Calls for Artists
Browse our curated list of juried exhibitions, solo shows, group shows, festivals, and more calls for artists in Northeast Ohio.
Visual Art Workshop Instructors ↗
Valley Art Center
Valley Art Center is looking for Visual Art Instructors to teach 1- to 3-day workshops for adults in their preferred medium. Subjects include drawing, painting, ceramics, fibers, printmaking and/or mixed media. Pay starts at $30/hr. Email the following to edu@valleyartcenter.org (a) Examples of your artwork/website link (b) Short bio (c) Resume (d) Workshop proposal (4-6 sentences)
DEADLINE: January 15th, 2026
Digital Weaving Residencies ↗
Praxis Fiber Workshop
Apply to be a Digital Weaving Resident for a 2-week residency between July and December 2026. DWL AIR is a 2-week residency program that provides private working space and access to our TC2 loom, staff support, studio facilities, and equipment.
DEADLINE: January 15th, 2026
Valentine Show ↗
Screw Factory
Artists are invited to take part in The Screw Factory's Valentine’s Day Art Market event. Show your art, sell handmade work, and connect with visitors in a fun, creative setting. February 6 & 7th, 2026
DEADLINE: January 16th, 2026
Call for Participating Artists ↗
BorderLight Theatre Festival
BorderLight Fringe invites artists to apply to the BorderLight Fringe Festival 2026, returning to Cleveland’s Playhouse Square District July 8–11, 2026. The festival showcases self-produced work by local, national, and international artists across all genres — theatre, movement, music, performance art, immersive experiences, and more. Participating artists receive 60% of ticket revenue for ticketed shows, or an artist stipend for free and site-specific performances. BorderLight provides venue, box office, marketing, and technical support to help artists focus on their work.
DEADLINE: January 16th, 2026
Kilcawley Center RFQ - Ohio Percent for Art/Youngstown State ↗
Ohio Arts Council
Youngstown State University (YSU) is inviting Ohio and national artists to submit up to nine (9) digital images of past work and a pdf of a combined resume/artist statement for the Youngstown State Kilcawley Center Percent for Art Project commission.
DEADLINE: January 16th, 2026
The Power of Dreaming Student Juried Exhibition ↗
The Foundry
The Foundry is holding their 4th Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition open to Middle and High School students from The Foundry’s Partner Organizations, Teams in Residence, and all schools within the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. The theme is the Power of Dreaming. Cash prizes.
DEADLINE: January 16th, 2026
2026 Renaissance Box Residency ↗
Kaiser Studios
DEADLINE EXTENDED - Kaiser Studios invites artists and STEM professionals to apply for the 2026 Renaissance Box Residency Program, a unique 12-week immersive residency in Cleveland, Ohio. $1,000 stipend, 24/7 access to dedicated studio space, mentorship, public exhibition.
DEADLINE: January 19th, 2026
Forget Me Not: Memories of Unwritten Chapters Exhibition ↗
Photo Cleveland
To coincide with February and the theme of love surrounding it, Photo Cleveland is looking for submissions that express your personal experience associated with love in the context of memories encompassing loss, regret, longing, things left unsaid, and what it means to you. Opening February 7 at The Brownhoist.
DEADLINE: January 21st, 2026
Graphic Design Services ↗
Canalway
Canalway seeks qualifications from graphic designers to develop digital assets and design graphics for event marketing and communications materials on an as-needed basis, beginning with the development of digital Canva templates for a minimum of four events. The selected design professional would be engaged, on an hourly basis as needed, for the services outlined in the RFQ.
DEADLINE: January 24th, 2026
Winter Exhibition ↗
Cuyahoga Valley Art Center
Celebrate the start of a new artistic year by entering CVAC’s Winter Exhibition, January 27 – March 5, 2026, a juried showcase highlighting the creativity and diverse interests of our practicing artist community. Seven submission categories: Watercolor Media, Water-Based Media, Oil-Based Media, Dry Media, Mixed Media, 3-Dimensional Media, and Photographic Media. Open theme. Drop off Jan. 23 & 24.
DEADLINE: January 24th, 2026
Twin Peaks Night Market ↗
Extraordinaire Photos
Apply to the Twin Peaks Night Market at 78th Street Studios February 24th, 6–10pm - an immersive, surreal evening where art, mystery, and nostalgia collide, brought to you by Extraordinaire Photos and Birdtown Botanical Oddities. Seeking vendors whose work leans into the uncanny, the offbeat, the beautiful, and the bizarre—artists, makers, collectors, and creators who thrive in the liminal space between reality and the dream world.
DEADLINE: January 25th, 2026
Mass Hysteria exhibition ↗
The Art Gallery of Willoughby
The Art Gallery is seeking art pertaining to the uterus or womb for the 1st Annual Mass Hysteria exhibit. The exhibit will open on February 27, 2026 at The Art Gallery in Willoughby Ohio. Send up to 5 submissions to tagofwill@gmail.com with titles and dimensions.
DEADLINE: January 29th, 2026
Hip Hop is History ↗
LemonChrystal
LemonChrystal is seeking artwork submissions for hip hop portraits and hiphop culture inspired 2d, 3d artwork, Fashion and installations for Hip Hop is History scheduled for March 27, 2026.
ALT St Market Vendors ↗
Alt Street Market
Alt St Mkt seeks high-quality artists & makers who create spooky, horror, indie, eclectic, macabre, oddities, quirky, colorful, vintage and upcycle wares for their May 2nd indoor market at the Summit County Fairground Arena. Applications will start being reviewed in January and acceptance emails will go out in waves through March.
DEADLINE: February 6th, 2026
2nd Annual Music & Art Juried Exhibition ↗
Akron Symphony Orchestra
The Akron Symphony Orchestra invites artists to participate in the 2nd Annual Music and Art Juried Concert Exhibition, held in conjunction with the performance of Mozart & Vivaldi on March 7, 2026 at E.J. Thomas Hall. This unique event provides an opportunity to showcase your music-inspired artwork to an engaged audience of music and art enthusiasts. No submission fee. No commission. Cash prizes.
DEADLINE: February 10th, 2026
Echo Artist Residency Program ↗
SPACES
SPACES is excited to announce the Echo Artist Residency Program with an open call for artists to propose projects for 2027. Each season, SPACES selects one local artist from Northeast Ohio and one artist from outside the region. These two artists form a peer cohort, fostering the exchange of ideas, techniques, and networks.
Featured art at Events + Retail marketplace ↗
Stark County Minority Business Association
SCMBA is seeking artists to feature artwork inside the Kirk Schuring Business Development Center and Marketplace on 10th. Your work will be displayed where it can be seen by entrepreneurs, professionals, and community members during events, meetings, and inside an active retail marketplace with opportunities to sell your pieces. 85% artist profit / 15% SCMBA
DEADLINE: February 13th, 2026
2026 Emerging Artist Residency ↗
Orange Art Center
Early-career artists in Northeast Ohio are invited to apply for OAC’s 2026 Emerging Artist Residency. This competitive opportunity offers 4 to 16 weeks of dedicated studio time, mentorship from arts professionals, and a solo exhibition at the Orange Art Center.
DEADLINE: February 13th, 2026
Canton Artist's League 2026 Exhibition ↗
Canton Museum of Art
The Canton Museum of Art presents a juried exhibition of artists from Canton Artists League from March 17, 2026 – April 5, 2026. Canton Artists League is a welcome forum for all artists, photographers, and craftspeople to meet and help further their creativity through exhibits, workshops, and a shared bond of talent and imagination.
DEADLINE: February 15th, 2026
Art by the Falls 2026 ↗
Valley Art Center
Valley Art Center is accepting applications for its 42nd Annual Art by the Falls outdoor fine arts and contemporary crafts festival held June 6-7, 2026. This juried festival of 160+ artists draws 25,000+ patrons to Cleveland Metroparks Polo Field. Awards.
DEADLINE: February 28th, 2026
Women's Show 2026 ↗
Ashtabula Arts Center
Held every March in celebration of Women’s History Month, the annual Women’s Show is a juried exhibit open to work by both cis and trans women artists, on display during the month of March. Drop-off: Feb 25-28 during regular business hours. Cash prizes. Juror: Cath Smith.
DEADLINE: March 7th, 2026
Figurative Exhibition ↗
Cuyahoga Valley Art Center
Artists are invited to submit works for consideration for CVAC’s Figurative Exhibition, a juried showcase that invites bold creativity and a wide range of artistic interpretations. Exhibition Dates: March 10 – April 16, 2026. Cash prizes. Drop off March 6 or 7.
DEADLINE: March 31st, 2026
Summer Festival of the Arts ↗
Youngstown State University
The Summer Festival of the Arts is designed to promote the diversity of art in the Mahoning Valley. The event’s centerpiece is a juried arts festival that equally welcomes regional and national fine art and fine craft artists and showcases a range of performing artists. Cash awards. Festival dates: July 11-12, 2026. Early bird deadline: January 31.
DEADLINE: June 3rd, 2026
Beachwood-Lyndhurst Art in the Village ↗
Howard Alan Events
Leading artists and fine crafters are invited to apply to the competitive art show in the affluent Cleveland suburb Lyndhurst-Beachwood held June 6-June 7 2026.
DEADLINE: July 15th, 2026
Art Fair in the Square 2026 ↗
FAVA
Firelands Association for the Visual Arts (FAVA), in partnership with the City of Oberlin, Ohio, invites artists and craftspeople of all mediums to register for the 4th annual FAVA's Art Fair in the Square in Oberlin, Ohio’s historic downtown Tappan Square on September 12, 2026.
Emerging Artist Exhibition Proposals ↗
McDonough Museum of Art
Call for submissions from new and emerging visual and performing/performance artists to McDonough Museum of Art, YSU's Center for Contemporary Art. A wide range of perspectives is encouraged. Must live within a 250-mile radius of Youngstown.
Ongoing Call for Exhibition Proposals ↗
Heights Arts
Heights Arts is accepting proposals for guest curators and exhibitions year-round, from individuals as well as groups residing in Northeast Ohio.
Exhibition Proposals ↗
Kelvin Smith Library
The Kelvin Smith Library (KSL) Exhibition Program welcomes exhibition proposals from the Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) community and from outside community members and organizations. KSL has several exhibition spaces supporting different types of exhibitions, including exhibits featuring the visual arts.
Exhibition Opportunity ↗
Cleveland Botanical Garden
Seeking artists to exhibit work connected to and inspired by botanical and natural worlds in three galleries at the Cleveland Botanical Garden throughout the year.
#Cleveland #University Circle #no application fee #rolling submissions
Fiber Class Proposals ↗
Praxis Fiber Workshop
Accepting class proposals on an ongoing basis. We love learning new techniques and welcome proposals dealing with fiber at any stage. We encourage innovative and experimental ideas. Formats may be 1 or 2-day Workshops or 3-5 week classes.
Solo Exhibition Proposals ↗
Ashtabula Arts Center
Apply for a solo exhibition at Ashtabula Arts Center using their solo show application form.
House Gallery Artists ↗
The Red Twig
Apply to be a consigned artist at the in-house art gallery at The Red Twig. Featuring over 1,000 square feet of display space, the gallery houses a variety of creative local and regional artists whose mediums range from paintings to sculptures, woodworking, and custom jewelry.
Exhibition Proposals ↗
The Galleries at Cleveland State University
The Galleries at Cleveland State University welcome proposals from artists, curators, and organizations that support their mission to educate, edify, and involve diverse audiences by presenting content that promotes the understanding of art and its relationship to society.
#Cleveland #Downtown #no application fee #rolling submissions
Apply to exhibit: Yellow Door Gallery ↗
The Red Twig
Apply to exhibit at Yellow Door Gallery in The Red Twig. The Red Twig hosts solo or duo exhibitions of local artists in their 800-square-foot curated exhibition space, Yellow Door Gallery.
Exhibition Proposals ↗
FAVA
FAVA (The Firelands Association for the Visual Arts) is accepting proposals from artists interested in exhibiting their work or curators interested in curating an exhibition at FAVA.
#Oberlin #group exhibition #solo exhibition #rolling submissions
Class Proposals ↗
FAVA
FAVA is looking for instructors! If you are a teaching artist near Oberlin, Ohio, and want to submit a proposal to teach a class or a few classes or teach during summer camp, submit your info online.
Teaching Artists ↗
Art House
Art House is currently accepting resumes for artists teaching in a range of different media. Art House provides art programming to a variety of groups, including early childhood, school-aged children, adults, and seniors. Programs take place onsite and offsite. Art House partners with diverse organizations and businesses and customizes programs to fit their needs.
Exhibition Proposals ↗
Phone Gallery
Phone Gallery is accepting proposals for exhibitions. Phone Gallery is Cleveland’s smallest art gallery and a creative space for visual arts display, with an emphasis on exposing emerging visual artists to the Greater Cleveland community and providing the Collinwood community with freely accessible art.
#Cleveland #Waterloo / Collinwood #rolling submissions #solo exhibition
Photo Poets: Street Photography ↗
CAN Journal
CAN Journal, Cleveland's magazine of the visual arts seeks street photography for a new quarterly feature. For consideration, email: ajajoiphoto@gmail.com Submissions will be accepted on an ongoing basis.
Artist of the Month Feature ↗
Kaiser Studios
Kaiser Studios is accepting submissions for their Artist of the Month feature! Each Artist of the Month will have their artwork promoted across their social media, website, and e-newsletter. They're looking for local, regional, and national artists working in any medium. No application fee.
#Cleveland #Online #feature #no application fee #rolling submissions
Sell art at Fiddlehead Gallery ↗
Fiddlehead Gallery
Fiddlehead carries over 40 independent women artists whose work spans various styles and mediums. Fiddlehead always seeks new works, especially in the folk and upcycle categories. Fiddlehead purchases outright when possible and offers generous consignment contracts and commission requests. Interested in selling at Fiddlehead? Send email to info@fiddleheadgallery.com with an artist statement, bio, and examples of your work.
Featured Artist in Ohio's Arts Newspaper ↗
The Scribe
Submit your art to The Scribe newspaper! Once a month, The Scribe features Ohio artists, authors, writers, musicians, filmmakers and more. There's no cost or licensing, and it is entirely free for artists. The Scribe is Ohio's first state-wide arts newspaper, and is stocked in 17 Ohio cities.
Exhibition Proposals ↗
The School of Art at Kent State University
Propose an exhibition in the Kent State University School of Art Galleries, KSU Downtown Gallery, located at 141 East Main Street, Kent, Ohio.
Fresh A.I.R Gallery Exhibition Opportunities ↗
Fresh A.I.R Gallery
Fresh A.I.R. Gallery (Artists in Recovery) in downtown Columbus, Ohio, has supported artists in recovery since 2004 and is currently seeking art submissions for upcoming exhibitions. Their one-of-a-kind mission-based gallery exclusively showcases the work of artists affected by mental illness and/or substance use disorders or whose work is about those subjects.
Solo Exhibition Proposals ↗
Curated Storefront
Curated Storefront's Studio Program, located at the Bounce Innovation Hub building in downtown Akron, invites students or recent graduates pursuing a BFA/BA or MFA in studio art at a regional university to show their work. Proposals for exhibitions are accepted on a rolling basis. Please email katie@curatedstorefront.org for more information and to apply.