Artist Opportunities

/CALLS FOR ART

The Twenty-First Annual College Show

Submission Deadline: December 18, 2024

Exhibition Run: February 13 - April 13, 2025

The Annual College Show is a juried exhibition open to all undergraduate college students studying or residing in Massachusetts, in any major. Cash prizes will be awarded and announced at the opening reception. This year’s juror is Deborah Santoro, Gallery Director of the University Gallery at UMass Lowell.

Monochrome: A Members' Exhibition in Partnership with the Fitchburg Art Museum

Registration Deadline: February 12, 2025

Exhibition Run: March 6 - April 13

Color is an essential element of visual art. Color, or the absence of it, shapes light, communicates emotions, attracts attention, and references culture. Artist members are asked to delve deeply into the dominant color of their choice, and respond to one (or more) of ten artworks on loan from the Fitchburg Art Museum.

Origin: A Juried Exhibition

Submission Deadline: March 13, 2025

Exhibition Run: May 8 - June 29, 2025

Everything starts somewhere. From childhood and lineage, to old stories and ancient myths, everything hails from an original point: a time in which the things we know began, and a time in which we ourselves began. Share an artwork that incorporates your idea of origin: a birthplace, cultural traditions, history, relationships, personal experiences, trends, or even materials. This show is created and produced by our arts administration apprenticeship program students, the Future Arts Workers of Worcester.

The Twenty-First ArtsWorcester Biennial, in partnership with the Worcester Art Museum

Submission Deadline: March 13, 2025

Exhibition Run: May  4 - July 9

Since 1985, the ArtsWorcester Biennial has shown some of the region’s best contemporary visual art. The tradition continues in 2025 with the 21st ArtsWorcester Biennial, juried by Francine Weiss, Ph.D., independent curator and arts consultant. In partnership with the Worcester Art Museum, the winner of the Sally Bishop Prize top honor will receive a $1,000 award and a solo exhibition at the WAM as part of their 2025-2026 season. Additional prizes will be awarded. The first one hundred and fifty artists to submit to the Biennial, regardless of acceptance status, will receive a complimentary one-year individual membership to WAM.

/ASSETS FOR ARTISTS

Individualized, artist-centered professional development.

ArtsWorcester is proud to be, with support from the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, the Worcester County home for Assets for Artists (A4A) Capacity Building Program. Applications are now open for this individualized, artist-centered professional development program that helps individuals strengthen and sustain their creative practice, pursue value-drive careers, and build their network.

/MATERIAL NEEDS GRANTS

Get funding. Make art.

Material Needs Grants support the expenses of supplies and materials for the creation of new art in Worcester County. ArtsWorcester annually distributes grants to local artists between $500 and $1,500. Artists who receive a Material Needs Grant go on to exhibit their work in a group show in our galleries.

/CORPORATE ART PROGRAM

Join the Art@Work Lookbook

The Art@Work program connects area businesses with artist members through curated corporate art exhibitions. In addition to inspiring creativity in workspaces and engaging employees, clients, and visitors, the Art@Work program supports artist members with a stipend for each artwork on loan. Learn more about how to add your artwork to the Art@Work Lookbook!

/MORE OPPORTUNITIES

Solo Exhibitions and Artist Shoeboxes

Each year, ArtsWorcester invites artists to submit exhibition proposals for the upcoming gallery season. Solo exhibitions may be placed in our galleries in the Printers Building, our partner space at the Davis Art Gallery, or recommended for our corporate art program. Artist Shoeboxes are opportunities for artists who are looking to produce compact installations or highlight a limited number of artworks.

The next call for exhibition proposals will open in Spring 2025.

Professional Development

Explore a collection of resources we have assembled to advance the careers of new, emerging, and established artists. Hone your artist statement, learn how to effectively promote your work, discover opportunities for all kinds of artists, and more.

Member-Curated Exhibitions

Member-curated shows offer experienced artists an opportunity for artists to use their curatorial skills and gain independent, hands-on experience producing an exhibition. Located in ArtsWorcester’s Central Corridor, these shows include at least 3-4 artist members’ work, chosen by one curator. Curators are responsible for communicating with participating artists, collecting, delivering, and retrieving artwork, providing an exhibition statement, and installing the exhibition in the Central Corridor.

/GENERAL INFORMATION

Submission guidelines

  • You must be a member of ArtsWorcester to submit artwork for juried shows or apply for grants. Membership fees are non-refundable.
  • Artwork must be original, completed in the last five years, and not previously shown at ArtsWorcester.
  • Two-dimensional or wall-mounted artwork must be exhibition-ready, with any required hardware, picture-hanging wire, and framing as appropriate. No saw-toothed hangers or clip frames will be accepted.
  • Size limitations vary from exhibition to exhibition; please check specific calls for detail.
  • Artists are responsible for delivery and pick-up of the work. We neither accept works by shipment, nor do we ship works back to their artists.
  • Artists receive sixty percent of each sale made through our galleries.

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