Although the UK’s galleries and exhibitions sadly remain closed as we head into February, this month does still bring a number of exciting opportunities for artists, from art prizes and commissions to international residencies. Here is ArtWeb’s round-up of the open calls to apply for now.
Open Call: Crystal Ruth Bell Online Residency
Deadline: Midnight, 9th February (in the applicant’s time zone)
China Residencies is inviting artists to apply for its 7th Crystal Ruth Bell Residency, which in response to the pandemic will be offered to artists remotely in 2021. The fully funded, six-month online residency is open to artists working in all kinds of media on projects related to China, Hong Kong, the Chinese diaspora, or Chinatowns worldwide. Selected artists will receive a USD $6,673.38 stipend, up to USD $3,326.62 for production-related expenses, an optional artist talk, workshop, and open studio, and project support from the China Residencies team.
Open Call: BRILLIANT 2021
Deadline: 9 am GMT, 11th February
BRILLIANT is a commissioning scheme aiming to inspire anyone (aged 18 or over) to apply to create artwork for Lumiere, the UK’s best-known light art event, which will take place in Durham in November 2021. Successful applicants will receive a fee of £1,000, mentorship and support to realise their ideas, and a fabrication and materials grant of up to £7,000. Up to six awards will be offered, of which three will be reserved for applicants originally from or living in the North East of England, with a further three available to applicants throughout the UK.
Open Call: Wildlife Artist of the Year 2021
Deadline: 5 pm GMT, 15th February
Often referred to as the ‘Oscars of international wildlife art’, the Wildlife Artist of the Year competition has raised more than £1.2 million to support wildlife conservation since its first edition in 2008. The awards offer a First Prize of £10,000, which includes a £5,000 conservation voucher to be donated in the winner’s name to a David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation species of their choice, plus a further 11 prizes, including a £5,000 prize package for the winner of the Human Impact category.
Call Out for Artists/Creatives: Online Wellbeing Workshop Leaders
Deadline: Midnight GMT, 15th February
Artswork Ltd is seeking artists and creative practitioners to deliver fun, inspiring, and creative workshops throughout 2021, as part of its wellbeing programme for staff. Artists can be at any stage in their career, and working in any creative or cultural discipline, but should have experience of delivering workshops to groups online.
Commission Opportunity: The Call of the Chartologist
Deadline: 23:59 GMT, 19th February
Luckies of London are seeking artists to design their next Chartologist™ poster, inspired by the theme of ‘Culture’ in all its forms. Entries are invited by artists working in pencil, ink, print, watercolour, or digital media. Artists do not need to submit a completed poster, but works must not have been previously published. Selected artists will be offered a royalty agreement for their work, and will have the opportunity to design additional products within the brand’s portfolio.
Open Call: ZUKUNFTSVISIONEN Festival for Contemporary Arts 2021
Deadline: 28th February
ZUKUNFTSVISIONEN Festival, which will take place in Görlitz, Germany, in May 2021, is inviting artists to apply both to exhibit in the festival programme, and also for its associated residency. The residency is open to artists working across all genres, and will have a minimum duration of two weeks, and a maximum duration of four. Artists will be asked to create a work responding to the title of the festival’s 2021 edition, ‘Ohne Gewähr – No Guarantees’, and will be reimbursed for their travel costs, as well as receiving a fee of € 400, and a materials grant of € 400. Accommodation will also be provided for the duration of the residency.
Open Call: Singapore Art Museum Artist Residency
Deadline: 11:59 pm GMT+8, 28th February
Applications are now open for Singapore Art Museum’s Artist Residency, which is open to artists worldwide focusing on the theme of ‘intimacy’ and/or ‘infrastructures’ in their work, or who explore the impact of technology on contemporary life. Residencies will last for six months, and will take place between October 2021 and March 2023. Successful applicants will receive return economy air travel, a housing allowance, a monthly stipend of SGD 1,500, and a studio space, in addition to the support of the museum’s team.
Jackson’s Painting Prize 2021
Deadline: 5 pm GMT, 2nd March
Jackson’s Painting Prize is open to international creators at all points in their careers, and offers a number of prizes, including a Painting Prize of £6,000, an Emerging Artist Award of £1,000, an Outstanding Watercolour Award (with a £500 Jackson’s voucher as its prize), and the People’s Choice Award (which will also receive a £500 Jackson’s voucher). Six category award-winners will also receive a prize of £500, with categories including Animal, Portrait/Figure, Landscape/Cityscape/Seascape, Still Life/Botanical, Abstract/Non-representational, and Scenes of Everyday Life.
COVID restrictions permitting, selected works by finalists will also be exhibited at The Affordable Art Fair Hampstead, from the 15th to the 19th September 2021.
