[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] The Newton Free Library announces a call for artists for January – June 2026 exhibits. Artists must be from the New England region.
The Newton Free Library presents twelve art shows each year in the building’s Main Hall, featuring works by New England artists. As one of the busiest public library buildings in Massachusetts, this exhibit space is highly sought after and well-loved by library patrons.
Click here for the application / registration
Enter by: 31 July 2025
Eligibility: The Library welcomes applications from New England artists showing two-dimensional works that are compatible with the Walker display system. Both individual and group shows are welcome. Each exhibit is on display for one month.
Free-standing sculptural pieces are not eligible.
The Library encourages artists from a variety of backgrounds and life experiences to apply.
Newton Free Library Artist Benefits
Many artists seek to exhibit their work at The Newton Free Library because the location guarantees that their work will be seen by a large audience. The Library is visited by more than 45,000 people each month. Most visitors enter through the Main Hall and see the art exhibits as they arrive. Library patrons are keenly tuned into the gallery space – visiting and spending time appreciating the works shown. Given that free gallery space is difficult to come by, it is a boon for artists that, if selected, they show fee-free. There is no commission for work sold and there is no fee to apply.
About the Newton Free Library
The Newton Free Library is a community center at the heart of cultural activity in Newton, Massachusetts, a city south west of Boston with a population of approximately 90,000. Residents enjoy the art exhibits in the Library’s Main Hall and eagerly await them each month. The highly-visible exhibit location is just off the main entrance door. Visitors walk by the Main Hall as they come into the building. There is competition for exhibitions where many award-winning artists have been featured.
For more information, contact artapplication@newtonfreelibrary.net
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[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] PleinAir Magazine announces a call for artists for their PleinAir Salon July Art Competition.
In the spirit of the French Salon created by the Academie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, this annual online competition, with 11 monthly cycles, leading to the Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition, is designed to stimulate artistic growth through competition.
The competition rewards artists with $50,000 in all cash prizes each year with the winning painting featured on the cover of PleinAir magazine.
Click here for the application / registration
Enter by: 31 July 2025
The PleinAir Salon is an online competition consisting of 11 monthly cycles of competitions and one annual competition. They award a total of $50,000 in cash prizes each year for this competition.
- Annual Grand Prize winner receives a check for $15,000 and is featured on the cover of PleinAir Magazine
- Additional awards totalling $11,050 to the annual winners
- Awards totalling $2,250 in the monthly competitions.
Each of the 22 monthly winners will be automatically entered into the Annual Competition. Each of the monthly winners receive cash prizes, promotion in PleinAir Magazine, both print and digital. Winners are promoted in the digital edition of Fine Art Connoisseur, a magazine for art collectors. Artists receive editorial coverage in newsletters and websites. The annual awards are presented live at the Plein Air Convention & Expo each spring.
PleinAir Salon Testimonials
“It is always so exciting to win something, and also such an honor. I really like participating in the Plein Air Salon Competition for many reasons, but one is that you are so great about sharing and promoting the award winners. It makes me want to keep painting the best I can and to enter every month.” – Sheryl Knight
“PleinAir Salon has such a wonderful reputation for attracting world class artists that I was so impressed when I found out I was amongst the top 100 finalists. Then when I discovered I had won the Animal and Bird section I was completely speechless. I know I have worked hard over the last few years to really improve my craft, but this has been an overwhelming honor.” – Angela Parr
“Entering this contest on a monthly basis is something I have come to regard as both essential and enjoyable. It seems like every so often one of my paintings catches lightening in a bottle, so that’s a thrill. Thank you and the staff for all the work to promote artists and the arts.” – Christopher Forrest
About PleinAir Magazine
PleinAir Magazine is for plein air artists, enthusiasts, and collectors showcasing a wide variety of plein air paintings, articles on the top plein air artists of today and past, and the latest information on events and shows. The PleinAir Salon Art Competition has been awarding cash prizes and promoting artists for 12 years. The PleinAir Salon is celebrating their 14th year and was created by PleinAir magazine publisher, Eric Rhoads.
For more information, contact pleinairsalon@streamlinepublishing.com
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[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] Decagon Gallery announces a call for artists for Patterns In The Wild, an online photography juried competition. Visually explore the rhythm and repetition that surrounds us in both natural and urban environments. Whether found in the fractals of a fern, geometry of city grids, textures of rust and decay, or symmetry in animal markings—patterns speak a universal language. They reveal order in chaos, beauty in randomness, and design where we least expect it.
Click here for the application / registration
Enter by: 31 July 2025
Submit all photographic styles and techniques, from traditional landscapes to abstract interpretations, macro to aerial, and documentary to experimental. Show how you see patterns in the wild.
Patterns In The Wild Awards and Features
- First Place Award: $500 cash prize and an online Solo exhibition
- Second Place Award: $300 cash prize
- Third Place Award: $200 cash prize
- Juror’s Awards and two Honorable Mentions
- All selected photographers will receive a digital award badge.
- Selected work will be published in a printed exhibition catalog available for purchase.
- A short video presentation will be created and shared on our YouTube channel and the gallery website and social media.
- The exhibition will be promoted on social media platforms.
About Decagon Gallery
Decagon Gallery, an online photography gallery based in Brooklyn, New York, specializes in contemporary photography. It offers curated platforms for photographers to showcase their work and connect with art enthusiasts worldwide. Discover the Decagon Gallery experience today. Decagon Gallery maintains a robust online presence through its website and social media. It promotes itself via email marketing, social media, and collaborations with other art organizations.
For more information, contact info@decagongallery.com
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[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] The New York Center for Photographic Art (NYC4PA) announces a call for artists for Abandon / Abandoned, an online photography competition.
What comes to mind when you hear these two words? Though they have the same root, the meanings can be quite far apart. Is your first thought about things abandoned – like that empty building in the tenement section of town that has been left to the elements with broken windows and peeling paint, or is it the person abandoned by a family who needed to move to another location.
There is also the sense of “abandon” – that free-wheeling person, dancing or jumping for joy with arms stretched out, or the child on a playground ride like a see saw with hands in the air and sheer glee on his/her face.
The Abandon / Abandoned artist call is about those images that depict either interpretation. The field is far and wide and the choice is yours. Send your best and, as always, all 2D photography is welcome.
Click here for the application / registration
Enter by: 20 July 2025
NYC4PA offers opportunities to participate in themed calls for photographers. Each call has a different theme and 50 images win. The prizes total $4,000. 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] ArtSeen announces a call for artists to display your artwork on billboards during the Ann Arbor Art Fair, to be held July 17 – 19, 2025.
Click here for the application / registration
Enter by: 10 July 2025
Entry fee: $18. Spots are limited. Apply now and showcase your work during one of America’s top art events.
Artists benefit from ArtSeen at the Ann Arbor Art Fair by gaining wide exposure to over 400,000 visitors, including art buyers, collectors, and curators. Your work is displayed on digital screens, ensuring visibility without the limitations of physical space. This cost-effective platform offers a unique opportunity to build your brand, make valuable connections, and potentially lead to sales and commissions. Being part of this major event can open doors to future exhibitions and provide long-term exposure in the art world.
About ArtSeen
ArtSeen is an exciting organization because it offers innovative digital exposure for artists at major cultural events, removing the physical space limitations of traditional galleries. By displaying works on digital screens in high-traffic areas, artists gain massive visibility to diverse audiences, including art buyers, collectors, and curators. With affordable entry fees, it makes participation accessible to emerging and established artists alike. ArtSeen provides networking opportunities at top-tier events, fostering connections that can lead to sales, commissions, and future exhibitions. It’s a platform that champions bold, transformative art, making it an ideal space for creative expression and growth.
For more information, contact hello@art-seen.com
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[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] Decagon Gallery announces a call for artists for Places and Spaces, an online photography juried competition. What does it mean to belong to a place—or to feel out of place entirely?
Click here for the application / registration
Enter by: 30 June 2025
Decagon Gallery invites photographers worldwide to submit work for Places and Spaces, an online exhibition exploring the environments we inhabit, pass through, or imagine. From sweeping landscapes to quiet corners, and bustling streets to solitary rooms, this show seeks to highlight the ways spaces shape us—and how we, in turn, shape them.
All interpretations are welcome including documentary or conceptual, urban or rural, personal or political, and literal or abstract.
Juror: Matthew Christopher
Places and Spaces: Artist Benefits
- First Place: $500 cash prize and an online solo exhibition, promoted on the website and gallery newsletter.
- Second Place: $300 cash prize
- Third Place: $200 cash prize
- Juror’s Awards and Honorable Mentions
- All selected photographers will receive a digital award badge
- Selected work will be published in a printed exhibition catalog available for purchase.
- A short video presentation will be created and shared on the gallery’s YouTube channel and / or the gallery website and social media.
About Decagon Gallery
Decagon Gallery is an online photography gallery based in Brooklyn, New York, that specializes in contemporary photography. The gallery offers photographers several curated platforms to showcase their work and connect with art enthusiasts worldwide. The gallery maintains a robust online presence through its website and social media, as it aims to promote itself through email marketing, social media, and collaborations with other art organizations.
For more information, contact info@decagongallery.com
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[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] Halo Arts Project announces a call for artists for the 7th annual Angels for Artists online and live art auction. Angels for Artists raises funds and exists to provide resources and programming support to visual artists in Florida. The online and live art auction is a fun-filled event.
Theme: “What is Beauty?”, a powerful exploration of presence – not just what the eye can see. Not always just an appearance. Beauty is a quality that comes from the object and rises from the mind. Beauty blends the senses and the soul. It can be chaotic, cultural, discreet, or fierce. The exhibition celebrates varies expression and aesthetic appreciation. Create a captivating aura that goes beyond what meets the eye. Explore the mirror of this powerful social construct that reflects and shapes a society’s values, fears, and aspirations.
Click here for the application / registration
Enter by: 31 December 2025
Entry fee: Free
Artists are invited to submit paintings, prints, archival photography, small sculptures, and mixed media works. Art must be original (several choices are helpful). The jury process helps to determine a balanced presentation of art. Canvases not already framed must be painted and gallery wrapped.
Open to US artists over the age of 18. All visual artistic mediums are eligible, including 2-D and 3-D (sculpture), textile, and craft/traditional as well as any style: landscape, abstract, figurative, and collage. No larger then 24×24
Art can be mailed, dropped off, or picked up at a mutually convenient time (for local artists). Art will be juried and you will receive a response within two weeks. Halo Arts Project accepts a maximum of 3 works.
Angels for Artists: Artist Benefits
- Three Peoples Choice Awards: 1st $100, 2nd $50, and 3rd $50.
- The artists whos work sells for the highest bid receives $1,500 cash award.
- Gallery showing from January 1st to January 24th at the John Sims/Halo Arts Project Gallery, 1639 Tenth Street, Sarasota, Florida 34236
- Exposure to hundreds of art-loving attendees and local philanthropists, recognition on the Halo Arts Project website and social media channels, network broadcast media, as well as in email blasts and the online event art catalog.
- Feature in the Angels for Artists Art Catalog includes donated artwork, artists statement, and contact information.
- Complimentary admission to Angels for Artists event on Sunday January 25, 2026 at SRQ Waterworks, Sarasota Florida. A fun-filled opportunity to purchase over 75 works from nationwide artists.
All works must be donated to the Halo Arts Project. 100% of the proceeds of the art sales goes to help fund the Halo Fellowship Awards of $5,000 each to visual artists in Florida.
Your donation is tax deductible as allowed by law, You will receive a tax receipt from Halo Arts Project after the event with the name of the recipient (if they choose to share their contact information). Halo Arts Project is a registered 501 (c) 3 non-profit Federal Tax ID #85-8017865519C-3
“As a 2024 recipient of the Halo Fellowship Award I know how impactful the award can be …so today I’m submitting two paintings to their upcoming Angels for Artists fundraiser.” Beck Lane, Artist
About Halo Arts Project
Halo Arts Project’s, founded in 2018, core values are to embrace diversity, support a diverse range of visual artists and their social concerns, applaud innovation and challenges, and strive to work with artists as they establish their roles as part of a larger community of artists, deriving a sense of purpose, aesthetic or social.
Halo Arts Project’s community events help support the Halo Fellowship Program available to visual artists. The Angels for Artists Art Auctions are benefits designed to encourage artists to participate and donate and for the public to purchase.
For more information, contact info@haloartsproject.com
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[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] Visual Artists Association announces a call for artists for VAA Art500, a landmark initiative celebrating 500 of the most promising and visionary artists across the United States. In partnership with Artfinder, the leading online marketplace for original art, this opportunity offers national recognition, exclusive exposure, and career-accelerating support.
Whether you’re an emerging talent or an established creator, this is your opportunity to stand out in the contemporary art world.
Click here for the application / registration
Enter by: 25 June 2025
Open to all visual artists based in the United States, working in any medium. Entry is free.
VAA Arts500: Artist Benefits
Receive the recognition and tools to advance your practice. Only 500 artists will be selected to benefit from this high-profile initiative. This is your opportunity to gain national recognition, exclusive resources, and career-accelerating support – all designed to elevate your profile in the art world. Whether you’re emerging or established, this initiative is your gateway to becoming a recognised force in contemporary art.
- VAA Preferred Artist Status: Formal recognition from the VAA
- Free Entry to the VAA Artist of the Year Awards: Be considered for one of the most prestigious honours in our network
- 6-Month Artfinder Subscription: Gain visibility through our Direct from the Artist programme
- The Artist CEO RISE Programme: Four transformative sessions to help you grow as a creative professional
- Feature in the VAA Art500 Industry Book: A premium, curated publication distributed to galleries, collectors, and art professionals nationwide
- Artfinder Artist Profiling: Homepage feature, Mailing list promotion to 500,000+ art buyers, Social media post to 89,000+ followers
Joining the VAA Art500 is more than just an opportunity—it’s a transformative step in your artistic journey. This exclusive membership offers unparalleled visibility, ensuring that your work reaches the eyes of collectors, industry experts, and potential buyers who appreciate and invest in emerging talent. Beyond exposure, it provides validation, affirming your artistic credibility and positioning you among a select group of creators recognized for their excellence. The value extends even further, with continuous support designed to help you navigate the art world with confidence.
About Visual Artists Association
What sets Visual Artists Association apart is their unique approach. They work closely with art galleries, art fairs, publishers, museums, universities, and art institutions to offer members exclusive access to exhibition opportunities, events, and affordable business education. By joining VAA, you gain greater agency over your artwork and enhance your credibility in the art world, helping you grow your practice and small arts business. VAA are here to break down barriers, open doors, to transform the landscape, fostering a culture where artists of all backgrounds are inspired and supported to reach their full potential. The VAA champion artists at all stages of their careers to succeed in the business of art.
For more information, contact hello@visual-artists.org
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[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] The Human Impacts Institute (HII) is seeking an artist or artist collective to design and produce a mobile and virtual sound installation amplifying the climate demands of youth from over 40 countries, particularly those from frontline, BIPOC, and underrepresented communities.
In partnership with UMI Fund and the NYC Department of Environmental Justice, this installation will be a centerpiece of HII’s New York City programming for Climate Week 2025 part of their ongoing Artivism & Amplifiers (A&A) and Creative Climate Communications (C3) Lab initiatives.
It will transform global youth voices into a compelling, immersive audio-visual experience that educates, inspires, and mobilizes climate action.
Click here for the application / registration
Enter by: 20 June 2025
HII is looking for innovative proposals that embrace collaboration, equity, accessibility, and deep engagement with community stories. The sound installation will be exhibited in either an indoor or outdoor space (depending on the artist’s proposal and capacity), with high foot traffic preferred.
Sound installation proposals should include:
- A sound-based installation (with optional visual elements) that can exist both online and as a mobile physical exhibit
- Artistic interpretation of climate justice messages gathered from A&A youth participants across the Global North and South
- Work that is emotionally resonant, multi-sensory, and able to spark conversation and action
- An approach that reflects both urgent (“fast”) and reflective (“slow”) responses to the climate crisis is a plus, but not required
HII welcomes proposals from emerging and established artists, particularly those from frontline, BIPOC, and youth-led communities. Experience with either sound art, immersive installations, or social practice art is required. Collaborative teams and cross-disciplinary approaches are encouraged.
Artist Benefits
The artist will receive a $5,500 stipend (including materials and stipend). Note that HII does not cover travel and other additional expenses.
About Human Impacts Institute
The Human Impacts Institute (HII) is a unique organization that merges art, culture, and environmental action to address the climate crisis. By leveraging creative expression, HII makes complex environmental issues accessible and personal, fostering community engagement and inspiring meaningful change.
With a global reach and a commitment to inclusivity, HII collaborates with artists, scientists, policymakers, and educators to co-create programs that reflect the lived experiences of frontline communities. By integrating arts and culture into environmental education and advocacy, the Human Impacts Institute offers an innovative approach to climate justice, making it a compelling and impactful organization.
For more information, contact community@humanimpactsinstitute.org
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[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] IMAGO Foundation for the Arts (IFA) announces a call for artists for the Regeneration | Transformation art exhibition. Explore the profound processes of renewal and change. Capture the essence of cycles that reshape the world around us and within us. This exhibition seeks works that delve into the metamorphic power of nature, human experiences, and societal shifts, celebrating the perpetual flow of endings that become beginnings.
Artists are encouraged to imagine and interpret transformation in all its forms, embracing the beauty, struggle, and resilience embedded in the act of becoming something new.
Click here for the application / registration
Enter by: 22 June 2025
There is no fee to apply, and only a modest fee if selected.
Artists selected for ‘Regeneration | Transformation’ will have the unique opportunity to exhibit their work in a professionally curated group show at Imago Foundation for the Arts (IFA), a nonprofit contemporary gallery space located in the heart of Warren, Rhode Island’s, thriving arts district. This exhibition will place selected artists in direct dialogue with IFA’s collective of exhibiting artists—many of whom are regionally and nationally recognized—providing visibility and the chance to build professional connections within a dynamic creative community.
In addition to the exposure gained through gallery presentation, selected works will be promoted through IFA’s online platforms, print materials, and gallery outreach efforts, reaching collectors, curators, and engaged viewers. For emerging and mid-career artists alike, this exhibition provides both a platform and context for their work to be part of a timely conversation about change, resilience, and renewal.
About Imago Foundation for the Arts
Imago Foundation for the Arts is an artist-run nonprofit committed to presenting innovative, socially relevant work that sparks dialogue and fosters community connection. With over two decades of exhibitions, programming, and partnerships behind it, IFA has become a cultural cornerstone of Rhode Island’s East Bay. What makes Imago particularly compelling is its hybrid model: a collective of dedicated exhibiting artists curates shows that are both inclusive and rigorously conceived, creating space for fresh voices alongside established talent.
The gallery’s location in Warren—an increasingly recognized arts destination—draws a diverse audience of artists, collectors, and art lovers from across New England. Visitors to IFA appreciate its thoughtful exhibitions, community-forward mission, and the warmth of its intimate yet professional gallery setting. For artists looking to share work that explores transformation in a meaningful way, IFA offers both a receptive audience and a chance to grow artistically within a collaborative, mission-driven environment.
For more information, contact imago.exhibits@gmail.com