. The residency includes a semi-private equipped studio, housing in the historical center of Rome, and technical assistance in procuring materials for your work, firings, etc., advice on museums, galleries and sites in Rome and beyond.
WHO: Artists worldwide
FIELD: Ceramics, visual arts, writing
DATES: Summer 2019 residencies (4 weeks): May 29 – June 25, June 26 – July 23, July 24 – August 20; Fall 2019 residencies (5 weeks): September 11 – October 15, October 16 – November 19, November 20 – December 17
LOCATION: Rome, Italy
DEADLINE: February 15, 2019 for Summer 2019 Residencies, and June 15, 2019 for Fall 2019 Residencies
FINE PRINT: Accommodation are a 1-bedroom house with a garden and a private studio. Spouses/companions and/or children are also welcome for a supplemental fee. Each resident will have an opportunity to exhibit the work produced during the residency period in a final group show. Learn more here.
Offshore Residency
The Offshore Residency offers an extensive one-week program where artists live, work, and travel together aboard a sailboat. Each Offshore journey navigates to a specific, historic region, where participants engage with local communities through special exhibitions, projects, talks, screenings and events coordinated by the program. Through these relationships, artists will have the opportunity to reflect upon their work and its objectives outside of marketplace demands and experience the rigors and rewards of sailing under the guidance of experienced captains.
WHO: Artists from all geographic locations, ages, ethnicities, and identities are welcome and encouraged to apply.
FIELD: All mediums encouraged to apply: visual artists, sculpture, installation, performing arts, painting, sound, video, textile, new media, animation
DATES: Late August – early September 2019 (Exact dates to be announced in early January)
LOCATION: Offshore’s Summer 2019 program will take place off the northern coast of Sardinia and the southern coast of Corsica.
DEADLINE: February 15, 2019
FINE PRINT: The program session will run for 8 days. You can find a sample itinerary on their website for an idea of what to expect. Applicants must have a working knowledge of English. Accepted residents will be required to pay a fee of $525 to participate in the program. Learn more here.
Djerassi Resident Artists Program
The Djerassi Resident Artists Program is situated in the Santa Cruz Mountains, one hour south of San Francisco. The program offers gorgeous architecture, the time and space to interact with peers, and critical dialogue for growing your own individual practice, in a pristine landscape. Best of all, the program is offered at no cost to artists, should you be accepted.
WHO: Artists worldwide
FIELD: Visual arts, media arts/new genres, literature, choreography, and music composition
DATES: Mid-March through mid-November
LOCATION: Woodside, CA
DEADLINE: March 15, 2019
FINE PRINT: There are six residency sessions each year: five that are four weeks long and one that includes Open House/Open Studios is five weeks long. Travel and supplies paid by the artist. Food and lodging paid by the organization. Learn more here.
The MacDowell Colony | Summer 2019 Residencies
The MacDowell Colony, founded by composer Edward MacDowell, was originally meant for musicians in need of a creative retreat. Now, the colony has become one of the most recognized visual arts and writing residencies. The location offers a cultural experience surrounding by breathtaking scenery.
WHO: Artists worldwide, emerging and established
FIELD: Visual arts, architecture, film/video arts, interdisciplinary arts, literature, music composition, and theatre
DATES: June 1–September 30, 2019, for the Visual Arts Residency. Check here for other disciplines.
LOCATION: Peterborough, New Hampshire
DEADLINE: January 15, 2019
FINE PRINT: About 300 artists in seven disciplines are awarded fellowships each year and the sole criterion for acceptance is artistic excellence. There are no residency fees. Travel grants, as well as need-based stipends, are available to open the residency experience to the broadest possible community of artists. Learn more here.
Ox-Bow Fall Artists and Writers Residency
The Ox-Bow’s Fall Residency is designed for artists and writers at many different points in their careers. This residency is an incredible opportunity for emerging artists looking to launch their career with the help of dedicated time, access to resources and mentorship. The fall residency offers a wider variety of studios that can be used for artists of different mediums to collaborate.
WHO: Artists and writers at any stage in their careers
DATES: 2, 3, and 5-week residencies during September 1 – October 5, 2019
LOCATION: Saugatuck, Michigan
DEADLINE: May 1, 2019
FINE PRINT: Stipends available for travel and supplies. Room and board covered by Ox-Bow. The fall residency is open to all artists not currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program. Learn more here.
Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture
Skowhegan promotes engagement with peers and a focus on process and experimentation. Although the residency has become most widely recognized for its focus on painting, they accept artists working in a variety of mediums. The program gives artists complete freedom during their residency, but also provides resources and weekly lectures for guidance and feedback.
WHO: Visual artists. You must be at least 21 years of age at the start of the program and have a working knowledge of English.
FIELD: All mediums
DATES: June 8 – August 10, 2019
LOCATION: Skowhegan, Maine
DEADLINE: January 10, 2019
FINE PRINT: Tuition for Skowhegan’s nine-week program is $6,000, but 95% of each class receives financial aid or scholarships. Learn more here.
Annex:art Artist Residencies
As part of its ongoing mission, Annex:art works with international artists to coordinate self-funded and sponsored artist residency, as well as interim studio programs. These programs are designed to enable the artist an opportunity to complete a project or specific body of work in one of our participating annex locations.
WHO: Artists worldwide, 21 and older
FIELD: All media accepted
DATES: To be determined
LOCATION: At present, the program is available at the Annex:art facilities in Havelland, Germany; San Fidel, New Mexico; and the picturesque Ardèche region of south-central France.
DEADLINE: Rolling deadline. Apply on their website.
FINE PRINT: The program seeks applications from artists who have a specific purpose or project to be completed during the residency.
The Neon Museum 2019 National Artist Residency
The Neon Museum National Artist Residency (AIR) is designed to expand the interpretive potential of the collection while providing artists the opportunity to create new work in an unconventional setting. Each residency is accompanied by programming to engage the community and museum visitors, providing exposure to new artists and a fresh perspective on the collection.
WHO: Artists based in the United States, over the age of 18
FIELD: Visual or performing arts
DATES: June 1 – August 31, 2019
LOCATION: Las Vegas, NV
DEADLINE: February 1, 2019
FINE PRINT: The artist will be paid a stipend of a total of $3,000, plus a modest budget for materials if required. The selected artist will also be provided an $800 travel allowance. Studio space and separate lodging with kitchen facilities are provided free of charge for eight weeks. Learn more here.
Residency Unlimited
RU fosters customized residency environments for artists and curators in all disciplines and at all stages of practice. Participants receive critical, production, and administrative assistance. Substantial emphasis is placed on building networking capacity for the residents.
WHO: Artists worldwide
FIELD: All visual arts media and disciplines
DURATION: For artists, residencies usually vary in length from three to six months; for curators, duration is generally one to two months.
LOCATION: Brooklyn, NY
DEADLINE: Rolling application, fill out the inquiry form here.
FINE PRINT: The selection process ranges from an open call application and panel process to nominations or by invitation depending on the project, the type of residency and the partnering organization. Learn more here.
Byrdcliffe 2019 Artist Residencies
Byrdcliffe Artist Residencies offer uninterrupted time and space for artists of all disciplines to work in a creative community on the 250-acre Catskill mountain historic campus just two hours north of NYC. The AiR Program offers several residency options ranging from four weeks to five months in duration, with various live/work spaces available for each session; Ceramic artists are able to apply for 1, 2, or 4 month residencies.
WHO: Visual artists, writers, musicians
FIELD: Ceramics, weaving, darkroom/digital photography, video, painting, sculpture, musical performance and composition, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry among others
DURATION: One month
LOCATION: Woodstock, NY
DEADLINE: February 10, 2019 for 1 Month and Ceramics Residencies
FINE PRINT: Fellowships available based on need and merit with funding also available for women, artists of the LGBTQA community, and artists impacted by natural disasters. 1 Month Residencies are offered for individuals and couples with private and communal housing available. Each resident receives a private studio and living space. Learn more here.
The Alfred and Trafford Klots International Program for Artists
Eight-week artist’s residency in Léhon, a “Petite Cité de Caractère,” which is short walk along the river Rance from Dinan, a “Ville d’Art et d’Histoire.” The selection committee and program directors seek four to eight artists whose mix of media, approaches, styles, and focus will create a dynamic and collegial community. In particular, we are looking for artists who can use the specific character of our residency experience productively.
WHO: Visual artists worldwide
DATES: June 1 – July 27, 2019
LOCATION: Léhon, France
DEADLINE: February 1, 2019
FINE PRINT: No students. Application, accommodation in a private bedroom in an historic house with a fully-equipped communal kitchen, and studio space in a 9th-century Abbey are free. Residents are responsible for transportation to and from the residency, most supplies, and most meals. Learn more here.
A.I.R. Studio Paducah
A.I.R. Studio Paducah is an Artist-in-Residence Studio and efficiency apartment located in the Lower Town Arts District of Paducah, Kentucky six blocks from the Ohio River. They welcome self-motivated, focused artists working in in a range of creative practices.
WHO: Visual artists, photographers, architects, writers, composers and improvisational choreographers
DURATION: Stays usually range from two weeks to three months
LOCATION: Paducah, Kentucky
DEADLINE: February 15, 2019
FINE PRINT: Applicants are encouraged to have a clear objective for their residency. Learn more here.
Merriweather District 2019 Artist-in-Residence Program
The Howard County Arts Council is thrilled to renew its collaboration with the Howard Hughes Corporation for the second annual Merriweather District Artist in Residence Program (MD AIR). Up to three artists will be selected and provided with a $10,000 stipend, studio space and housing to spend up to six weeks in residence. The highest priority will be given to artists who intend to produce works that reflect innovative approaches, new media and multidisciplinary art forms.
WHO: Artists worldwide
DATES: May 13 – June 24, 2019
LOCATION: Ellicott City, MD
DEADLINE: February 4, 2019
FINE PRINT: MD AIR is open to local, national and international artists working in all media including, but not limited to, performance, video, 2-D and 3-D visual arts, dance, music, and the spoken word. Learn more here.
Clay Studio Artist in Residence
The STARworks Clay Studio is accepting applications for residency positions of one to six months duration. The residency allows artists the opportunity to expand studio practices, and experiment with a stipend of STARworks manufactured local clay and work with visiting artists and the opportunity to become connected with nearby Seagrove, NC potters.
WHO: Ceramicists worldwide
DATES: July 1 – December 15, 2019
LOCATION: Star, NC
DEADLINE: February 28, 2019
FINE PRINT: Resident artists are provided with studio space, 24/7 studio access and up to 300 lbs. of STARworks Ceramics clay, manufactured on-site using local wild clay. Work exchange available at $10/hour up to 20 hours/week with separate application. Learn more here.
Ready to apply?
Applications can be extensive, after all, organizations need to ensure their funding will be in good hands. Be prepared to present yourself in the best light by having your information and images in an organized manner—and good luck!
