Local Roots, Global Reach: Four Artist Opportunities to Elevate Your Practice
- Art Dealer Street
- Sep 7, 2025
- 4 min read
The art world is brimming with opportunities that span from community-focused residencies to international awards. This week’s selection highlights a range of programs – from a hands-on glassmaking fellowship in Brooklyn to a prestigious UK art prize, a microgrant empowering artists of color, and a grassroots residency fostering peace and justice. Each opportunity offers a unique platform to grow your creative practice and connect with broader communities. Don’t miss the chance to expand your horizons and make your mark.
1. UrbanGlass Visiting Artist and Designer Fellowship 2025
Location:Â Brooklyn, NY (International applicants welcome)
Application Deadline:Â September 19, 2025
UrbanGlass’s fellowship provides one artist or designer with access to a 17,000-square-foot state-of-the-art glass studio, including hot shop, neon, kiln, and more. The fellow receives up to $15,000 in support (including a $2,000 honorarium) to develop a new project in glass, with technical guidance, classes, and fabrication assistance. Emphasizing underrepresented voices in the field, glass experience is not required – the program welcomes artists new to glass who bring fresh perspectives. The fellowship runs October 2025 through March 2026, during which time the artist will experiment with glass, engage with the UrbanGlass community through talks and classes, and push the boundaries of their practice..
2. Posy Park Public Sculpture Commission – City of San Bruno
Location:San Bruno, California
Application Deadline:Â October 22, 2025
San Bruno’s Culture and Arts Commission invites artists to envision a permanent outdoor sculpture for Posy Park, a prominent public plaza adjacent to the city’s Caltrain station. The selected artist will receive a commission up to $75,000 for design, fabrication, and installation of the work. This sculpture will become the focal point of a broader revitalization of Posy Park – complementing a restored fountain, refreshed landscaping, and a historic tile mural – and will help connect residents and visitors to San Bruno’s dynamic identity. The call is open to all professional artists ages 18 and over, and local artists are especially encouraged to apply to make a lasting impact in the community. Proposals will be reviewed by a committee, with public feedback on finalist designs incorporated before final approval by the City Council. This is a significant public art opportunity to contribute a landmark piece to a growing cityscape.
3. IA 360° Immersive Artist Residency 2026 – InterAccess
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Application Deadline:Â September 29, 2025
Toronto’s new media art center, is seeking an artist-in-residence to create a project for its unique IA 360° immersive projection system. This 10-week residency (January 19 – March 30, 2026) offers the chosen artist full access to a 360-degree panoramic projection environment in the InterAccess gallery, along with staff mentorship, equipment, and technical support to develop a site-specific immersive artwork. The residency includes a weekly stipend of C$1,050 (for an expected 35 hours/week), and culminates in a public exhibition showcase of the work created. Emerging artists (age 15–30) who are legally entitled to work in Canada are eligible, and those with some experience or research interest in immersive media are encouraged to apply. InterAccess strongly encourages applications from equity-deserving communities (BIPOC, LGBTQ+, gender-diverse, persons with disabilities, etc.) to ensure diverse voices in media arts. This residency is a chance to explore cutting-edge audiovisual creation in a supportive setting, pushing the boundaries of immersive art. Apply by September 29, 2025 (11:59 PM EST).
4. Peace & Justice Artist Residency – SOS ART / Fitton Center
Location: Hamilton, Ohio (Greater Cincinnati area)
Application Deadline: November 1, 2025 (for Jan–Mar 2026 cycle)
OS ART, in collaboration with the Fitton Center for Creative Arts, offers an ongoing quarterly Artist in Residence (AIR) program focused on themes of peace and justice. Each 3-month residency supports a Greater Cincinnati artist (or collective) in creating a body of work addressing social justice issues – such as hunger, homelessness, racial equity, nonviolence, environmental justice, etc. – while engaging the local community. Residents receive a $1,000 honorarium to help cover project expenses, along with support and venue assistance from SOS ART and the Fitton Center. During the residency, the artist is expected to organize at least one public workshop or presentation to involve the community in their project, and to exhibit the finished work at the Fitton Center or another local venue at the end of the term. The program welcomes artists of all disciplines – visual artists, writers, filmmakers, curators, educators – dedicated to art as a vehicle for peace and justice. This is a meaningful opportunity to create art that fosters dialogue and positive change at the grassroots level.
Each of these opportunities underscores a different way that art can ignite progress – whether by mastering an ancient craft, transforming a public space, leveraging emerging technology, or healing communities through creativity. As deadlines approach, consider how your artistic vision might align with these programs. A well-chosen opportunity can not only provide resources and recognition, but also challenge you to grow and connect your practice with a larger purpose. Good luck, and keep creating!