Open Calls for Artists in California
Find open calls, exhibitions, grants, and residencies for photographers and visual artists in California. Browse and apply today.
No Theme Open Call 2026 · East Bay Photo Collective
May 30, 2026 · $35 / $20 student/low-income
Open-theme show at Oakland Photo Workshop. 30–45 in-person + 10–20 online. Bay Area artists. Opening Aug 7, 2026.
Headlands Center for the Arts AIR 2027
June 1, 2026 · $35 early bird; $45 regular
Fully sponsored 4–10 week residency in Sausalito, CA. Studio, meals, housing, travel covered. Photography eligible; ~60 artists/year.
Artadia Awards 2026 — San Francisco Bay Area
June 1, 2026 · Free
Unrestricted $15,000 grants for contemporary visual artists in SF Bay Area. Two-round jury with studio visits.
The Paula Riff Award 2026 · Center for Photographic Art
June 1, 2026 · Free
Award for alternative/experimental photography — lensless, historical processes, physical intervention. $1,000 + Lenscratch feature.
LUMINEX 4.0 · NOW Art
June 5, 2026 · Free
Outdoor art and technology exhibition in Los Angeles. $1,000 stipend per artist plus production support based on approved project.
Narrative · Chico Art Center
June 14, 2026 · $35/7 images
Photography exhibition on visual storytelling — documentary, street, conceptual, staged, or experimental approaches.
Photo of the Season — Worth a Thousand Words · The Image Flow
June 20, 2026 · $15
Seasonal competition for narrative-driven images. $150 first prize. The Image Flow gallery, San Anselmo, CA.
Recology San Francisco Artist-in-Residence Program 2027
September 1, 2026 · Free
Four-month residency at SF's recycling center — artists make work from discarded materials. Monthly stipend, studio access. Bay Area only.