The In These Mountains: Central Appalachian Folk Arts & Culture Infrastructure Grants advance the goals of the In These Mountains (ITM) initiative by supporting organizations that promote sharing, teaching, learning, preserving, documenting, and supporting the continuity of the folk arts and traditional culture of Central Appalachia. The ITM initiative specifically seeks opportunities to support the work of traditional artists and organizations engaged in handcrafts/material culture, foodways, and music.

ITM Infrastructure Grants are designed to support non-programming expenses that are often not fundable by most grants or are financially out of reach for organizations. These grants are intended to provide improved tools and resources to organizations so that they may advance their work in supporting the folk arts and traditional culture of Central Appalachia.

Established to inspire creativity, great writing and to provide a platform for publication. The Anthology Flash Fiction Competition is open to original and previously unpublished flash fiction pieces on any theme or genre in the English language by writers of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. We are looking for writing that is clever and unique, inspires us, and crafts a compelling story.

Open to both new and established writers, articles submitted must not exceed 250 words.

The Anthology Nature Writing Competition is created to celebrate the beauty of the natural world, inspire literary excellence and encourage Anthology’s readers to explore the great outdoors. Whether it’s the wonder of life right in your own garden, an encounter with wildlife, the serenity of a forest, a reflection on environmental challenges, or the healing power of nature, we welcome your stories.

The Anthology Nature Writing Competition is open to original and previously unpublished works.
 

Earth. Water. Fire. Air. These ancient forces shape our world and stir the imagination. The Elements invites artists to explore these primal energies in all their forms: physical, symbolic, and emotional. Whether you focus on one element or the harmony between them, this theme invites a return to the foundation of life through your creative voice.
Eligibility:
* Open to artists 18 and older worldwide
* All visual mediums accepted: painting, photography,

Fees or awards
$24 for 3 images : * Best in Show: One winner will receive: * $150 Cash Prize * Featured on the Cover of the Exhibition * Dedicated Social Media Post * Inclusion in Our Newsletter * Free Entry into the Blu Sky Artist Award ($500 Prize)

Let your creativity run wild with the Open Theme competition. There are no limits to your imagination, whether you work in traditional art, mixed media, digital art, sculpture, or photography, this competition is an opportunity to showcase your unique vision in any style or subject matter. Take the stage and share your finest work with the world.
 

Fees or awards
Entry fee is $20, awards, exhibition & promotions offered. Win $500 worth of prizes and Cash Award
 

Wonderful World International Art Competition
The Wonderful World theme invites artists to explore the magic, mystery, and marvels of the world. From the quiet strength of wildlife and the colors of blooming ecosystems to the vastness of planets. All mediums accepted, traditional art, mixed media, digital art, sculpture and photography. Win $500 worth of prizes and Cash Award | Social Media Pro

Fees or awards
Entry fee is $20, awards, exhibition & promotions offered
 

The next Asheville Fringe Arts Festival will take place March 15-22, 2026. We accept live performances from 5 to 60 minutes in length, plus installations. We’re open to other types of performance as well - let’s talk! Depending on its length, your piece may be grouped with another show, or scheduled as a Random Act of Fringe. RAFs are performed once, are free and open to the public, and artists receive a stipend for their performance, rather than relying on door sales.

Application Deadline: September 30th, 2025

Adjudication Sessions: November 2025

Acceptance Notification: December 2025

Marketing Materials Due: January 2026

The City of Raleigh is seeking artists to design and paint artwork for a network of e-scooter and e-bike corrals through downtown Raleigh. Seven artists will be selected to each create between 9 and 11 corral artworks along an assigned corridor. Project budgets will range from $16,000 to $24,000 per artist, depending on the size and number of corrals they are assigned and the City will provide fast-drying waterborne epoxy-modified acrylic coating for the projects.

Are you ready to capture the essence of Yellow? We invite talented artists and photographers to participate in our “Yellow” Online Art Competition. This is your chance to explore the myriad shades and meanings of yellow, from the warmth of the sun to the vibrancy of blooming flowers, and present your unique interpretation. With a potential to win $700 in cash prizes, this is an opportunity not to be missed!

Fees or awards
$24 for 3 images : * Best in Show: One winner will receive: * $150 Cash Prize * Featured on the Cover of the Exhibition * Dedicated Social Media Post * Inclusion in Our Newsletter * Free Entry into the Blu Sky Artist Award ($500 Prize)
 

Are you a dancer anywhere in the US in dire financial emergency? Have you recently lost engagements, or been ill or injured? You may be eligible for a one-time Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grant of up to $3,000. Cycle 19 is open through August 12 for essential expenses including rent, utilities, medicine/healthcare, and food. Cycle 20 will be open September 9 - October 7. Bimonthly cycles will follow. Learn more at this online information session on August 27. This national program is administered by New York Foundation for the Arts and funded by Robert Rauschenberg Foundation. Privacy is guaranteed. 

These programs are open to artists living anywhere in the U.S., its territories, tribal nations, and the District of Columbia. Artists with disabilities, artists of color, and artists living outside of New York are particularly encouraged to apply. These programs are supported by the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation and administered by NYFA. For more information, email emergencyfunds@nyfa.org, or call 212/366-6900 x 239.