African creatives are gaining more opportunities to showcase their talent on an international stage thanks to a variety of art competitions, open calls, residencies, and grants. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most exciting opportunities currently available to African artists in April 2023, along with details on eligibility, application deadlines, application fees (where applicable), and prize amounts.
GRANTS
Future Generation Art Prize
This bi-annual global contemporary art prize is open to all artists under the age of 35. The prize is founded by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation and provides a platform for emerging artists from around the world working in any medium to be recognized and supported.
Amount: The main prize winner receives US$100,000 split between a $60,000 cash prize and a $40,000 investment in their practice. Up to 5 special prizes are awarded at the discretion of the jury. A total amount of US$ 20,000 will be awarded to special prize winners for supporting projects that develop their artistic practice.
Eligibility: All artists aged 35 or younger from anywhere in the world, working in any medium
Deadline: April 30, 2023
Application Fee: Free
You can learn more about this grant and apply here
The Awesome Foundation
Have a crazy brilliant artistic idea that needs funding? The Awesome Foundation awards $1,000 in grants every month. It couldn’t be simpler! Your idea is yours alone. They don’t want a stake in it, just to help you make it happen!
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: Rolling
Application Fee: Free
You can learn more about this grant and apply here
RESIDENCIES
Rising: Climate in Crisis Residencies
Rising: Climate in Crisis Residencies at A Studio in the Woods invites artists to be agents of change in guiding our collective understanding, response, and vision as we shape our shared future.
Artists play a vital role in facing the climate crisis. Artists are encouraged to guide our collective response to this challenging issue while bringing wisdom, integrity, optimism, and even humor to intentional projects seeking transformation for our species and our planet.
Rising Residencies provide artists with time, space, funding, and staff support to foster critical thinking in the creation of new works – igniting our imaginations while illuminating our challenges and inspiring solutions.
Artists of all disciplines who have demonstrated an established dialogue with environmental and cultural issues are welcome to apply. Artists are asked to describe in detail how the Southeast Louisiana region will affect their work, propose a public component to their residency, and suggest ways how they will engage with the local community.
Stipend: Recipients will be provided $3000 as a stipend and $2000 towards materials
Deadline: April 10, 2023
Application Fee: Free
You can learn more about this residency and apply here
Bethany Arts Young Artist Residency
In 2022, Bethany Arts Community identified the need and opportunity to support a longer-term residency specifically for emerging artists from 21-30 years old. In 2023, BAC welcomes their second annual Young Artist Residency, running from July 24 to October 20, 2023.
This residency is designed to offer a creative home to promising artists as they transition and deepen their professional careers and artistic practice. With provided support from BAC, Young Artist Residents will be able to devote uninhibited energy towards creativity.
Young Artist Residents will be in a community of artists and culture workers from a broad range of disciplines, including our Fall Multidisciplinary residents, local studio artists, BAC staff and board members, those presenting programs on campus and more! In addition, YA Residents will be invited to participate in education and enrichment programs, curatorial planning, and peek into the “back-end” of art institutions.
Bethany Arts Community strives to empower the voices of emerging artists in shaping their own careers and future programs at BAC and beyond.
Stipend: $250 stipend per week
Deadline: April 11, 2023
Application Fee: Free
You can learn more about this residency and apply here
OPEN CALLS, COMPETITIONS & EXHIBITIONS
CPSA 31st Annual
International Exhibition
The CPSA International Exhibition is
an annual juried gallery exhibition
exclusively for works done in 100% colored
pencil. It is held in a different city each year to provide more people with the opportunity to enjoy coloured pencil as a fine art medium. In 2022, awards totalling $21,940 were given to 18 award winners.
Prize: $5,000 Best of Show and CIPPY Award
Deadline: April 3, 2023
Application Fee: $25 non-CPSA member
& $20 CPSA member (2023 membership year)
You can learn more about this exhibition and apply here
YICCA – International Prize of Contemporary Art
The competition’s aim is to promote the enrolled artist, giving them chance to join the international market of contemporary art. The contest is open to all artists or groups of artists and professionals from any country. All kinds of art works are accepted, including video, installations and performances. All works will be presented by a picture or a video that must be followed by a description of the work.
All works must be available for the final exhibition and have to be the artist’s property.
Award: €3000,00 money prize to the first selected & €1000,00 money prize to the second selected
Deadline: April 13, 2023
Application Fee: 1 artwork: 50,00€, 2 artworks: 80,00€, 3 artworks: 110,00€, 4 artworks: 130,00€, 5 artworks: 145,00€, 6 artworks: 160,00€
You can learn more about this competition and apply here
TERAVARNA “7th OPEN” International Juried Art Competition
TERAVARNA announces their “7th OPEN” International Juried Art Competition. All visual artists from around the world are invited to submit their best artworks on the theme for inclusion in the exhibition. All types of art styles may be submitted, including both 2D and 3D works, painting, sculpture, digital, printmaking, fibre, photography, graphic, mixed media, as well as experimental and installation works.
Prize: $3,500 in guaranteed unrestricted cash prizes will be given out to 75-100 winning artists.
Deadline: April 15, 2023
Application Fee: $10 non-refundable entry fee for each artwork
You can learn more about this competition and apply here
The Alexandria Museum of Art Call for Entry
The Mission of the Alexandria Museum of Art is to foster a culturally rich community by engaging, enlightening and inspiring individuals through innovative art experiences. Their Call for Entry is open to all artists over the age of 18 – working in any medium. All work must be original and must have been completed in the last two years (2021 or later)
Prize:
• First Place: $800
• Second Place: $500
• Third Place: $300
• Honorable Mention: $100
• Honorable Mention: $100
• Honorable Mention: $100
Deadline: April 18, 2023
Application Fee: Each artist may submit TWO full view (multiple views of 3D works can be put into one file) works of art with a non-refundable entry fee of $40.Additional works may be submitted for a fee of $20 per each entry.
You can learn more about this competition and apply here
BROUHAHART Worldwide Artist Open call
BROUHAHART is now accepting submissions for their Virtual Exhibition ‘WOMEN [ONLY] II’.Artists from any background can submit any of their work. There is no charge to submit your application, however, a small fee (£30) is applied per artist once they have been selected for the exhibition.
The team will review all applications and the selected works will be announced.
Prize:
1st Prize – Solo virtual exhibition [up to 20 artworks]
2nd Prize – Solo virtual exhibition [up to 14 artworks]
Competition results will be posted on BROUHAHAART and promoted on their wide-spread social media.
Deadline: April 22, 2023
Application Fee: Free to apply (£30 fee is applied per artist once they have been selected for the exhibition.
You can learn more about this competition and apply here
We hope you found this list helpful! Don’t forget to share with your friends who might also be able to apply to these opportunities 🙂
Also, connect with us across our platforms to be informed when we share new opportunities for African Creatives.
