Open Calls for Artists in California

Find open calls, exhibitions, grants, and residencies for photographers and visual artists in California. Browse and apply today.

April 7, 2026 · $30

Five $5,000 grants: emerging, mid-career, landscape, LGBTQ+, and Monterey County resident photographers.

April 11, 2026 · $40

4th annual for LGBTQIA2+ community. Affirming truths and expressing resistance during Pride month. Mill Valley, CA.

April 12, 2026 · Free

Toy cameras, Polaroid, pinhole, photograms, and alternative processes. Exhibition at KALEID Gallery, San Jose, CA.

June 1, 2026 · Free

Unrestricted $15,000 grants for contemporary visual artists in SF Bay Area. Two-round jury with studio visits.

June 20, 2026 · $15

Seasonal competition for narrative-driven images. $150 first prize. The Image Flow gallery, San Anselmo, CA.

July 24, 2023 · $35

Cyanotype, wet plate collodion, salt printing, platinum/palladium, and other alternative photographic processes.

March 18, 2026 · $30–$50

Celebrating 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Exhibition during Photography Month Sacramento.

March 20, 2026 · $45

Monthly featured photographer showcase with global audience visibility. April 2026 in La Jolla, CA.

March 24, 2026 · $25–$200

Analog-only submissions exploring how photography creates space for camaraderie and interaction.

March 28, 2026 · $45

Film, digital, and alternative process photography including hybrid approaches. Exhibition in Los Angeles.

March 31, 2026 · $20

Celebrating unposed, unfiltered street moments revealing quiet truths and vivid stories of urban life.

March 31, 2026 · $30

Celebrating Asian American life through photography — identity, heritage, and community.

March 31, 2026 · $20–$40

15th annual curated competition for personal work. Juror: Chris Pichler (Nazraeli Press). 100 winners, printed catalogue.