Artist Opportunities Hits the Right Notes

Of Note: Grants for Creative Individuals Program The Mass Cultural Council is currently accepting applications for the Grants for Creative Individuals program. This program aims to equitably advance creative expression throughout the Commonwealth with unrestricted grants to Massachusetts artists, culture bearers, and creative individuals. Grants are $5,000. Learn more.
Deadline: October 27, 2026

Mass Cultural Council will hold an online grant information session for the Grants for Creative Individuals program on September 22, 2026 at 11:00 am. Attendance is optional. Learn about the Grants for Creative Individuals program which will provide unrestricted grants of $5,000. Staff will discuss the grant application and answer attendee questions. Learn more.

Additional Grants for Creative Individuals online small group “office hours” include:
Office Hour: Getting Started in our Online System, September 24, 2026 at 11:00 am
Office Hour: Preparing and Uploading Your Files, September 30, 2026 at 1:00 pm
Office Hour: Applying as a Traditional Artist/Culture Bearer, October 5, 2026 at 1:00 pm.

Save the Date – Collective Works: Creative Entrepreneurship Summit on November 7, 2026 from 10am-4pm. Massachusetts College of Art and Design‘s Collective Works brings together creative entrepreneurs from every discipline across Massachusetts for one day of candid conversations about what it really takes to thrive in today’s creative economy. Whether you’re an artist, designer, musician, freelancer, student, or founder — if your creative practice is your livelihood (or you’re building toward that), this summit is for you. Come exchange ideas with fellow creators, gain practical strategies from seasoned entrepreneurs, and connect with key support organizations at our resource fair. Registration coming soon. Tickets: $25 General Admission, $10 Student.

Call to Artists The New Bedford Art Museum is currently accepting entries for their exhibition Analog: An Antidote to AI Art, an exhibit that celebrates the enduring power of human imagination, intuition, and authentic artistic expression. This exhibition invites artists whose work reflects the distinctly human experience of making, embracing experimentation, imperfection, memory, materiality, and lived experience. Rather than rejecting technology, Analog asks a timely question: What makes art unmistakably human? They welcome original work in all visual art media and genres, including painting, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, textiles, fiber, photography, installation, mixed media, assemblage, drawing, book arts, jewelry, sound art, olfactive art, biophilic practices, and other forms that demonstrate personal vision and meaningful engagement with materials and process. Entry fee: $40 for 5 images
Additional $5 per image after your fifth image. (max 10 images). Learn more.
Deadline: September 24, 2026

Choreographers, Dancers Through the New England Dance Fund, New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) will award grants between $1,500 and $2,500 directly to choreographers who identify and articulate an important opportunity that will significantly impact aspects of their dance making or advance their role within the regional New England dance landscape. Learn more.
Deadline: September 28, 2026

Call to Artists The Cambridge Art Association invites artists to register for their Small Group Show Workshop. This intensive six-session workshop, instructed by Caitlin Julia Rubin, guides ten artists through the complete process of creating a small group exhibition. The course covers all practical aspects of exhibition development including curation, artist statements, gallery relationships, promotional materials, social media, opening receptions and public programming. The workshop culminates in a group exhibition at the Cambridge Art Association’s East Cambridge Gallery, CAA @ Canal. Learn more.

Of Note: As part of Mass Cultural Council’s online Spotlight Series, we host staff from the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development for a presentation on the Registered Apprenticeship Program. The free session will explore the value propositions of the Registered Apprenticeship Model & how it can benefit employers and employees in the arts sector. Presenters will provide guidance on the process of developing and implementing a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) with a focus specific to arts organizations and employers. The event takes place October 1, 2026, 11am ET. Learn more and register.

Call to Artists Art Fluent invites artists  to submit a series of artwork to their online exhibit, IN SERIES, highlighting artists who explore an idea across multiple works. Five pieces. One vision. . All accepted artists will have their series displayed in our online gallery and will receive a cash prize of $250 each. Learn more.
Deadline October 9, 2026 at midnight MST

Public Art The Public Art Learning Fund provides grants of $500 to $3,000 to support professional development opportunities for New England artists to strengthen their public art practices. Through the Public Art Learning Fund, NEFA intends to foster the continued development of more equitable, inclusive, and vibrant public spaces and public life throughout New England. Learn more.
Deadline: October 13, 2026, 11:59p ET

Local Cultural Council Grants The largest grassroots cultural funding network in the nation, the Local Cultural Council (LCC) Program enriches the cultural life of all cities and towns in Massachusetts. Led by municipally appointed volunteers, LCCs award $6.6 million every year, supporting 7,400 cultural programs that include everything from field trips to lectures, festivals, and dance performances. Learn more.
Deadline: October 15, 2026

Tribal Cultural Council Program Led by tribally appointed volunteers who administer an annual grant program to support local cultural projects. Individuals, groups, and organizations may apply. Grant amounts vary, and applications are submitted directly to each Tribal Cultural Council. Learn more.
Deadline: October 15, 2026

Smithsonian American Art Museum — 2027–2028 Research Fellowships
Residential fellowships at SAAM support full-time, independent research on US art, craft, and visual culture. Appointments are available at graduate, predoctoral, postdoctoral, and senior levels. Learn more.
Deadline: October 15, 2026

Cambridge Artists Each fall, Cambridge Arts offers three annual grant funding opportunities:
Local Cultural Council Grants, Organizational Investment Grants, Art for Social Justice Grants. Applications will open in early September. Note: Applicants may only apply for one grant per cycle. Learn more.
Deadline: October 15, 2026, by 11:59 p.m.

Arts Foundation of Cape Cod Opportunities: Applications for the Creative Exchange Capacity-Building Program are now open, offering coaching, mentorship, professional development workshops, peer-group support, and a $1,000 grant. Applications for the Arts Foundation Grants cycle are now open, bringing project-based funding to both individual artists and organizations doing great work across Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket. And applications to submit your artwork for Deck the Walls 2026 are now open, their annual small works holiday sale that shines a light on the best of Cape Cod art.
Deadline: All three programs close on Friday, November 6, 2026

Call to Artists Winchester Open Studios invites all artists to their 4th annual Open Studios on Saturday, November 21 from 10-5pm. Registration is $35 and includes the space as well as artist workshop on strengthening your online persona. Learn more.
Deadline: November 7, 2026

Call to Artists The Galleries@Work Space in Manchester, CT is currently accepting entries for their exhibition, Perspectives of Fantasy & Imagination, their annual Perspectives show. Open to all artists age 16+ from New England & New York who work in all mediums, including paint, photography, fiber, mixed media, poetry, and more. Learn more.
Deadline: November 30, 2026