Big Opportunities for Artists Opening Now
- Art Dealer Street
- 23 hours ago
- 3 min read
Some opportunities give you exposure. Others give you real momentum.
This week’s selection focuses on programs that offer something tangible: exhibition space, stipends, solo presentations, long-term visibility, and meaningful financial support. From showing your work at an independent art fair in New York to placing sculpture in public spaces across the Midwest, presenting new media research in Korea, or receiving direct funding as an early-career Native artist, these calls are designed to move practices forward — not just pad a résumé.
If you’re planning your 2026 calendar, this is the moment to apply with intention. Deadlines are approaching, and each opportunity below supports a different kind of growth: visibility, funding, public engagement, or research-driven practice.
Take a look and find what fits where you are now.
Read through and find the opportunity that aligns with your vision, scale, and current direction.
1. Clio Art Fair — May 2026 Location: New York City, USA Application Deadline: February 08, 2026
Applications are now open for the May 2026 editions of Clio Art Fair, taking place May 7–10 and May 14–17 in Manhattan. Known for spotlighting independent, self-represented, and emerging artists, the fair offers an accessible platform for artists to present work directly to collectors, curators, and art professionals.
Selected exhibitors can choose from multiple options beginning at five feet of wall space. Participation includes VIP preview access, online presence on the fair’s website, social media promotion, lighting, art handling, wall labeling, storage during the fair week, and on-site dealer support throughout the event.
Clio is particularly well-suited for artists seeking direct market exposure, professional presentation, and meaningful engagement with New York’s contemporary art audience.
2. Quad City Arts — Public Sculpture Program
Location: Illinois & Iowa, USA
Application Deadline: March 09, 2026
Quad City Arts invites sculptors across the United States to submit work for its annual rotating Public Sculpture Program. Selected sculptures are installed outdoors across multiple municipalities, including Rock Island, Moline, Bettendorf, Davenport, and surrounding cities.
Artists may submit up to six works, including pieces previously exhibited. Chosen artists receive a $1,500 stipend per sculpture upon installation for the year-long loan. The program actively promotes participating artists through regional media and tourism partnerships, and sculptures remain available for sale, with several works purchased annually.
This opportunity is ideal for artists interested in public art, large-scale work, and long-term community visibility in civic spaces.
3. CICA Museum — 10th New Media Art Conference & Exhibitions 2026
Location: Gimpo, South Korea
Application Deadline: Open until filled
The 10th CICA New Media Art Conference brings together artists, writers, and researchers working across digital and technology-based practices. Participants may apply to present papers, workshops, performances, or exhibitions exploring themes such as AI, immersive media, climate art, digital culture, interactive installations, and emerging technologies.
Selected artists may receive solo exhibition space (approximately 44 square meters), while all exhibitors also participate in a group showcase during the conference. Contributors presenting on-site are featured in the publication New Media Art 2027, distributed internationally.
This is a strong fit for artists and thinkers working at the intersection of art, research, and technology who want both exhibition and academic visibility.
4. LIFT Early Career Support for Native Artists - Native Arts and Cultures Foundation
Location: United States
Application Deadline: March 19, 2026
The LIFT program provides one-year awards of $15,000 to emerging Native artists across disciplines to support the development of new work and sustained creative growth. The grant is designed to help artists deepen their practice while strengthening their role as cultural leaders within their communities.
Eligible applicants include U.S.-based artists who are enrolled members or citizens of federally or state-recognized tribes, Alaska Native corporations, or of Native Hawaiian ancestry. Supported disciplines include visual arts, craft, film, performance, literature, music, and interdisciplinary practices.
With direct financial support and a focus on long-term development rather than project-specific outcomes, LIFT offers meaningful backing at a pivotal career stage.
Each of these opportunities offers something different — a booth at an art fair, public installation, conference platform, or direct funding — but they share one thing in common: real support for working artists.
Be selective. Apply where the structure, audience, and resources genuinely match your practice. A well-prepared, intentional application will always carry more weight than submitting everywhere at once.
Choose carefully, and make 2026 count.
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