Celebrating its 9th edition, Cosmic Rays Film Festival is an annual celebration of non-commercial, experimental short films that extend the idea of film as art. We are accepting submissions August 24 - November 16, 2026 and the festival will be held in March 2027 at the Chelsea Theater and other venues in and around Chapel Hill, NC. Interested filmmakers can learn more about the festival and see past programs at our website: https://cosmicraysfilmfest.com 

Fees or awards
$12 submission fee or discounted $10 submission fee for North Carolina filmmakers; Films selected to screen at festival will receive screening fee at end of festival

The Hopper Prize is now accepting entries for Fall 2026 artist grants. They will be providing six (6) grants totaling $13,000. Two (2) artists will each receive $4,500 and four (4) artists will each receive $1,000. This is an open call to visual artists age 18 and older. All visual media eligible.

In addition to grants, 30 artists will be selected for a shortlist. Additional exposure is available via our online Journal as well as our Instagram feed, currently reaching an audience over 175k.

Fees or awards
$40 application fee

Established to recognise and encourage creative writing and art and provide a platform for publication, the Anthology Creative Awards are open to original and previously unpublished written and visual work. There are eight competitions to enter: Short Story, Poetry, Flash Fiction, Personal Memoir, Nature Writing, Travel Writing, Photography, and Cover Art.

Individual competition info, entry requirements and prizes can be found on our website.

Fees or awards
€300-€1000 for winning entries and publication in Anthology Magazine. Fees differ by competition, €12-18.

Bridge is currently seeking submissions for its V26 N1 Journal and Bridge Magazine. We welcome submissions in poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction, visual art, cultural criticism, design, and hybrid work from established as well as emerging writers and artists. We are especially interested in work that embraces the world and continues, however subtly, the ongoing global conversation about culture and society that Bridge has championed from its beginning in 1999.

Location
Chicago, IL

Fees or awards
$5 to $25 submission fee

A 12-week program designed to bring creative minds from around the world to Manchester, NH. Experience an environment that allows creative freedom to discover, define, and refine your creative practice.

The program is designed to support emerging artists with a place to live for up to 3 months. During this time selected applicants can focus full-time on further developing their creative practice as they take steps to cross the bridge into becoming career professionals.

Location
Manchester, NH

Fees or awards
Selected applicants are provided a studio apartment with basic household amenities, heat, hot water, electricity & internet provided. Additionally, each artist is granted a $350 travel stipend and a $1600 stipend that covers food and art supplies.

In recognition of Lancaster County’s rich history in textile arts, the Lancaster County Council of the Arts invites artists to submit their original designs for the second phase of a new public art initiative. This installation will include 40+ permanent art columns along the Lindsay Pettus Greenway. Each column will feature a unique piece of art, inspired by a historic Springs Industries textile design.

Location
Lancaster, SC

Fees or awards
$20 to enter; $100 honorarium for selected artists

The City of Durham’s Cultural & Public Art Program is excited to invite artists and artist teams to submit portfolios for our Pre-Qualified Artist Registry! This registry serves as a valuable resource for selecting artists for future cultural and public art projects across the city. Whether you’re a sculptor, painter, photographer, or performer, your skills are needed to help bring the city’s public spaces to life! The Pre-Qualified Artist Registry has a rolling deadline for upcoming public art projects. Apply today!

Have questions about the Registry? Need help applying? Email Cultural & Public Art Program staff Harry Turfle: Harry.Turfle@DurhamNC.Gov 

Every artist has a story behind their work. What’s yours?

RevArt is inviting artists of all backgrounds and career stages to participate in our 2026 RevArt Artist Interviews. This initiative highlights the creative journeys, inspirations, and perspectives of artists through engaging blog features published on the RevArt website.

The Southern Artist Spotlight Grant is a pilot grant program designed to amplify work with exemplary Southern artists and increase access to arts programming in our Southern communities. These grants are an opportunity for arts and community organizations in South Arts' nine-state region to receive support to present Southern guest artists – visual and performing artists, traditional and folk artists, writers and poets, and film directors from South Arts’ roster. 

The roster includes artists working in:
- film (documentary)
- performing arts (music and dance)
- literary arts (fiction and poetry)
- traditional arts (music and visual arts/crafts)
- visual arts (crafts, drawing, experimental, painting, photography, sculpture, and mixed media)

Projects require a public presentation of the artist’s work and an educational/community engagement component. These grants are limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Fees or awards
Based on the artist fee, the maximum grant request is $8,000 for dance or $5,000 for film, music, literary arts, traditional arts, and visual arts. The grant requires a dollar-for-dollar cash match.

Be Good to Yourself and SIMS Foundation have teamed up with Backline to provide mental health and wellness services to North Carolina musicians and their families. $1,000 grants are available to NC musicians and music industry professionals to cover the cost of care.

Be sure to note that if you are based in North Carolina, Backline Case Managers will get you connected to care and take you through the granting process from there.