Innovate Grant — Fall 2026 Grant / Worldwide Categories: Art and Photography

Innovate Grant supports visual artists and photographers through quarterly grants. For each cycle, one visual artist and one photographer receive $1,800 each, with applications opening four times a year.

Eligibility

Applicants must be 18 years or older and may apply from anywhere in the world.

Art: Painting, printmaking, drawing, sculpture, film/video, mixed media, installation and new media.

Photography: Portrait, conceptual, still life, black and white, documentary, street, composite and collage.

What the Grant Offers

Each quarterly cycle awards:

• 1 × $1,800 grant to a visual artist
• 1 × $1,800 grant to a photographer
• 18 Honorable Mentions

Selected artists and photographers also receive feature profiles, interview pages and social media promotion of their work, announcements and exhibitions through Innovate Grant’s Instagram audience.

How to Apply

The application requires:

• Name
• Email
• Grant category — Art or Photography
• Images of your work
• Application fee - $35

Apply Here: https://innovateartistgrants.org/apply

RMB Latitudes Art Fair 2027 Opens Applications

RMB Latitudes Art Fair is accepting applications for its 2027 edition, inviting galleries, independent artists, collectives, artist-led initiatives, studios, print workshops, curatorial platforms, arts organizations, foundations, and selected cultural projects to propose presentations for the fair.

The fair takes place at Shepstone Gardens in Johannesburg and provides exhibitors with indoor and outdoor spaces for presenting contemporary art.

Applicants are encouraged to propose focused presentations that support meaningful connections between artists and works.

Who can apply:

• Galleries
• Independent artists
• Artist studios and artist-led initiatives
• Print studios and workshops
• Collectives
• Independent curatorial and exhibition platforms
• Arts organisations and foundations
• Selected cultural and special projects

Selection considerations:

• Strength and quality of the proposed artists and works
• A focused and coherent presentation
• Clear relationships between the artists and works selected
• New artists and new work
• Distinctive presentations
• Contribution to the overall range of practices, regions, media, and perspectives at the fair
• Suitability of the proposal for the available indoor and outdoor spaces

The selection committee will particularly consider presentations featuring new artists and works that have appeared at no more than one other major South African art fair.

Applicants whose proposals show potential but require further development may be invited to revise and resubmit following feedback from the selection committee. Revised proposals may involve changes to artists, works, presentation focus, scale, or stand requirements.

What to submit

Applicants must upload a PDF proposal outlining the proposed presentation. It does not need to be a final exhibition plan.

The proposal should include:

• Artist(s)
• Proposed or representative works
• Artwork information and pricing, where available
• Short explanation of the presentation
• Indicative works list

Where relevant, applicants can also include:

• Technical notes
• Basic sketch, render, or layout

There is no compulsory booth template. If including a stand layout, applicants should use a simple square or rectangular footprint that broadly corresponds to the requested stand size.

Application deadline:

30 November 2026

Venue:

Shepstone Gardens, Johannesburg

Final presentations confirmed:

January 2027

Submit your proposal through the RMB Latitudes Art Fair application page.

LuCAC Residency for Young Zambian Artists

Lusaka Contemporary Art Center invites artists, curators, researchers, cultural practitioners and writers from across Zambia to apply for its one-month residency programme. The residency provides space for creative development, research, exchange and professional development.

What the Residency Offers

Selected residents will have access to:

• Self-catering accommodation
• Dedicated studio or workspace
• Support with selected materials related to the proposed project
• Mentorship and professional development
• Exhibition and presentation opportunities
• Networking and creative exchange
• Transport fare support for selected artists traveling from outside Lusaka

Who Can Apply

The residency welcomes practitioners working across different disciplines and encourages applications from artists and cultural practitioners based across Zambia.

How to Apply

Submit one combined PDF containing:

• CV
• Project description outlining the proposed work or research
• Artist or practitioner profile
• Recent artworks, projects or relevant work samples
• Published material, for writers

Deadline: 30 November 2026

Residency period: 1 month

Apply Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/

Photo Credit: Courtsey World Art Gallery

Following two editions of WORLDART10, WORLDART is accepting submissions for the 2026 competition, which will select 10 artists for promotional opportunities through the platform.

Artists should submit a PDF catalogue containing relevant information about their practice and recent work.

Key Details

Eligibility: Open to all nationalities

Selected artists: 10

Prize: Promotion by WORLDART

Submission Format: PDF catalogue

Apply Via Email: info@worldart.co.za

Deadline: 31 October 2026

African Female Artist Mentorship Program 2026–27 Opens Applications

The African Female Artist Mentorship Program (AFAM) is inviting African women artists in the early stages of their professional careers to apply for its 2026–27 mentorship program.

The three-month program runs from January to March 2027, excluding the exhibition period. The programme is free for selected mentees, with mentorship provided by professional artists based in Nigeria.

Eligibility:

• African women artists
• Ages 19–40
• Early-stage professional artists
• Applicants must not be enrolled in post-secondary study

The 2026–27 program will focus on painting, textile/fibre, ceramics, drawing, printmaking, and sculpture.

What to submit

Applicants must prepare:

Application letter — Maximum two pages.

Explain:

• Your artistic practice and studio activity over the past year
• Your goals for the programme
• How your current work would benefit from mentorship
• How you will make time for the programme alongside other commitments
• Challenges in your practice and how you are currently addressing them

10 work samples — Submit either 10 JPEG images, 10 short videos of up to five minutes each, or a combination of images and videos totaling 10 submissions.

Annotated image list — Include the title, date, medium, and dimensions for each submitted work.

One reference letter — From an established artist or curator familiar with your work. Also provide the names and contact details of additional references who know your practice.

Website or CV — Provide a link to your website, or submit a CV/resume of no more than two pages.

How to apply

Email your complete application proposal to gcaf@girlchildart.org by 30 October 2026.

Programme duration:

January–March 2027

Mentee fee:

Free

Application deadline:

30 October 2026

Enquiries: gcaf@girlchildart.org

An online and in-person information session will also be held at the GCAF studios in Lagos. Selected applicants will be notified approximately one month after the application deadline.

Photo Credit: Friends of the Arts

Friends of the Arts (FOTA) is inviting artists across East Africa to submit their work for the FOTA 2026 Annual Art Show.

The open call offers artists from the region an opportunity to have their work considered for inclusion in the organisation’s annual exhibition, providing a platform for artists to share their practices and connect with wider audiences through the show.

Artists interested in participating can submit their work through the official application link.

Key Details

Eligibility: Artists based in East Africa
Opportunity: FOTA 2026 Annual Art Show
Submission Deadline: 25 October 2026, 11:59 PM EAT

How to Apply

Submit your work through the application link:

⁠Submit Your Work

Auraland Art invites artists and art practitioners worldwide to submit work for INTERSTICE

Auraland Art invites artists and art practitioners worldwide to submit work for INTERSTICE, a group exhibition exploring the spaces that emerge within continuity.

The exhibition considers deviation, displacement, unfinished connections, repair and the possibilities that develop when structures are not fully integrated.

Application is FREE

Eligibility

• • Open to artists and art practitioners aged 18 and above worldwide

• • Submissions are welcome from both emerging artists and artists with established practices

• • Accepted media include, but are not limited to:

• • Short films (maximum duration: 30 minutes)

• • Photography and image-based works

• • Installation art

• • Painting, printmaking, mixed media

• • Other forms of visual art

Please note:

At this stage, works involving any form of AI-generated or AI-assisted creation will not be considered.

All submitted works must be original and created by the applicant. Any form of plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification.

Submission Guidelines

• 1. Each artist may submit up to 4 artworks.

• Selected artists will be contacted to provide high-resolution files or detailed information regarding the original works.

• 2. Each submitted work must be clearly labeled with the following information:
• • Title

• • Year of creation

• • Medium / materials

• • Dimensions

(Example: work–2025–Digital Photography–30 × 30 cm)

• 3. The following materials are required:

• Artist CV

• • Artwork Statement (maximum 500 words), outlining the relationship between the submitted work and the exhibition theme

• • Optional: Artist Bio (maximum 300 words)

Selection & Participation Confirmation

• The exhibition follows a rolling review process.

• • Applications will be evaluated based on the overall submission pool.

• • Due to limited exhibition spaces:

Participation will be confirmed after completion of the confirmation process.

• Exhibition spaces will be allocated in the order of confirmation.

• • Only selected artists will be notified. Unsuccessful applicants will not receive individual notifications.

• • Exhibition Period: Early November 2026

• • Submission Deadline: 20 October 2026

Submission Method

Please submit all required materials as one complete package to:

auralandart@outlook.com

Email subject line:

Interstice – Submission – Artist Name – Country/Region

PARIS ART EXPO 2026 Opens International Call for Artists

MUSA International is inviting contemporary artists worldwide to apply for PARIS ART EXPO 2026, the fifth international edition of the exhibition, taking place from 2–6 December 2026 at Galerie 24B, Rue Saint-Roch, Paris.

The exhibition will present selected artists through physical and multimedia formats, with opportunities to connect with curators, collectors, and galleries. Artists may submit work across different media and artistic practices.

Eligibility:

Contemporary artists working internationally across different media and practices

Selection criteria:

• Artistic quality and coherence

• Conceptual strength and originality

• Relevance to the exhibition’s curatorial direction

• Suitability for the available exhibition space

• Emerging research, experimental or interdisciplinary approaches may also be considered

Exhibition formats:

• Physical exhibition: Selected physical artworks displayed at the Paris venue

• Multimedia exhibition: Selected digital works presented on screens at the venue

Artwork requirements for group shipping to Italy:

• Paintings: maximum long side of 100 cm

• Printed photographs: maximum long side of 100 cm

• Sculptures: maximum 70 × 50 cm and 5 kg

Works up to a maximum long side of 150 cm may be shipped directly to the designated storage facility in Paris.

Shipping options for selected artists:

• Group shipping via MUSA Storage, Italy: MUSA coordinates shipment to and from Paris. A €50 contribution applies per artist.

• Direct shipment to Paris: Artists arrange shipment to the designated Paris storage facility.

• Personal delivery: Artists may deliver their work to the venue on 30 November 2026.

Multimedia requirements:

Photographs, digital images, videos, NFTs, and digital artworks are accepted. Minimum image resolution is 300 dpi.

Participation fee:

Applying is free. Selected artists who confirm participation will pay a fee starting from €300, depending on the participation option and exhibition requirements.

Exhibition:

2–6 December 2026

Venue:

Galerie 24B, Paris

Application deadline:

20 October 2026

How to apply:

Submit your application through the PARIS ART EXPO 2026 application page.

Photo Credit: Droop Canvas

Droop Canvas is inviting artists across East Africa to submit work for Second Quarter, an open call bringing together practitioners from different artistic disciplines within a shared space for art, culture, and community.

The call is open to visual artists, digital artists, sculptors, photographers, fashion designers, audiovisual artists, musicians, and poets. There is no fixed theme, and artists may submit work in any medium and at any size.

The open format allows practitioners to present work that reflects their individual interests and approaches while contributing to a broader exchange across artistic and cultural practices in the region.

Who Can Apply?

The call is open to artists across East Africa, including practitioners working in:

* Visual art
* Digital art
* Sculpture
* Photography
* Fashion
* Audiovisual art
* Music
* Poetry

Submission

Artists should submit their portfolio for consideration via email:

droopcanvas@gmail.com

Key Details

Open Call: Second Quarter
Organiser: Droop Canvas
Eligibility: Artists across East Africa
Theme: No fixed theme
Medium: Any mediumArtwork
Size: Any size
Application: Portfolio submission by email

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Dot Atelier

Dot Atelier is accepting applications for its 2027 artist cohort, welcoming artists from anywhere in the world whose practices engage with experimentation, critical thought, and community exchange.

Located in South Labadi, Accra, Ghana, the program provides studio space within a community focused on artistic practice, shared experiences, and dialogue.

Application Requirements

Applicants should submit a single PDF containing a cover letter, biography, CV, artist statement, 5–10 work samples, and two references, alongside a headshot. Applicants may submit a video message in place of the cover letter.

Applications opened: 4 August 2026
Deadline: 12 October 2026, 11:59 PM GMT
Application:Apply here