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.

Join the 9th Annual Sunset Vision Art Show & Sale, August 20 - 22, 2026, at the Sea Trail Convention Center in Sunset Beach, NC. This non-juried show welcomes artists of all levels, across virtually every medium. Showcase your work, connect with patrons from NC to SC and beyond, and support community projects through Sunset Vision.

Location
Sunset Beach, NC

Fees or awards
Best in Show for 2D, 3D, Photography, Mixed Media $200 each category. People's Choice Award $100. Honorable Mention winners receive free entry in 2027 show.

Artists living or working in the Southern United States are invited to submit works for consideration in the upcoming exhibition "Coined in the South: 2027." The juried exhibition presents thought-provoking works by emerging artists at the heart of the Southern arts community. Artists who were born/raised in, work in, or currently reside in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Virginia are eligible to apply.

This juried exhibition is scheduled to run from March 12, 2027 through May 16, 2027, at the Mint Museum Uptown Charlotte.

Location
Charlotte, NC

Fees or awards
$40 entry fee. Awards: One $10,000 Atrium Health Foundation juror-awarded grand prize, one $5,000 Young Affiliates of the Mint member-awarded prize, and one $1,000 “People’s Choice” prize. All chosen artists will receive a $350 stipend to help cover shipping and travel expenses.

The Caldwell Arts Council invites you to participate in the 40th Annual Sculpture Celebration on September 12, 2026. Join emerging and established sculptors to compete for a total of $11,000 in cash awards. Sculptors can enter up to three works.

Registration includes free admission to the Friday Night Welcome Dinner and a continental breakfast on Saturday morning. Sales of competition entries and commissions are encouraged, with 100% of proceeds going to the sculptors. All mediums are accepted, including metals, glass, stone, wood, paper, plastic, fiber, found objects, natural and recycled materials, etc.

Event details
September 12, 2026
Broyhill Walking Park
Lenoir, NC 28645

Fees or awards
Registration fees vary. $35 for students and $50 for non-students if registered by June 30, 2026. $11,000 in total cash awards.

Waterworks Visual Arts Center is a nationally accredited, non-collecting art museum presenting three rotating exhibitions of contemporary fine art and craft each year by local, regional, national, and international artists. Submissions from established and emerging artists with credentials are accepted and reviewed within 60–90 days following the deadlines of January 30 and September 30. Exhibitions are planned 18–24 months in advance, and submission review does not ensure inclusion.

Location
Salisbury, NC

Fees or awards
Submission Fee: $10

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.

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!

Interested in learning more about the Registry or need tips or guidance to complete the application? See below for upcoming Workshops!

Workshop #1
When: March 17, 2026 12:00 PM
Click here to register.

Workshop #2
When: March 19, 2026 06:30 PM
Click here to register.