Accomplished authors invite writers to ‘find their place’ at Tremont Writers Conference: October 21 - 25, 2026

Join renowned authors and professional park educators for a writers conference like no other set on a lush, secluded campus nestled within America’s most-visited national park. Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont partners with Smokies Life to bring this five-day intensive retreat to a small group of selected writers.

Apply today to be a part of your chosen cohort: fiction, nonfiction, or poetry—and enjoy the benefits of award-winning author workshop leaders dedicated to focusing on you and your work. Days will be dedicated to learning and writing in small groups with meals and lodging provided; evenings will be focused around community dinners, some off campus, where you’ll enjoy faculty author readings.

Location
Townsend, TN

Fees or awards
$4 application fee; $1,725 per person if selected (including lodging and meals). Financial aid is available on request at application.

UMW Galleries welcomes submissions to its upcoming juried exhibition, the Mid-Atlantic New Painting Biennial, celebrating artists from Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. Begun in 1997, MANP is celebrating its thirteenth biennial of contemporary painting organized by the University of Mary Washington.

Location
Fredericksburg, VA

Fees or awards
A $25 non-refundable fee must accompany the application and covers up to three entries.

Trillium Arts residencies offer secluded space for rejuvenation and creating in a peaceful, remote setting in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Our location is ideal for an individual artist to complete an existing work, or develop and incubate new material. Our facilities in the fall months are best suited to the disciplines of literary arts, photography, visual arts and arts administration.

Individual artists who do not require a rehearsal studio (such as writers and photographers) are encouraged to apply for a one week residency. Performing artists (such as choreographers and theater artists) are also welcome to apply, with the understanding that the Red Barn Studio is seasonal and availability is dependent on weather. There is ample land and outdoor space available for ideation and research.

Location
Mars Hill, NC

Fees or awards
There is no application fee.

ARTnNCevents proudly announces Carolina Art Show, a premier juried art show taking place July 17-19, 2026, at the beautiful historic Station No2, 602 S 5th Ave, Wilmington, NC 28401. 

Carolina Art Show - Create your Future invites artists from across the region to showcase their creative talents, engage with art enthusiasts, collectors, and the broader community. The exhibition will highlight diverse artistic disciplines, including painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, mixed media, and more.

Location
Wilmington, NC

Fees or awards
$45 entry fee

Blue Mountain Gallery, in NYC’s Chelsea arts district, invites submissions for its 18th Juried Exhibition (July 28–Aug 15, 2026). Juror Randy Williams—artist, Manhattanville professor, and longtime Met educator—will select works. Open to painting, drawing, printmaking, collage, mixed media, photography, and sculpture (no digital or reproductions). Global artists encouraged. Includes catalog and wide promotion.

Location
New York, NY

Fees or awards
$45 entry fee

This project is designed to promote, expand, and innovate the contemporary dance repertoire for dancers from around the world, of all nationalities and ages. Through culture, the activity aims to artistically connect the Castelló region, thanks to the collaboration between Fundació Caixa Castelló, the City Council of Sant Mateu, and Diputación de Castelló.

Once the selection is completed, a dance artistic residency will take place from July 23 to 31, 2026 in Sant Mateu, coordinated by choreographer Toni Aparisi and Alfredo Llopico, cultural technician at Fundació Caixa Castelló, with the support of the City Council staff.

Location
Spain

The Palette & Chisel Emerging Artists Show is seeking entries of 2D, representational artwork from artists under the age of 40 years old currently living in the United States. Sponsored cash and merchandise prizes will be awarded out of the pool of exhibiting artists. Entries due May 28th, 2026.

Location
Chicago, IL

Fees or awards
Entry fee is $35 for 3 works and $10 for each additional. $5,000 in total awards plus merchandise.

Pullen Arts Center is looking for artists applications for three (3) themed group exhibitions in 2027. Group shows are curated by Pullen Arts Center, and will generally include 3-5 artists, depending on theme and work submitted. Show titles and themes are up to artist interpretation. No specific medium or art-style has been kept in mind for these themes, and no singular analysis of themes is expected.

Themes and dates for 2027 exhibitions: Metamorphosis: studies in change (February - April 2027), Awake and Aware: our senses as a guide (May - July 2027), and The Ways We Remember: rituals, stories, memorials (August - October 2027)

Location
Raleigh, NC

Since 1974, Durham Arts Council has brought the Durham community together with an annual arts festival in the fall. As Durham’s signature fine arts festival, CenterFest showcases juried visual artists from across the country and fills multiple stages with stand-out local performers. Located in Downtown Durham's vibrant city center district, CenterFest performers, artists and visitors will enjoy a setting filled with restaurants, shops and studios: a perfect space for an event that will bring 30,000+ visitors over the weekend. This year's festival will take place on Saturday, September 19th and Sunday, September 20th.

The Durham Arts Council is looking for a diverse array of performance groups and entertainers. Their goal is to showcase community artists, with a focus on performers who may not be represented in the wider arts sector. Performance artists and groups who identify as BIPOC are encouraged to apply. Performers must submit an online application by June 1, 2026 to apply.

Visual artists are invited to apply to participate in CenterFest 2026 and must submit an online application with images and application fee by May 1, 2026.

Location
Durham, NC

Fees or awards
$40 application fee

Craven Arts Council & Gallery is seeking submissions to our biennial signature exhibition – the Bank of the Arts National Juried Exhibition! Artists are encouraged to submit their works to be juried into this exhibition, showcasing the talents of both local and national artists to be judged for prizes up to $5,000. Interested artists can apply through CaFE (Call for Entry) after March 1st.

There are five categories for entry: Contemporary Craft, Indoor Sculpture, 2D, Photography and Outdoor Sculpture. 

Location
New Bern, NC

Fees or awards
The 2026 Bank of the Arts National Juried Exhibition offers $5,000 in awards, including the $1,500 CAC&G Permanent Collection Purchase Award. Entry fee is $30 for CAC&G members and $40 for nonmembers.