The Town of Waynesville is seeking proposals from qualified artists or artist teams to design and paint a public mural celebrating the town’s historic character. RFQ requirements.

The mural will be located on a highly visible exterior wall on Main Street and will prominently feature the iconic Main Street arch as it appeared in the 1930s. The goal is to honor Waynesville’s rich heritage and visually connect past and present for both residents and visitors. 

Submissions due by 2 p.m. EST on January 9, 2026, and can be submitted electronically to cpoolton@waynesvillenc.gov or mailed to:

Town of Waynesville PAC
ATTN: Candace Poolton
P.O. Box 100
Waynesville, NC 28786

The Good Hart Artist Residency offers 10–21 day residency stays to visual artists, writers, and composers at any stage of their career. Each resident is provided with a private residence and detached studio, a $500 stipend, a kitchen stocked with basic foods, several home-cooked meals from local hosts, and a quiet setting along the shores of Lake Michigan.

Location
Harbor Springs, Michigan

Fees
$35 application fee
 

Calling all Artists, Creatives and Cultural Organizations! You’re invited to be a part of BOOM Charlotte 2026! From May 1st-3rd 2026, let’s join together to create an immersive, electrifying mix of dance, music, theater, poetry, visual art, and more.

BOOM is more than an arts festival, it’s an interactive, unforgettable experience and we want your art to be part of it!

BOOM Intersection: Creating family-friendly performances or visual art installations? Apply to BOOM Intersection! This outdoor festival centerpiece hosts live performances on two central stages, site-specific performances, as well as visual art and installations in unique pop-up locations around University City Place.

The Buncombe County America250 NC Committee invites Buncombe County artists and designers to participate in the "Beyond the Liberty Tree" Commemorative Tree Plaque Design Competition. This initiative celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States by commissioning a commemorative plaque design that honors the enduring legacy of liberty through tree plantings.

Submissions will be reviewed by a selection panel representing the Buncombe County America 250th Committee.

Artists must now submit an email to info@buncombe250.org on or before December 28th to share their intent in participating. 

Fees or awards
The winning artist may, at the sole discretion of America250 NC, enter into a contract to produce 100 commemorative plaques to accompany the 100 BLT commemorative tree plantings statewide.The estimated contract for design and fabrication is valued at $10k

The DownEast National Juried Sculpture Exhibition is located in Pitt County, North Carolina. This exhibition is open to all artists ages 18 and up. Sculpture is the three-dimensional artwork which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. Any three-dimensional media or material is eligible to participate. Indoor submissions must fit through a standard sized door (36”x80”). Work must be ready for display. All entries must be submitted digitally. Work submitted that is above our insurance value may not be accepted into the exhibition. All work must be able to be exhibited for the length of the exhibition, March 6-28, 2026.

Each artist may submit up to 6 entries. Artists are required to submit 3 entries for a fee of $20, with the option to submit 3 additional entries at $5 each. There is a limit of 6 entries per artist.

2 grants for emerging contemporary visual artists in Western North Carolina and Colorado.

Award
$50,000 unrestricted; no entry fee

Professional development resources, business skills training, one-on-one mentorship, and industry talks.

Applications open December 15, 2025 in CaFÉ and will be reviewed by a panel of 5 jurors. Awards will be announced mid-February 2026.

A North Carolina Choreographic Fellowship (NCCF) in Dance provides immersive creative time and space to select North Carolina based dance artists.

Launched in 2023, and available to North Carolina choreographers and dancemakers, awardees receive the rare opportunity of uninterrupted time and space in an inspiring setting to create their next great work, along with a variety of supportive financial benefits.

The length of the Fellowship is seven to nine days and the choreographer can be joined by 1-4 additional dancers/collaborators. Depending on funding, Trillium Arts will support up to three Fellowships either between September 1 - October 15, 2026 or May 15 – June 30. 2027. Specific dates WITHIN those timeframes can be somewhat flexible.

Awards and fee
$1,000 honorarium

Blue Koi Gallery highlights artists whose work shows originality, strong direction. If you’re ready for your work to be seen and promoted to a wider audience, we invite you to submit your best images to the Artist of the Month Art Competition. Open worldwide to artists 18+. All mediums and skill levels welcome.

Fees or awards
Entry fee is $15, Cash and promotional awards

Central Piedmont is holding open artist calls for artist to exhibit at one of our 8 academic galleries! Both 3D and 2D exhibitions are welcome! You can apply by going on the Central Piedmont Website and under the Community and Arts tab there is an art galleries tab which will display drop down information where you can locate the artist calls form and where each gallery is located within Charlotte.

Location
Charlotte, North Carolina

This new Summer Keyholder Residency Program offers emerging artists free 24-hour access to printmaking facilities to develop new work and foster their artistic careers. It takes place in the LESP's Community Studio, including the solvent/etching area and darkroom.


Keyholders work independently, in a productive atmosphere alongside other contemporary artists. Artists from all disciplines are eligible to apply; some familiarity with the medium is required. Artists with specific printmaking projects are highly encouraged apply.

Applications are evaluated by an invited panel of artists, critics, curators, and art professionals.

Residency Period: June 1, 2026 - August 31, 2026 

Location
New York, New York

Fees or awards
$500 stipend