[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] The Human Impacts Institute (HII) announces a call for artists for the 2025 Creative Climate Awards (CCA), themed Inspiring Futures. HII invites artists to submit works that envision possible futures where humanity rises to the challenge of climate change. This year’s theme aims to shift the focus from fear and uncertainty to hope and solutions, sparking bold, creative visions of a sustainable, equitable, and vibrant future.
Click here for the application / registration
Enter by: 10 February 2025
The Human Impacts Institute’s Creative Climate Awards (CCA) is an annual series of events showcasing artists who address climate change through their creative works. This year’s theme, Inspiring Futures, focuses on using art to shift the climate narrative towards hopeful and solutions-oriented futures. The CCAs are a month-long festival of public exhibits, virtual conversations, screenings, artist talks, and a citywide art installation in New York City.
Prompt: In what ways does your work envision “Inspiring Futures” where we successfully address climate change?
Submit 2D works, films (shorts and features), and 3D works (sculptures and installations), as well as performances (dance, theater, music). Only completed pieces will be considered. Please do not submit concept notes or requests for commissions. Artists from underrepresented communities and those most impacted by climate change are encouraged to apply.
Artists are responsible for costs of shipping works to and from New York City. Performers must be able to perform in New York City between April 20th and May 20th, 2025.
- Selections Announced: mid-February, 2025.
- Exhibit and performances: mid-april to mid-May, 2025
Creative Climate Awards Artist Benefits
The Creative Climate Awards provides an opportunity to creatively engage tens-of-thousands of people in climate action, while having your work seen by judges and mentors from some of the top art and environment institutions, including the Brooklyn Museum, MOCADA, Children’s Museum of NY, PBS, and All Arts/WNET.
- A month long exhibit in New York City
- Present your work through HII social media takeovers
- Meet-and-greet curators, mentor, judge and artists events.
- Cash prize for the top 3 artists selected by external judges
About Human Impacts Institute
The Human Impacts Institute (HII) is an innovative organization at the intersection of art, education, and environmental action. Since 2011, HII has been building a global cultural movement that inspires bold and creative solutions to the climate crisis. Through programs like the Creative Climate Awards, Artivism & Amplifiers Fellowship, and the C3 Lab, HII amplifies diverse voices and fosters collaboration among artists, activists, educators, and community leaders.
By combining storytelling, public engagement, and cutting-edge education, HII transforms complex environmental issues into accessible and actionable initiatives. Its emphasis on inclusivity and creativity makes it a trailblazer in driving systemic change for a sustainable and equitable future.
For more information, contact programs@humanimpactsinstitute.org
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![Audrey Kay Dowling [Certified Visual Artist – Westfield, New York]](https://sidearts.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1-768x768.png "Audrey Kay Dowling [Certified Visual Artist – Westfield, New York]")
Audrey Kay Dowling is a Side Arts Certified Visual Artist from Westfield, New York.
After a full teaching career, Audrey Kay Dowling is now a full-time artist. She attends workshops in clay, painting, and printmaking, and works in her studios daily.
Being raised in a rural area of 50 acres of woods with three creeks gave Audrey an early childhood start as a nature appreciator and advocate for stewardship of the earth. While in high school she moved to New York City when her parents took new jobs in Brooklyn. During the summer and on vacations, she would ride the subway almost daily to explore the art museums and galleries of the New York City art scene. Inspired to become an artist by both of her formative experiences – rural and urban, she attended art school for college in the Hudson Valley which combined both influences. Audrey received her BS in Art Education at SUNY New Paltz and an MS from SUNY Fredonia.
Audrey has been a gallery owner of Portage Hill Art Gallery in Westfield, New York, for the past 42 years. She is an award and grant winning artist, including an Individual Artist Grant won in 2022 from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA).
Throughout her life, Audrey has been both an artist and an activist for keeping our earth healthy. Her work is centered around a deep regard for the natural world. Still an advocate, her work is centered around a deep regard for the natural world in both rural and urban settings.
See more artwork, visit audreykaydowling.com
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[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] Laguna Art-A-Fair announces a call for artists for the 2025 Laguna Art-A-Fair Summer Festival. In it’s 58th year, the fine arts festival will be open daily from June 27th to August 31st, 2025.
Laguna Beach, California, is an acclaimed destination for those interested in artwork of all types, with dozens of galleries. The three summer festivals located adjacent to each other along Laguna Canyon Road draw a high number of visitors, with Laguna Art-A-Fair located between the other two festivals.
Click here for the application / registration
Enter by: 3 February 2025
Unlike the other two summer art festivals adjacent to Laguna Art-A-Fair, there are no residency requirements.
Over 50,000 attendees visit Laguna Art-A-Fair each summer. Laguna Beach is a very popular summer tourist destination for its beaches, coastline, restaurants, and art galleries. Juried-in exhibitors choose booth sizes from 1/2 booth (8 linear feet) up to 1 1/2 booth (24 linear feet). Booths are constructed with drywall walls for exhibitor use, making the displaying of artwork very easy.
Since all sales are processed through a central cashier, even if an exhibitor isn’t in attendance, sales opportunities are not lost. There is 24-hour security, which minimizes concerns of theft of artwork. The fair is aggressive in its social media promotion of the festival with over 300,000 Facebook followers and over 100,000 Instagram followers.
About Laguna Art-A-Fair
Laguna Art-A-Fair is renowned for the high quality and wide diversity of its fine art offerings. Laguna Art-A-Fair’s theme is a “Festival Without Borders”. Each year, artists from other states and even other countries exhibit in the festival. The art fair is consistently voted as the best summer art festival in Laguna Beach. The organization runs as a cooperative, with each exhibitor as a member who has a say in the festival’s operation, and a Board of Directors elected from the membership. Besides booth fees, exhibitors pay only a 20% commission on sales.
For more information, contact lagunaartafair@gmail.com
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[Exhibition Update]
Congratulations to the participants and winners of the Art Renewal Center’s 17th International ARC Salon Competition! The ARC received over 5,000 entries from 87 countries; 40%, 1,970 works have been selected as semi-finalists. Finalists comprise a select group of the very top-rated entries, 1,226 works in all, or approximately 24% of entries. Both finalists and semi-finalists have been published on the ARC website.
The highest award, Best in Show, which is a $25,000 prize generously donated this year by the MacAvoy Foundation, has gone to Pavel Sokov for his entry of Watching the Dance.
Special congratulations are also due to our additional six first place category winners. Hiroshi Furuyoshi, for his work in the Figurative Category, Julia, depicting what appears to be a young and reluctant bride from the Medi-eval period sitting on a throne in deep contemplation. Casey Baugh, for his thought-provoking work in the Imaginative Realism Category titled The Music Teacher. Sara Gallagher, for her symbolic and introspective drawing of Let Them Fall. Lynette Cook, for her contemporary landscape, Illumination, depicting the side of a modern building but with reflections and shadows of the natural world. Donald Demers, who in addition to winning First Place plein air, has also won the Plein Air Magazine Award with his work, The Lower Flume. And finally, Angela Zhou, our Teen Category First Place winner, who painted her work Laboratory Study at age 15.
View more details about and images from the exhibition here: https://www.artrenewal.org/17th-arc-salon#/
[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] The Art Renewal Center announces an extended deadline for The 17th International ARC Salon Competition call for artists. Due to a large number of requests for more time and individuals needing last minute technical assistance, the deadline for the 17th International ARC Salon Competition will be extended until the end of the day on July 1, 2024.
Click here for the application / registration
Enter by: 1 July 2024
When talking about competitions dedicated to 21st Century Realism, the International ARC Salon is the largest in the world. With over $130,000 in cash awards and international recognition through partnerships with prestigious magazines, galleries, and museums, don’t miss your chance to compete. Categories include figurative, portraiture, imaginative realism, drawing, landscape, still life, plein air painting, fully from life, sculpture, animals, and a special category for teens.
Works do not need to be available for sale to win any of the awards other then Purchase Awards. Works do not need to be available to exhibit in the ARC Salon Exhibition for all awards other then FWSD Awards.
ARC Salon Artist Benefits
All winners, honorable mentions, finalists, and semi-finalists will have their entries accompanied by their name and artwork details displayed on the ARC website. Biography, photo of the artist, and painting descriptions provided during the entry process may also be shown for all qualifying works. All winners, honorable mentions, and some finalists will be featured in the 17th/18th International ARC Salon Book, “International Realism.” In addition, all winners and honorable mentions will receive an award certificate suitable for framing.
The show will consist of approximately 100 of the best works from the combined 17th and 18th International ARC Salon Competitions. The exhibition is planned to open at what will be Sotheby’s New York’s new flag ship, Madison Avenue location, in the summer of 2026, where the official award ceremony will be held.
About Art Renewal Center
Leading the revival of realism in the visual arts, the Art Renewal Center® (ARC), a 501(c)(3), non-profit, educational foundation, hosts the largest online museum dedicated to representational art. It includes works by the old masters, 19th century, and 21st Century Artists as well as articles, letters, and other online resources. The ARC is the foremost and only vetting service for representational art schools ensuring that the teaching curricula and quality of teacher and student work meet strict standards to become ARC Approved.
The ARC runs the ARC Salon Competition, which is the largest and most prestigious competition in the world for realist artists painting, sculpting, and drawing with eleven categories and thousands of works competing, culminating in a live exhibition of many of the winning works.
The ARC works with other ARC Allied Organizations, artist groups, museums, and publications to become a central news hub for the 21st Century Representational Art Movement. Read the ARC Philosophy written by ARC Chairman, Frederick C. Ross, to learn why ARC is so passionately dedicated to representational art.
For more information, contact sabrina.foland@artrenewal.org
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![Robert Deschenes [Certified Visual Artist – Quebec, Canada]](https://sidearts.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Deschenes2025-768x768.png "Robert Deschenes [Certified Visual Artist – Quebec, Canada]")
Robert Deschenes is a Side Arts Certified Visual Artist from St-Hubert-de-Riviere-du-Loup, Quebec, Canada.
A self-taught painter specializing in animal art, Robert Deschenes creates his works using either watercolor or acrylic, choosing his medium based on his mood or the subject at hand. His art, rooted in hyperrealist techniques, demands meticulous attention to detail to faithfully capture the essence of his subjects, including their anatomy, natural habitats, and behaviors.
A significant part of his creative process involves in-depth research, drawing from books, the internet, personal observations in nature, and photographs he takes to ensure every aspect is accurately represented. Each piece begins to take shape in his mind months in advance, inspired by his time spent observing wildlife. Once ready, he strives to translate this mental image onto the canvas with precision. The process always starts with a highly detailed drawing of the subject, followed by careful consideration of composition to bring his vision to life.
See more artwork, visit robertmdeschene.com
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[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] KiteraSpace announces a call for artists for Perceptions Unscripted, an online international art competition. Perceptions Unscripted calls artists to explore the concept of transcending perceptual limitations, whether physical, emotional, cultural, or imaginative. It challenges creators to reflect on breaking barriers, crossing thresholds, and pushing past the edges of what is accepted as real.
Click here for the application / registration
Enter by: 28 February 2025
2D and 3D works in all styles, media, and subjects are welcomed.
Finalists will have their work featured in the virtual galleries of Kitera.Space and Art.Space and will move on to the final round of jurying in consideration for cash awards and honors. Exhibition will be freely accessible through any device and viewable online.
Bring your work to life and the world. Promote your art in the Competition Virtual Galleries. Share freely, get instant visitors and sell your art directly. Enjoy a 3D-Virtual space to exhibit your art quickly and easily. Have more visibility in a respected, global virtual gallery platform. Network with worldwide curators, collectors, and art professionals. Inclusion in a milestone development celebrating emerging and contemporary artists through virtual exhibitions.
About KiteraSpace
KiteraSpace’s mission is to connect contemporary art with curators, collectors, art professionals, education professionals, and the general public world wide. The submission fees received go towards awards, funding the platform, and providing opportunities and free resources to artists and educators around the world. They support the production of free virtual exhibitions, enabling an independent platform dedicated to artists.
KiteraSpace provides online art curated collections in a familiar art gallery setting, with free movement and true scale. Unlimited by reality. Accessible for everyone. Visit 3D art exhibitions from the comfort of your browser. Discover new and interesting art to acquire directly from the artist. Experience more art than would ever be possible in reality. Whenever and Wherever.
For more information, contact art@kitera.space
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[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] The New York Center for Photographic Art (NYC4PA) announces a call for artists for Street Photography, an online photography competition.
Street photography, as an art form, captures a special essence of life, not posed, not set up, but there in the streets, yards, and avenues we pass every day. The challenge is composing those photographs that set them apart from snapshots. Take your camera or phone outside with you and capture the odd juxtaposition of a passerby and a window decoration, special look, split-second moment of communication, or scene that conveys a message or feeling. The examples are too numerous and varied to list. All 2D photography is welcome.
Click here for the application / registration
Enter by: 9 February 2025
NYC4PA offers opportunities to participate in themed calls for photographers. Each call has a different theme and 50 images win. The prizes total $4000. There is a grand prize, 3 first prizes, 3 second prizes, 3 third prizes, 20 juror’s selections, and 20 honorable mentions. All 50 winners are posted in a gallery on the NYC4PA website and included in an exhibition gallery. The call is open to any photographers worldwide and of any age, amateurs or professional. A professional photographer, gallery owner, or photography teacher is the juror.
About New York Center for Photographic Art
The mission of the New York Center for Photographic Art is to provide exhibition opportunities in the vibrant New York City gallery world to photographers around the globe. NYC4PA offers international, themed, open call competitions juried by recognized experts in the field of photography. Prizes include cash awards, online gallery, catalog, and New York City gallery exhibits.
For more information, contact nyc4pa@gmail.com
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[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] The PASEO announces a call for artists for the 2025 PASEO Festival, an outdoor event in Taos, New Mexico. Works should be immersive, site-responsive, participatory, and/or will make a dynamic impact within the Taos Historic District.
The PASEO started in 2014 as an outdoor arts festival connecting the 40th annual Taos Fall Arts Festival in the Downtown Historic District of Taos, New Mexico. In its twelfth year, The PASEO has become the anticipated art event of the year, bringing out thousands of locals and visitors alike to fill the streets. Taos is a centuries-old Art Colony and home to Taos Pueblo, UNESCO protected and the oldest continually inhabited community in North America. Home to artists for centuries, The PASEO holds to the tradition of bringing artists from around the world to both inspire and be inspired.
Click here for the application / registration
Enter by: 15 February 2025
The PASEO Festival features installations, projections, and performance art that can be installed, shown, projected, or performed outdoors for this two-day outdoor art festival. Installations must be designed for nighttime viewing. Artists must be on site sunset to 11 pm daily, September 12th and 13th. Artwork must be able to withstand the outdoor environment of the high desert of Northern New Mexico. Overnight security is provided.
Submissions must be of fully executed projects. All work must be original and created by or under the direction of the artist(s). Collaborations are welcome.
The PASEO Festival is seeking 20 installations for 2025. Stipends range from $500 to $3,000 (with larger projects funded at $5,000 – $15,000). Stipend is contingent on size, complexity, and anticipated festival impact. PASEO provides funds for the shipping of artwork, but artists are responsible for the installation of their work. The festival will provide staff and volunteers to assist.
About PASEO
Since 2014, the Paseo Project has brought projection, performance, and installation art to the streets of Taos, New Mexico with free, community events.
The PASEO was founded in 2014 as a project of Taos Fall Arts Festival. Its original purpose was to connect the multiple venues of Fall Arts’ exhibitions with street activities to keep visitors engaged and moving.
Over the years the event has grown, from one night to two nights, hosting dozens of artists regionally, nationally, and internationally. In 2016, the PASEO team took the leap into a more sustainable model and became a 501c-3 nonprofit, The Paseo Project.
The Paseo Project offers year-round programs and events in addition to hosting the annual fall PASEO festival.
For more information, contact paseo@paseoproject.org
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[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] Decagon Gallery announces a call for artists for Abstractions: The Art of Seeing Things Differently, an online photography juried exhibition. Explore the infinite possibilities of abstraction, where form, color, texture, and light transform into visual poetry.
From minimalist compositions to vibrant, chaotic expressions, Decagon Gallery encourages entries that challenge perception and push the boundaries of photographic artistry. Show your unique vision — whether through experimental techniques, intentional distortions, or capturing the unseen details of the everyday.
Click here for the application / registration
Enter by: 28 February 2025
The First Place entry for Abstractions will be awarded $300 and offered a Solo Exhibition in the gallery’s Featured section. This Solo Exhibition will be promoted on Decagon Gallery’s website and newsletter.
Digital badges will be awarded to all participants. Certificates will be given to the First, Second, and Third place entries plus the two Honorable Mentions. The exhibition will be promoted on Decagon Gallery’s social media sites and email blasts.
A printed catalog will be produced, and a short video on the gallery’s YouTube channel.
About Decagon Gallery
Decagon Gallery is located in Brooklyn, New York — a hub of creative activity. They have relationships with other galleries and arts organizations, and strive to make exhibiting affordable to all photographers. Some opportunities are free to enter and have no other fees. Their website gets thousands of visitors worldwide. All inquiries for print purchases are forwarded to the photographer. No commissions are taken by the gallery.
For more information, contact info@decagongallery.com
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[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] The Art Barn School of Art announces a call for artists for their 31th annual juried art exhibition, to be held April 4 – June 5, 2025.
The purpose of this long-standing exhibition is to promote the creation and recognition of original, quality, 2-dimensional works of art and ceramic arts. The exhibition attracts entries from established and aspiring artists from Northwest Indiana, Chicago suburbs, and Southwest Michigan.
Click here for the application / registration
Enter by: 26 February 2025
In a hope to encourage and support emerging artists from all over the United States, there is a minimum age requirement of 18 years old. This invites a large age range of artists to apply for this exhibit, making the exhibition widely accessible.
For 2025, the Art Barn has carefully selected a team of jurors, all of whom are working and teaching artists, in an effort to not only support them as artist individuals, but to provide for a fair and wide range of expertise. This will ensure that each submission is regarded with the highest standards, making it a true honor to have the opportunity to be selected for the Juried Art Exhibition.
- Betty Carr, an upcoming Guest Artist and master painter in the American Impressionist Society
- Sarah Rehmer, a previous Guest Artist and Chicago-based encaustic artist
- Amy Palatnick (Amy the Potter), a California-based potter and online instructor
Juried Art Exhibition Awards
Art Barn provides numerous purchase and merit awards totaling $5,000.
- Best of Show – $500
- Merit Awards – in various values from $20 – $300
- Purchase Awards – in amounts of $300, $400 or $500
- Jan Sullivan Emerging Artist Award – $200 (artists between the ages of 18-25 are eligible)
About Art Barn School of Art
Art Barn School of Art, housed in a century-old renovated barn, is dedicated to fostering the love of art for artists of all ages and abilities in its unique 69-acre environment in Porter County, Indiana. Art Barn fosters art education and cultural access for residents, businesses, and partners in the community by offering a full range of art education classes for children and adults, as well as having a monthly rotating exhibition schedule and providing a venue for performing arts and weddings.
The mission of the Art Barn School of Art is to inspire creativity across generations by providing an inclusive, nature-based space where artists of all skill levels can explore, experiment, and grow through the arts. Their vision is to become a renowned destination for arts education and creative exploration in Northwest Indiana, where people of all ages and skill levels can immerse themselves in art and nature.
For more information, contact info@artbarnschool.org