For a limited time, Sunspot Lit is calling for single works of novella-length fiction or nonfiction in any category, including memoir, literary, genre, and historical. Open April 1 through April 30. See guidelines and submission form, along with the journal’s other open calls (including art), here: https://sunspotlit.submittable.com/submit.
Freelance
Call For Artists: Demand To Be Heard Artist Residency Program
The Sunflower Project’s Demand To Be Heard program supports performing artists who are survivors of gender-based violence, interpartner violence, domestic violence and/or sexual assault. The Demand To Be Heard residency will support up to 6 artists in developing work to reflect their lived experience as a survivor, and will provide a myriad of resources, including an opportunity for artists to show their work in a culminating production. Applications close March 20th. Learn more and apply at: www.towardsthesun.org/dtbh!
Resident artists will receive:
- Twice monthly Body Memory Method workshops from The Sunflower Project’s founder Leah Zeiger
- 6 seminars and workshops from leading professionals in the fields of art and activism.
- A one-on-one mentor who provides individualized support throughout the residency; a pairing decided upon in tandem by The Sunflower Project, the mentor, and the artist.
- Administrative support tailored to what each artist needs to create what they dream, such as: fundraising, timeline creation, running auditions, sourcing additional artists (such as musical accompaniment or actors), connections to possible future producers or funders, and even set design and building.
- Cohort-style meetings to learn from and inspire one another.
- Unlimited one-on-one support from The Sunflower Project, both during and after the residency.
- An artist stipend and project budget
- Production documentation
The resident artist cohort will meet regularly in Los Angeles from April through October 2026, and artists are expected to attend a minimum of 75% of all program activities. Program schedule is below:
- Workshop dates:
- First meeting: May 2, 2-5pm
- Workshops — Saturdays 10am-2pm: May 30, June 6, June 20, July 11, July 18, Aug 1, Aug 8, Aug 22, Sept 5, Sept 19
- Work in progress: Sept 12, 6-10pm
- Festival: Sept 25-27
- Post-residency celebration: October (date TBD with cohort availability)
- Additional meetings: Set between artist and TSP staff, or between artist and mentor, at artists’ request and availability
Applications are open on March 1st, and will close on March 20th. Selected artists will be notified by April 10th.
Artists/survivors of all performing arts backgrounds are encouraged to apply, regardless of the number of years you’ve been practicing. There are up to 6 spots available.
APPLY: www.towardsthesun.org/dtbh
Abstract | Juried Online Art Exhibition
UPWARD Gallery invites artists to submit artwork for our juried online art exhibition, Abstract.
We welcome submissions from a variety of media, including but not limited to: painting, drawing, digital painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, textiles, and mixed media.
Awards: Interviews and other publications are featured in the print edition of UPWARD’s magazine and on the website, digital certificate, and personal artist page on the gallery website. The exhibition will be promoted online via our website and social media channels.
Fee: $15 for entry, $12 (2-4 entries), $10 (5 or more entries).
Deadline: April 15, 2026
Visit https://upwardgallery.com/ad/competitions/132/abstract for a full information.
The UPWARD Gallery was founded in 2021. Our online platform is designed to share art with new audiences using modern technologies. We assist emerging artists in gaining recognition and established artists in expanding their influence.
Nature | Juried Online Art Exhibition
UPWARD Gallery invites artists to submit artwork for our juried online art exhibition, Nature.
We welcome submissions from a variety of media, including but not limited to: painting, drawing, digital painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, textiles, and mixed media.
Awards: Interviews and other publications are featured in the print edition of UPWARD’s magazine and on the website, digital certificate, and personal artist page on the gallery website. The exhibition will be promoted online via our website and social media channels.
Fee: $15 for entry, $12 (2-4 entries), $10 (5 or more entries).
Deadline: March 30, 2026
Visit https://upwardgallery.com/ad/competitions/129/nature for a full information.
The UPWARD Gallery was founded in 2021. Our online platform is designed to share art with new audiences using modern technologies. We assist emerging artists in gaining recognition and established artists in expanding their influence.
OPEN CALL TO ARTISTS — THE RUNNING FENCE RUN: A RUN OF FREEDOM — 50th Anniversary Celebration of Christo’s Running Fence
About the Call
In September 1976, Christo and Jeanne-Claude stretched 24.5 miles of billowing white nylon across the golden hills of Sonoma and Marin counties, down to the Pacific Ocean at Estero Americano. The Running Fence stood for just fourteen days — but changed the definition of art forever.
Fifty years later, The Running Fence Run: A Run of Freedom invites artists to respond to that legacy. Why did Christo call his works “a scream of freedom?” What does it feel like to run? What stories do the hills of Sonoma and Marin hold — stories of Coast Miwok and Pomo peoples, of dairy farmers and landowners, of a stateless refugee who fled Communist Bulgaria finding citizenship in America?
Runners will bring their best performance to the 5K, 10K, Half, and Marathon footrace in Bloomsfield, California. We want artists to bring their best creative works to make this celebration both performance and art.
This is your canvas. Run with it.
Themes
We invite work inspired by any of the following:
- Christo and Jeanne-Claude — their artworks, life, and legacy
- The Marathon and the running spirit — from Pheidippides to Frank Shorter to the open road
- The landscapes of Sonoma and Marin — golden hills, coastal grasslands, Americano Creek, the Pacific
- Freedom — political, personal, artistic, or physical
Who Should Apply
Artists of all backgrounds and experience levels are encouraged to apply. We welcome painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, mixed media, textile, illustration, and digital art. Work must be original and not previously published.
Exhibition & Publication
Winners will receive cash prizes of $300 (1st), $200 (2nd), and $100 (3rd), paid in U.S. dollars via PayPal. All winners must have the ability to receive payments through PayPal. The winning art may be featured on race bibs and t-shirts.
Selected works will be exhibited on-line and at the post-race Art and Music Festival at La Plaza Park, Cotati, California on September 12, 2026.
Deadline August 3, 2026
Entry Fees: $15.00 for each entry. Maximum five (5) entries. A payment link will be sent to you upon request for application to the contest.
For submission form and payment link, email to art@runningfencerun.org, Subject: Art Contest.
Gallery Gala 2026 – Submit for Free!
Blue Line Arts invites artists working in all mediums to submit one original artwork for inclusion in this year’s Gallery Gala – Benefit Art Auction, a premier fundraising event celebrating creativity, community, and cultural access.
This elegant evening will feature a live and silent auction, hearty appetizers, cocktails, and a special performance. Your contribution will directly support Blue Line Arts’ mission to provide free, high-quality arts programming for the public while advocating for artists as essential contributors to a thriving community.
Why Submit?
Your participation helps us:
Provide Opportunities for Artists
- Support commissions, public art projects, artist talks, solo exhibitions, internships, and our Art at Work program.
Promote Professional Development
- Offer low- or no-cost professional development and internship opportunities that empower artists to thrive as administrators and entrepreneurs.
Advocate for Fair Compensation
- Break the “starving artist” myth by reinforcing fair pay and supporting a sustainable creative economy.
Foster Community Health
- Ensure free access to exhibitions that build empathy, pride, and mental wellbeing in our region.
Upgrade Gallery Spaces
- Improve infrastructure to maintain a modern, welcoming space for artists and visitors alike.
Benefits of Participation
- Engage with a supportive arts community and network of collectors
- Gain visibility during one of our most high-profile events of the year
- Contribute meaningfully to a nonprofit dedicated to equity, access, and artistic excellence
Application Requirements
Application Fee: None!
This opportunity is free to apply for.
Submission Requirements
- Artwork Images: at least 1, up to 10
- Artist Statement (optional)
Artists must indicate their preferred commission rate at the time of submission:
- Donate 100%
- Receive 75% of final sale
- Receive 50% of final sale
- Receive 25% of final sale
Image Specifications
- Between 1mb and 3mb in size
- Minimum of 1200 px on one side
- Images must be in JPG format
- Name your JPGs as follows: Artist Name-Artwork Title.jpg
- All media accepted; 2D and 3D welcome
Eligibility Criteria
- All 2-D works must be ready to hang
- Artwork must be exhibition-ready (framed or otherwise professionally presented) and suitable for display.
- You must be 18 years or older to apply.
- Open to artists in the United States to apply
- Artwork that has been previously exhibited at Blue Line Arts is allowed
- All artwork must be for sale
- Open to artists working in all media.
- All submitted work must be the property of the artist and available for sale through the auction.
Size Limitations
- Art must be able to enter through the doors with a clearance of 94”h x 91”w
- Ceilings in the gallery are 10 feet high
- Nothing over 60 lbs will be accepted
Artist Commission Options
Artists may choose to:
- Donate 100% of auction proceeds to Blue Line Arts
- Or receive 25%, 50%, or 75% of the final auction sale price
This flexible model allows you to contribute in a way that aligns with your values and financial needs.
Important Dates
Submission Deadline: June 19th, 2026
Notification of Acceptance: July 10th, 2026
Shipping Deadline (the last day artworks should be mailed out by): July 31st, 2026
Artwork Drop-Off Dates: Sunday August 9th and Monday August 11th, 2026 from 10am to 3pm
Event Date: October 10th, 2026
Pick-Up Any Unsold Artwork: Friday October 16th and Saturday October 17th from 11am to 5pm
Shipping/Delivery Information
The artist is responsible for paying for all shipping to the gallery and we are expecting for the selected work to go home with an event attendee by the end of the evening. If there are any artworks that do not receive bids during the event, they will be added to a last chance silent auction.
Questions?
Contact Blue Line Arts at gallery@bluelinearts.org
Together, let’s champion the arts, celebrate creativity, and invest in a culturally vibrant future.
