Calls for Artists
Browse our curated list of juried exhibitions, solo shows, group shows, festivals, and more calls for artists in Northeast Ohio.
DEADLINE: December 9th, 2025
Look of Winter Juried Art Competition ↗
Louisville Nimishillen Historical Society
Juried show with a winter theme. Enter up to 2 works of art, created from 2022-2025. $20 entry fee for one or two pieces. Entries open Nov. 1 and close Dec. 9. Show dates run from January 24-February 19, 2026, at AHH Gallery in Louisville, Nimishillen Historical Society in Louisville, Ohio.
DEADLINE: December 14th, 2025
23rd Kaleidoscope Juried Art Exhibition ↗
Summit Artspace
DEADLINE EXTENDED - The Kaleidoscope Juried Exhibition is an annual holiday show presented by the Alliance for the Visual Arts (AVA), scheduled for March 6 – April 25, 2026. This show is open to all members of AVA organizations: Akron Society of Artists (ASA), Artists of Rubber City (AoRC), Cuyahoga Valley Art Center (CVAC), Medina County Art League (MCAL), Ohio Collage Society (OSC), and Women’s Art League of Akron (WAL). Juror: Dr. Jeffrey Katzin, Senior Curator, Akron Art Museum
DEADLINE: December 14th, 2025
BIPOC+ Artists Funded Exhibition ↗
Summit Artspace
DEADLINE EXTENDED - Summit Artspace invites local BIPOC+ (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) artists to apply for a funded exhibition in our Main Gallery located on the first floor of Summit Artspace. Solo and small group exhibitions (up to 3 artists) may be proposed. A total stipend of $1,250 will be awarded to selected artist(s) to create the exhibition.
#Akron #solo exhibition #group exhibition #no application fee
DEADLINE: December 15th, 2025
2026 BorderLight Festival branding ↗
BorderLight Theatre Festival
BorderLight Theatre Festival is looking for artwork for festival materials including posters, digital promotions, merchandise, and more. Complete the 2-minute form with a link to your portfolio or examples of your work. Payment: $100 for 3 color sketch concepts and $700 for final artwork.
DEADLINE: December 19th, 2025
Public Art for Neff Park RFQ ↗
City of Cleveland
The City of Cleveland, Ohio, through its Public Art Program, is requesting qualifications from Northeast Ohio-based artists, designers, or teams thereof who may be interested in producing a public artwork to accompany the renovation of Neff Park, located at 961 E. 193rd St., in the Collinwood neighborhood.
DEADLINE: December 20th, 2025
Art Detour: Brewster–Navarre Sculpture Project ↗
Visit Canton and ArtsinStark
Visit Canton and ArtsinStark are launching Art Detour, a new public art initiative designed to bring high-impact artwork to rural and visitor-destination areas of Stark County. Open to professional artists living in Ohio. Up to $15,000 budget.
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.
DEADLINE: January 1st, 2026
2026 Renaissance Box Residency ↗
Kaiser Studios
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 4th, 2026
Towpath Trail Lantern Parade ↗
Canalway
Canalway Partners is seeking five artists/groups to create large-scale lanterns from recycled and upcycled materials for the fifth annual Towpath Trail Lantern Parade hosted by Canalway on March 7, 2026. Artists will receive a stipend of $1,000.
DEADLINE: January 9th, 2026
Boston Mills Artfest ↗
Boston Mills Ski Resort
Boston Mills is now accepting applications for the 52st annual 2026 Boston Mills Artfest, a celebration of Fine Art and Contemporary Craft, a nationally recognized juried festival that has delighted art lovers for over five decades. Hosted and produced by the beautiful Boston Mills Ski Resort, a Vail Resort in Peninsula, Ohio. Boston Mills I: June 25-June 28 and Boston Mills II: July 3-July 5.
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 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.
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.
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 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: 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.