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.

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

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

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and provide a platform for publication, the Anthology Short Story Competition is open to original and previously unpublished short stories in the English language by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world.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)

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

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)
 

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.

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.
 

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.

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