Every week we gather a variety of artist opportunities from the DC area and beyond. Find one below and apply today — good luck! Click here for recent opportunities posts, and submit your opportunity listing here.

 

Opportunities

 

Call to Artists, Jefferson School African American Heritage Center – Swords Into Plowshares Request for Qualifications — Charlottsville, VA

Deadline: April 25    The Jefferson School African American Heritage Center (JSAAHC ), a Black-led public research nonprofit in Charlottesville, Virginia, is looking for artists to transform the melted remains of the city’s Robert E. Lee statue into a new public work. Click here for details.

 

Call for Artists, Dirty Dishes — New York

Deadline: April 30    The Art Vacancy (TAV) invites artists to submit proposals for Dirty Dishes, a conceptual art installation that delves into themes of domestic labor, emotional dynamics in modern day relationships, and interpersonal communication.​ Click here for details.

 

Call for Artists, Washington Studio School: A Matter of Pride — D.C.

Deadline: May 2  Washington Studio School invites LGBTQIA+ artists and allies to submit work that celebrates the beauty, complexity, and strength of queer existence for our upcoming exhibition, A Matter of Pride. Through this exhibition, we aim to create space — for joy, resistance, softness, strength, identity, solidarity, and celebration. Whether your work is bold or tender, personal or political, your voice matters.⁣ Click here for details.

 

Call for Artists, Barraud Park Public Art Project — Norfolk, VA

Deadline: May 15    The City of Norfolk, Virginia seeks to commission an artist to design and create a series of interconnected artworks that reflect the rich history of Barraud Park in Norfolk, Virginia. The artworks should be interwoven, creating a visual journey that ties together different stories, from local athletes to cultural events. Each piece will build on the others, telling a larger narrative. Thought-provoking and symbolic, the art should showcase the park’s role in overcoming segregation, celebrating resilience, and honoring moments of joy and unity. Click here for details.

 

Call for Artists, Functional Artwork for Regional Trailhead — Ashland, VA

Deadline: June 1    The Town of Ashland, Virginia, invites artists or artist teams to submit proposals for the design, fabrication, and installation of functional public artwork at the northern trailhead of the Fall Line Trail. This project is a collaboration between the Ashland Parks & Recreation Committee and the Public Art Commission. The selected piece will serve as both seating and signage while embodying the themes of Ashland’s identity and the Fall Line Trail. Click here for details.

 

Call for Artists, Art in Public Places-St Michaels, Maryland — Easton, MD

Deadline: June 14    The St. Michaels Public Art Project is seeking to commission a permanent sculpture to be positioned in the historic district at the original town center. This sculpture will be on the grounds of the St. Michaels Museum at St. Mary’s Square drawing people to the area and serving as an educational tool for children, residents and visitors. The goals for the sculpture are to promote gathering in the Square, to educate visitors on the history of the culture of St. Michaels, and to create a sense of place to those who visit. We are inviting artists, who reside in Maryland, to submit responses to this Request. Click here for details.

 

 

Re-runs: These were previously posted, but it’s not too late to enter!

 

Call for Exhibitors, Arts at the Park Falls Church — Falls Church, VA

Deadline: April 19    Artists are invited to participate in the third annual Arts at the Park in Falls Church. This event offers a unique opportunity to display artwork in the scenic setting of Cherry Hill Farmhouse in Falls Church City. Arts at the Park is designed to foster community engagement and appreciation for the arts. Visitors will enjoy a diverse selection of artwork, as well as Falls Church’s public art installations and live fine art performances. The event will coincide with the City’s popular Saturday Farmers Market, which draws a large and engaged audience. Click here for details.

 

Call for Entries, 39th Chelsea International Fine Art Competition — New York

Deadline: April 29   The 39th Chelsea International Fine Art Competition provides artists with the opportunity to exhibit their work in the heart of New York City, placing your artwork on a global platform. With prizes valued over $70,000, this competition welcomes artists from every corner of the world, regardless of their career stage. Click here for details.

 

Open Call Chaos Code: 2025 New York Art Competition — New York

Deadline: April 30    “Chaos Code,” as one of the key themes of Whitelock Art Center’s 2025 New York International Art Competition, invites artists from around the globe to explore and challenge the delicate and complex relationship between humanity and technology. In this rapidly changing digital age, we are confronted with an unprecedented identity crisis. Chaos and order, freedom and control intertwine in artistic creation, reflecting the intricate landscape of human development in the future. Click here for details.

 

Call for Artists, The 2025 Trawick Prize — Bethesda, MD

Deadline: April 30    This juried art competition awards $14,000 in prizes to four selected winners. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Up to ten finalists will be chosen to display their work at Bethesda’s Gallery B in September 2025. Click here for details.

 

Call for Artists, The Haute-Couture Boat Exhibit — New York

Deadline: May 1    Imagine your artwork being celebrated at a prestigious high-fashion and art event on a stunning yacht. This unique experience will feature an art exhibition, a full runway show, engaging photo and video productions, and extensive social media coverage. Additionally, a visual artist will be invited to design the scenery and lights for the couture show,  enhancing the overall aesthetic. Click here for details.

 

Open Call, VisArts NextGen 12.0 Exhibition — Rockville, MD

Deadline: May 9    VisArts welcomes artists ages 17–27 in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area to submit their application for NextGen 12.0. The exhibit will be presented in the Gibbs Street Gallery from May 30 – July 20, 2025. NextGen 12.0 is a unique opportunity for aspiring artists who have little or no exhibition experience to show their work in a professional gallery and participate in related programming, including: an opening reception and artist talks, conversations with other emerging artists, critiques with local curators and arts administrators – who work with young artists, and additional professional development opportunities. Click here for details.

 

Call for Entries, 2025 Photo Review International Photography Competition

Deadline: May 15    The Photo Review Competition enables thousands of people across the country and the world to see the accepted work in our 2025 competition issue and on our website. Also, the prize-winning photographers will be chosen for an exhibition at the prestigious Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia. Click here for details.

 

Call for Entry, 40 Under 40 — Loveladies, NJ

Deadline: May 15    The Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences, Loveladies, New Jersey, invites applications to 40 Under 40 2025, a juried exhibition. The competition and exhibition are open to artists 18 to 40 years of age who currently work and live in the continental US. Three cash Prizes and three Honorable Mentions will be awarded by the Juror. Click here for details.

 

Call for Entry, Plein Air Plus 2025 — Loveladies, NJ

Deadline: May 17    The Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences is pleased to announce the tenth Plein Air Plus” Competition and Exhibition on Long Beach Island, New Jersey. Click here for details.

 

Call for Entries, 2025 Virginia Watercolor Society Annual Juried Exhibition — Radford, VA

Deadline: May 23    You are invited to apply for the Virginia Watercolor Society  46th Annual Juried Exhibition to be held at the Art Museum at the Covington Center,  Radford University , E. Main St, Radford, Va from September 26 until November 4 2025. We welcome applications from paid-up members of the Virginia Watercolor Society (VWS) only. Click here for details.

Open Call, Artist’s Choice 2025 Regional Juried Show — D.C.

Deadline: May 31    Annual month-long group show at Foundry’s industrial-style exhibition space. As one of Washington DC’s premier contemporary galleries, our mission is to promote local emerging and accomplished artists. Eligibility: There is no theme. Medium is open to painting, drawing, mixed media and photography by artists age 18 and up from the greater Washington DC region. Click here for details.

 

Call for Artists, Athenaeum, | essence: The Characteristics That Define Us — Alexandria, VA

Deadline: June 1    Announcing Athenaeum’s Latest Call for Entries: essence: The Characteristics that Define Us. Visual interpretations of the theme might range from traditional portraiture to abstract and conceptual artworks. We are looking for works that represent the gamut of qualities that define our understanding of particular individuals (both singly or in groups) – including behavioral characteristics and inner emotional life. Click here for details.

 

Request for Proposals, Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture — Glen Echo, MD

Deadline: June 5    The Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture requests exhibition proposals from artists, organizations, and curators for the Popcorn Gallery, Stone Tower Gallery, and Park View Gallery at Glen Echo Park for the calendar year 2026. The mission of the Glen Echo Park Partnership Galleries is to showcase the work of diverse artists, including resident artists at Glen Echo Park and artists from the greater Washington, D.C. area. We aim to exhibit quality art by artists who represent a broad spectrum of our region, with diverse backgrounds, and working in a wide range of artistic media. Our exhibitions attract visitors from across the region and bring new audiences to Glen Echo Park. Click here for details.

 

Open Call to Photographers, Framing the Monument: Photography Challenge & Juried Group Show — D.C.

Deadline: June 30    Foundry Gallery is seeking photographic submissions of the Washington Monument located on the national mall in the District of Columbia to exhibit for a month-long juried group show. Creative Requirement: The Monument must be “framed” in the image.
Framing within a frame can add interest to an otherwise familiar object. This photography technique involves using elements within the scene itself to create a frame around a main subject (Washington Monument), creatively drawing the viewer’s focus to that specific area. Click here for details.

 

Call for Entry, American Wildlife Art Competition and Exhibition 2025 — Cumberland, MD

Deadline: July 31    The Arcadian Gallery is proud to announce its inaugural American Wildlife Art Competition and Exhibition, a celebration of nature-themed original art and prints. This unique competition showcases the beauty of wildlife and provides artists with the opportunity to exhibit their work in both an online exhibition as well as an elegant, brick-and-mortar gallery setting in the heart of downtown Cumberland, Maryland. Click here for details.

 

Call for Entries, CraftForms 2025, 30th International Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Fine Craft — Wayne, PA

Deadline: September September 10    Wayne Art Center is seeking submissions for the 30th International Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Fine Craft, in the following mediums: basketry, ceramics, fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, paper, wearable art, and wood. Works created utilizing CAD/CAM technologies and 3D printing tools are also eligible. Selected works will be on display in the Davenport Gallery of Wayne Art Center in Wayne, Pennsylvania from December 7, 2025 through January 24, 2026. This year’s juror, Bruce W. Pepich, will present $10,000 in prize awards funded by Wayne Art Center. Click here for details.

 

Call for Artists, Athenaeum Solo or Group Show 2024-2025 — Alexandria, VA

Deadline: September 21    Artists who live or work in Virginia, Maryland, or the District of Columbia may submit a proposal for a solo show.  A group of artists who live or work in the area may submit a proposal for a group show.  A curator, living or working anywhere, may submit a proposal for a show featuring works by artists living or working in this area. Click here for details.

 

Call for Entries, The 7th Chelsea International Photography Competition (CIPC) — New York

Deadline: November 4   The 7th Chelsea International Photography Competition provides the selected participants the opportunity to exhibit at one of our New York spaces, located in the heart of the Chelsea art district. The sprawling and elegant street-level space attracts hundreds of visitors with its striking exterior. With prizes valued over $55,000, the competition is open to photographers from around the world at any stage of their careers. Click here for details.

 

Tour de Force Foundation Monthly Grants for DMV Artists

Deadline: December 7    The Tour de Force Foundation is now accepting applications for its monthly grants, designed to support education and community-based art initiatives in the DMV (D.C., Maryland, and Virginia). As a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering artists, educators, and community leaders, the foundation seeks to promote creative exploration and strengthen local connections by funding projects that benefit the greater D.C. area. Click here for details.

 

 

Ongoing: These opportunities have rolling deadlines.

 

Studio Sundays Submissions, Create! Magazine

Every month Create! Magazine!  picks several winning images of artists’ studio spaces and features them on their website and social media along with artists’ work and story. Submit a quality image of your workspace, studio or kitchen table where you make work for a chance to be featured. For more information and to submit, click here.  

 

 Call for Artists, Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council

Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council (PGAHC) is featuring county artists at its newest art space Arts’tination at National Harbor, the premier arts and entertainment destination in our regions Located at 162 Waterfront Street, National Harbor, MD. Arts’tination is dedicated to supporting local artists and curating immersive creative experiences. PGAHC is recruiting artists to show and sell their work and/or to conduct arts related workshops for the public. Artists should submit work samples and inquires to [email protected]. For more information please visit https://www.pgahc.org/artstination.

 

Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grants

These monthly grants range from $500–$3,000, with the average amount being $1,700. Visual and performing artists whose work is of a contemporary, experimental nature and who have a US Tax ID Number can apply. For more information, click here.

 

Call for Art, Links Bridge Vineyards—Thurmont, MD

Links Bridge Vineyards, a small artisan style winery located just outside of Frederick, Maryland, is looking to feature the artwork of various artists on the walls of their tasting barn for two weeks at a time. To learn more, call Joan Cartier 301-602-5733 or email her at [email protected].

 

Pyramid Atlantic Workshop Proposals – Hyattsville, MD

Pyramid Atlantic offers year-round workshops in printmaking, papermaking, book arts, and hybrids thereof. We offer multi-week, daytime, evening, and weekend intensives for adults in our fully equipped studios. As part of a robust and diverse schedule of offerings, we welcome unsolicited workshop proposals, and hope that you will consider applying! Workshop proposal reviews are ongoing, but for best consideration, submit class proposals by the following dates: 1/15 for Summer Workshops; 4/1 for Fall Workshops; 7/1 for Winter Workshops; 10/1 for Spring Workshops. Questions? Email Gretchen, Artistic Director, [email protected]

 

Call For Stories About Women in the Arts, Maryland State Arts Council

2020 has been dedicated to the Year of the Woman in Maryland. Do you have an inspiring story about vital contributions of women-identifying people who are artists, arts administrators, or cultural workers? Perhaps an exhibition, performance or project featuring women? Share it with the Maryland State Arts Council for potential use in marketing and communications! Send your ideas to [email protected], and include “Year of the Woman” in the subject line. Satff will contact senders whose stories are selected for inclusion in future newsletters, eblasts, or social media postings. Learn more about Maryland’s year of the Woman here.

 

Call For Artists, Busboys and Poets

Busboys and Poets is looking for submissions from Maryland and Virginia artists as it expands to new locations in both areas. Submissions can include drawings, painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media, assemblage, fiber, quilts, etc. Art images reflecting life in the city, family, portraits, whimsy, abstraction, social uplift and life experiences within diverse cultures are encouraged for submission. For more information, click here.

 

Alterwork Studios Online Residency

This residency was designed to give emerging contemporary artists an online platform to create new work and explore their practice. Over the course of four weeks, artists will be encouraged to experiment and explore their concepts and move their work forward in the contemporary art world. Learn more here.

 

Accepting Artwork for Curatorial Review by AIWA

The Alper Initiative for Washington Art features five exhibitions per year in the newly constructed first floor space in the American University Museum. We accept submissions, on a rolling basis,  from Washington artists of all ages and backgrounds, and working in diverse media. The museum’s Director and Curator, Jack Rasmussen, will select curators who will review these submissions for potential use in Alper Initiative exhibitions. For more information click here.

 

 

Call For Entry Hamilton Arts Collective Guest Artist Exhibition – Baltimore, MD

The Hamilton Arts Collective (HAC) and the Hamilton Gallery seek applications from artists for month-long Guest Artist exhibitions at Hamilton Gallery located at 5502 Harford Road, Baltimore, MD. The selected guest artists will be invited to exhibit a selection of their current work in Gallery I of the Hamilton Gallery. The Guest Artist exhibition is featured in Hamilton Gallery communications and will be promoted by the HAC and Hamilton Gallery. This is an open call to artists residing within 60 miles of Baltimore City. Baltimore residents are encouraged to apply. Click here to learn more.

 

Howard County Arts Council Quarterly Call For Artists – Ellicott City, MD

The Howard County Arts Council gallery program was established to enhance the public’s appreciation of the visual arts, provide a venue to exhibit the work of local, regional, and national artists in a professional space, and provide leadership in the arts by presenting a broad spectrum of arts in all media from both emerging and established artists. Artists, ages 18 and older, working in all media and styles including time-based and installation artists, are encouraged to apply either individually or as a group. Proposals from curators and arts organizations are also welcome. Click here to learn more.

 

 

Exhibit at Hotel Indigo Downtown Baltimore — Baltimore, MD

The Maryland Art Place (MAP) is working with Hotel Indigo in downtown Baltimore to offer rotating exhibitions in the hotel’s library and Poets Modern Cocktails and Eats restaurant. This opportunity is open to visual artists living or working in Maryland. ’s public art partnership projects (MAP), in partnership with Hotel Indigo, is pleased to announce an open call to artists. MAP will curate four exhibitions a year based on submissions entered through a rolling basis. Click here to learn more.

 

 

Solo or Group Shows in Athenaeum Gallery – VA

The Athenaeum Gallery in Alexandria, Virginia exhibits visual arts created solely by artists living or working in the region (DC, Maryland and Virginia) and strives to present visitors with a wide variety of excellent art and unique experiences.  In addition to the shows curated by the Gallery Director, the Athenaeum Gallery invites artists and curators to submit show proposals. For more information, click here.

 

 

The Creativity Grant Program State of Maryland (MD)

Deadline: Rolling. The purpose of the Creativity Grant Program is to strengthen the vitality and sustainability of artists and small organizations to maintain a strong and stable arts infrastructure in the State of Maryland. The Creativity Grant also provides opportunities to serve the growing needs of relevant arts projects and collaborations within Maryland communities. For more information regarding eligibility and funding timelines, please review the Creativity Grants Guidelines. For more information about the program, and to apply visit the Creativity Grant Program State of Maryland website.

 

 

Artist/Writers: Cover Art for Academic Medicine

Deadline: Rolling. Submit original works of art inspired by, but not necessarily representative of, an academic medicine experience from any perspective: caregiver, researcher, teacher, learner, or patient (for example, learning how to be a physician or scientist, caring for patients, exploring research questions, making a new discovery, being a research participant, teaching, or being cared for in a teaching hospital). The journal welcomes photography, sculpture, painting, textile work, and other visual media. Images may be cropped or resized to fit into the allotted cover space. Artists must also submit a related Cover Art essay as a narrative companion to the artwork, to explain the connection between the work and the “academic medicine experience.” The related narrative should be 250 to 600 words and is subject to editing. To apply for this opportunity, and to learn more, visit the Academic Medicine website.

 

 

The Awesome Foundation Accepting Applications for Art Projects

Deadline: Open. The Awesome Foundation for the Arts and Sciences is a worldwide network of people devoted to forwarding the interest of “awesomeness in the universe.” Established in 2009, the foundation distributes $1,000 grants on a monthly basis to projects and their creators. The money is pooled from ten or more self-organizing “micro-trustees.” The chapters are autonomous and organized by the trustees around geographic areas or topics of interest. Apply on the Awesome Foundation website.

 

 

Call for Artists: Maryland Art Place Seeks Proposals for Rotating Exhibition Partnership with Baltimore’s Hotel Indigo (MD)

Deadline: rolling. Maryland Art Place (MAP), in partnership with Hotel Indigo is pleased to announce an open ‘Call to Artists’. As an extension of MAP’s annual IMPACT public art partnership projects, MAP is working with Hotel Indigo to offer rotating exhibitions in Hotel indigo’s library and Poets Modern Cocktails and Eats. This opportunity is available to visual artists living or working in Maryland. Maryland Art Place will curate four exhibitions a year based on submissions entered through a rolling basis. Guidelines and information here.

 

 

Peripheral ARTeries – Biennial Contemporary Art Publication

Deadline: Rolling. Peripheral ARTeries is looking for artists to be featured in the new special Biennial Edition of their art publication, that comes to its 10th edition. This opportunity is great for both established and early career artists who need a boost to their artist portfolio. The 10th edition will once again explore and show current trends and tendencies in Contemporary Art: Peripheral ARTeries cultivates a spirit of openness through a unique collaborative and participatory approach.Each artist may submit a maximum of three works or projects made in any technique: painting, drawing, video art, experimental cinema, fine art photography, experimental media, mixed media, installations, public art, performance. The call is open to all proposed kind of art and media capable of challenging the viewers’ traditional perspective on art itself. To submit, visit the Peripheral ARTeries website.

 

 

Exhibit at Hotel Indigo (VA)

Artists works will displayed in the hotel’s gallery (220 S Union St, Old Town Alexandria) for a six-month period. Two-dimensional, framed works only. Artists will install the work using the hotel’s mounting hardware. Labels will be provided by the hotel. All sales handled by artist, no commission. Preference for local or locally influenced selections but not required. The space measures approximately 7’10” by 8’3.″ If interested, contact Kate Ellis, General Manager, [email protected].

 

 

The New Project Studio – Ongoing Opportunity (VA)

Ongoing. Located in Studio 8, the New Project Studio is a community-focused arts incubator space that offers a short-term location to test new program ideas, spotlight underrepresented voices, and enhance community engagement. Projects rotate on a regular basis. For more information, click here.

 

 

Public Arts Grants & Opportunities (VA)

Ongoing. The City of Alexandria’s Office of the Arts provides grants for nonprofit arts organizations as well as individual artists. See all current opportunities and online applications here.

 

 

Residency: Maryland

Deadline: ongoing. Montgomery College, Rockville and Germantown Art Department is seeking proposals for its Artist-in-Residence Program, encouraging proposals that cultivate collaborative work between artists and students.

 

 

Looking for artists: Foundry Gallery (DC)

Deadline: ongoing. Foundry Gallery is seeking a few artists in the greater Washington, DC area. If interested in applying for membership please send up to five images (jpg attachments) and an email letter to: [email protected]. The oldest cooperative in Washington, the gallery holds monthly solo and members’ group shows at its beautiful space north of Shaw near the 9:30 Club.

 

 

Looking for artists: Printmakers (DC)

Deadline: ongoing. Washington Printmakers Gallery is seeking artist members specializing in printmaking, photography and book arts. An active cooperative for over 30 years, the gallery holds monthly solo and members’ group shows in its lovely space in upper Georgetown. Distant and shared memberships are available. If interested in applying for membership please email [email protected].