The North Carolina Arts Council is pleased to share this list of opportunities for artists. This is a free listing service where the entries are compiled via submissions from the field. If you have questions about a specific opportunity, please reach out to the organization listed directly.

Click on the DEADLINE heading to sort opportunities by due date, or the DATE POSTED heading to sort for recently listed opportunities.

Submit an Artist Opportunity 

Subscribe to our Artist Opportunities Newsletter

Tab/Accordion Items

  • South Arts
    South Arts is a nonprofit regional arts organization empowering artists, organizations, and communities, and increasing access to arts and culture. 
  • NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
    The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources awards grants to individuals and organizations to foster historical, cultural, recreational, and environmental pursuits.
  • Local Arts Councils
    Check with your local arts council for regional artist opportunities and grants. 

  • ARTS North Carolina
    Publicizes job and internship opportunities through its membership listserv. Arts North Carolina will not post job listings that do not provide a salary range or that request candidates provide a salary history. Members may submit unlimited listings at no charge. Non-members pay $100 per listing.
  • Jobs in North Carolina Government
    Jobs openings are listed for all agencies within the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, including the N.C. Arts Council.

  • Americans for the Arts
    A service for both job seekers and arts employers. Job seekers can post their resumes and use the searchable database of nonprofit and for-profit arts management positions at organizations across the United States. For a moderate fee, employers can post a job opening and use the searchable database of online resumes to find qualified professional candidates.
  • New York Foundation for the Arts
    Job seekers can access listings for free and arts organizations are charged a moderate fee to post a job opening or artist opportunity.

View Embed
Category Opportunity Deadline Sort descending
Visual Art Wilson Jazz Festival 1st Annual T-Shirt Design Contest

The Wilson Jazz Festival T-Shirt Design Contest is a celebration of Wilson’s rich artistic spirit and vibrant community. This contest invites artists to capture the energy, culture, and creativity of Wilson, while honoring the universal language of jazz and its power to connect us all. We’re looking for designs that reflect the heart of our community and the joyful spirit of the festival. Let your art tell the story—we invite you to imagine, create, and celebrate with us.

Fees or awards
Featured spotlight on the Wilson Jazz Festival website showcasing their design and artistic contribution, recognition across festival promotions, including social media, press releases, and other marketing materials, and vendor space at the festival.

Sunday, July 20, 2025
Literary Arts Dog Trot Writing/Artist Residencies

The Dog Trot residency series at Nook of the Woods Retreat Center caters to artists and writers of all mediums, walks of life, and scholarly backgrounds.

We want to host creatives who are playful, insightful, and dedicated to their craft, regardless of their professional background or the length of their résumé. If you are a dedicated artist or writer, you belong at this residency.

This residency series aims to build creative community with artists from around the country. Living together is often as rewarding as the dedicated work time, and communal meals, group activities, and movie nights make for a cozy, wholesome experience.

The mission of Dog Trot is simple. We aim to provide artists and writers with the time to dedicate to their craft in an environment that is peaceful and bucolic, while also connecting artists in a communal setting that is supportive, caring, and above all, fun.

Fees or awards
$20.00

Sunday, July 20, 2025
Performing Arts The Storefront Theatre

SOUTHEAST REGIONAL 10 MINUTE PLAYWRITING COMPETITION
Open to playwrights living in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Fees or awards
First place - $100 and public reading Second place -- $75.00 and public reading

Sunday, July 27, 2025
Literary Arts Anthology Short Story Competition 2025

Established to recognise and encourage creative writing and provide a platform for publication, the Anthology Short Story Competition is open to original and previously unpublished short stories in the English language by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. There is no restriction on theme or style. Stories submitted must not exceed the maximum of 1,500 words.

Fees or awards
Prizes: FIRST: €1,000. SECOND: €250 THIRD: €150. Very Early Bird fee: €12 (Sep–Oct 2024). Early Bird fee: €15 (Nov 2024–Jan 2025). Standard fee: €18 (Feb–Jul 2025)

Thursday, July 31, 2025
Grants & Fellowships Blu Sky Artist Award: July 2025 Edition

Ten Moir Gallery is delighted to announce the July 2025 Edition of the Blu-Sky Artist Award (BSAA), an online international semi-annual grant for artists, photographers, sculptors and more. * 2 Winners Receives:
* $500 Unrestricted Grant
* A Published Interview
* Social Media Spotlight
* Winner’s Certificate
* 10 Finalists Receive:
* Dedicated Social Media Spotlight
* Finalist Certificate

Fees or awards
$25-35

Thursday, July 31, 2025
Visual Art Juried Monthly Competitions: Cityscapes + Mountains & Forests 2025

Host: Ten Moir Gallery
Eligibility: Open to artists worldwide, 18+
Ten Moir Gallery is now accepting entries for two distinct juried art competitions celebrating the beauty of both urban environments and natural landscapes. These open calls are available to all visual artists, regardless of background, medium, or experience.
Deadline:
* Mountains & Forests: July 31, 2025
* Cityscapes: August 1, 2025


Fees or awards
$24 for 3 images : * Best in Show: One winner will receive: * $150 Cash Prize * Featured on the Cover of the Exhibition * Dedicated Social Media Post * Inclusion in Our Newsletter * Free Entry into the Blu Sky Artist Award ($500 Prize)
 

Friday, August 01, 2025
Residencies Western NC Artist Relief Residency

The studios at Starworks aim to support professional artists of Western North Carolina whose income opportunities have been disrupted by recent natural disasters like Hurricane Helene. Whether they need to produce work for a commission, exhibition, or another project, Starworks offers space, assistance, and resources to help them continue their craft.
There is no cost to apply, and this opportunity is based on need for glass, ceramic, and metal artists.

Friday, August 01, 2025
Stores, Sales & Shows, Visual Art Mooresville Fine Arts Festival

The Mooresville Fine Arts Festival is a fine arts festival at the Charles Mack Citizen Center allowing local and
regional selected artists to display and sell original fine art. This festival is presented by Mooresville Arts,
located in historic downtown Mooresville, North Carolina. The event is open to the public and will be
promoted and organized by Mooresville Arts. This will be a juried event, with space for up to 80 artists/booths.
 

Friday, August 15, 2025
Grants & Fellowships Brightwork Grants

The Brightwork Program at Anchorlight will begin offering a Professional Development Grant and a Special Project Grant to visual artists in 2026. The application period for 2026 grants is July 7 - August 18, 2025. 

Professional Development Grant: $2,000.00
One artist will be selected for the 2026 grant. Application materials will include a proposed budget, statement of intent, artist statement and bio, examples of recent work. Grant funds may be used for activities that further the professional development of the applicant.

Special Project Grant: $3,000.00
One artist will be selected for the 2026 grant. Application materials will include a proposed budget, project description, artist statement and bio, examples of recent work. Grant funds may be used for the production of studio based work.

Monday, August 18, 2025
Visual Art Arrowhead Artists and Artisans League

Call for Art: Arrowhead Art Gallery and Studios in Old Fort, North Carolina, is accepting entries for their next judged exhibit, Portals & Pathways. Create a thematic piece around gateways, doors, and paths. You are challenged to use this powerful metaphor to represent opportunities, choices, and changes in any way that inspires you.

EXHIBIT DATES: August 23-September 24, 2025
INTAKE: August 21, 2025
RECEPTION: August 23, 2025


Fees or awards
$15 for one entry, $20 for two

Thursday, August 21, 2025
On This Page Jump Links
Off