Artists Invited to Apply for Airlie Gardens’ 2026 Art Exhibit, unFROGettable

Airlie Gardens is inviting artists and artist teams to apply for its 2026 outdoor art exhibit, unFROGettable. Selected artists will decorate, paint, and adorn one of ten oversized fiberglass frog sculptures, transforming them into unique works of art displayed throughout the gardens. The artist-designed frog sculptures will be installed across the grounds from July through December 2026.

Location
Wilmington, NC

Fees or awards
$900 artist honorarium

Midwest Nice Art is excited to share our upcoming Spring 2026 virtual exhibition, this place is strange, with you! For better or worse, the Midwest has a “nice” reputation, with friendly smiles, polite small talk, and a whole lot of “ope, sorry!” But underneath that kind surface level, things can get a little… strange.

The exhibition will examine this idea through a variety of mediums in art. Any mediums are welcome, including but not limited to sculpture, painting, collage, photography, digital art, video art, installation, ceramics, performance art…anything you can think of! You may submit up to 3 artworks for a $5 fee, due March 20, 2026. Artists will receive a notification a week after the deadline. The exhibition will go live April 2026.

Location
Virtual

Fees or awards
$5 submission fee. Students may submit for free with the code student26 (to use this, please use your school email when applying).

The Black Mountain Center for the Arts invites artists to submit work for Pure Flora, a gallery exhibition celebrating the beauty, presence, and power of plants, botanicals, and flowers.

This exhibition will be featured as a special lead-in to BMCA’s beloved Art in Bloom event, highlighting nature-inspired artwork from across Western North Carolina. We welcome original interpretations of the theme in all styles—from realistic to abstract, traditional to experimental.

Location
Black Mountain, NC

Fees or awards
$15 submission fee. If you are unable to pay the entry fee, please let us know that you are requesting a scholarship (director@blackmountainarts.org).

AweSnapp invites global artists (18+) in 2D and 3D media to enter its annual awards. Win your share of $1,000 in cash and prizes, plus digital awards, gallery features, social media promotion, and global exposure to curators and collectors. Prizes of $250, $150, and $100 are awarded in Traditional and Photography categories. Submit original, high-res images (no watermarks).

Fees or awards
Fees: $20 Early Bird (by Sept 30, 2025) or $30 Standard (by Mar 31, 2026)

The Black Mountain Center for the Arts is now accepting submissions for Art in Bloom 2026, our signature annual exhibition and most important fundraiser—celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

At the heart of Art in Bloom is a juried gallery exhibition of locally created artwork that serves as inspiration for floral designers. Selected works are paired with original floral arrangements, creating a one-of-a-kind experience where visual art and floral design intersect.

Location
Black Mountain, NC

Fees or awards
$15 submission fee. If you are unable to pay the entry fee, please let us know that you are requesting a scholarship (director@blackmountainarts.org).

Our virtual residency offers the chance to expand your global presence, showcase work internationally, and collaborate with peers from around the world, all from home. In this program, artists develop a project that aligns with the residency’s theme and results in a clear, tangible outcome. Their work explores the many dimensions of the OCEAN through technical approaches, conceptual inquiry, personal reflection, and experiential research.

Inspired by the UN Ocean Decade, each project should thoughtfully engage with ocean conservation, education, and the broader efforts to protect and sustain our marine environments.

Location
Virtual

We invite anyone working with fiber or using traditional fiber art techniques to enter our juried exhibitions as part of the Handweaver's Guild of America's Convergence 2026.

International Fiber Art Experience on August 13-16, 2026

• Krewe of Threads: Let the Good Times Roll, Wearable Art Exhibit
• Lagniappe: The Art of Everyday Beauty, Functional Art Exhibit
• Creative Spirits of the River, Yardage Exhibit
• Threaded Revelry: Throw Me Something, Mixed Media Exhibit

Location
New Orleans, Louisiana

Fees or awards
Cash prizes provided by HGA include: $500 First, $250 Second, and $100 Third. Winning works will be published in a future edition of our magazine. Fees range from $0 for students to $25 for non-members.
 

South Arts recognizes the importance of professional development in building artists’ careers. Even with stipends or payments, overall expenses can make participating in these opportunities inaccessible. South Arts offers Artist Creative Practice Grants (formerly Individual Artist Career Opportunity Grants) to ensure that artists from our region can take advantage of a variety of career enhancing opportunities.

The Artist Creative Practice Grant supports a variety of professional development opportunities including milestone activities in an artist's career that will likely lead to substantial career growth.

Grants up to $3,000 are available for opportunities taking place between November 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026.

Individuals receiving this award are eligible to apply for other South Arts funding including the Southern Prize and State Fellowships, Jazz Road, and others for projects unrelated to the proposed activity. However, you cannot use South Arts' funds as a match for this program.

South Arts is committed to ensuring that all artists in the region regardless of background or economic status are provided with an opportunity to apply.

Her Canvas invites women from around the world to showcase their unique visions, stories, and artistic talent. This exhibition, hosted by Blue Koi Art Gallery, is open to all mediums and styles, giving you the freedom to express your voice in the most authentic way. Share your creativity and be part of a collective that uplifts and honors women in the arts!

Accepting both 2D and 3D visual art, e.g., Traditional Art, Mixed Media, Digital Art, Sculpture, and Photography.

Fees or awards
Entry fee is $35, awards offered.

The Hopper Prize is accepting submissions for Spring 2026 individual artist grants. They will be providing six grants totaling $13,000 USD. Two artists will each receive $4,500 and four artists will each receive $1,000. All visual art media is eligible. Additional exposure is available via a 30-artist shortlist, online journal, and Instagram currently reaching over 160k.

Fees or awards
There is a $40 submission fee due with your application.