Artist Funding Opportunities October 2025: Over $500K+ Available
- Forbidden Fruit
- 6 days ago
- 11 min read
Funding Opportunities for Artists: October 2025
October marks the harvest season for funding-a time when major institutions roll out their most substantial opportunities before year-end. This month brings everything from career-defining fellowships offering up to $90,000 to quick-turnaround micro-grants, plus residencies that combine serious stipends with dedicated creative time.
This artist funding opportunities October 2025 guide includes over $500,000 in combined support across grants, residencies, and open calls. Whether you're chasing a major project grant, seeking focused time at a prestigious residency, or ready to exhibit your work, this roundup covers deadlines through early November to help you plan your applications strategically.
Remember:
Read the full guidelines – Requirements can change from year to year.
Check eligibility – Many grants have location or discipline-specific criteria.
Prepare your materials early – Some applications require work samples, proposals, or letters of recommendation.
Grants to Fund Your Creative Work
October delivers substantial funding across all career stages - from $2,500 grants for Philadelphia change-makers to $50,000 awards for established visual artists, plus specialized support for sculptors, photographers, and community-engaged creatives.
October Deadlines
October 3: Causability Creator Grant – Unrestricted grants enabling creators to collaborate with local nonprofits and develop impactful programs benefiting underserved or socio-economically marginalized communities through the arts.
October 6: Alex J. Ettl Grant – Awards $7,500 annually to a figurative or realist sculptor, providing serious funding for artists working in three-dimensional form.
October 6: Marilyn Newmark Memorial Grant – Provides $5,000 specifically for sculptors specializing in animal sculpture, honoring work that captures the natural world.
October 10: Verdant Fund Project Grants (Alabama) – Supports Alabama-based individual artists, artist-curators, collectives, or collaboratives with grants up to $7,000. Priority goes to women artists, artists of color, artists with disabilities, rural Alabama artists, and LGBTQ artists.
October 15: Forecast Project Grants for Minnesota-Based Artists – Five $10,000 grants support mid-career public artists creating new, publicly accessible artwork anywhere in Minnesota. Open to all disciplines including performance, dance, storytelling, photography, film, sculpture, and painting.
October 17: Craft Research Fund Grant – Awards up to $15,000 to support new and interdisciplinary research about craft in the United States, funding scholars and practitioners exploring craft's cultural significance.
October 31: Sonntag Grant for Photography (Berlin) – This annual grant awards €3,000 (approximately $3,300) to FLINTA artists (female, lesbian, inter, non-binary, trans, agender) for project development. The focus is giving time, support, and visibility to artists reflecting on the world thoughtfully.
November Deadlines
November 1: Artadia Awards: Houston – Provides unrestricted financial support, exposure, and recognition to contemporary visual artists making work for presentation in contemporary art contexts. Artists can use funds however they choose.
November 4: MAKE Thesis Grants (International) – Champions emerging animation talent by funding original animated thesis projects. Senior BFA/BA and MFA/MA animation students can win $3,000 for first place, $2,000 for second, and $1,000 for third.
November 7: Bi-Monthly Community Impact Micro Grant (Long Island, NY) – Provides up to $2,500 for arts-centered programs with demonstrable impact on Nassau and Suffolk county communities. Applicants may apply for two distinct programs, potentially receiving up to $5,000 total for the calendar year.
November 7: Charlene Victor and Ella J. Weiss Cultural Entrepreneur Fund (Brooklyn) – Supports professional development of Brooklyn's emerging and mid-career women artists and arts administrators with $2,500 awards, helping creatives leverage their passions with entrepreneurial skills.
November 7: Creative Equations Fund (Brooklyn) – Awards up to $10,000 each to community-engaged artists, arts organizations, cultural entrepreneurs, and researchers dedicating their creativity to solving social problems through arts for social justice.
November 7: Brooklyn Arts Council Local Arts Support – Helps develop high-quality local arts projects and programs focused on community engagement, designed for nonprofit organizations and artist-nonprofit partnerships.
November 7: Brooklyn Arts Fund – Provides grants between $2,500-$5,000 for arts and cultural projects contributing to creative experiences for Brooklyn audiences.
Rolling Deadlines
South Arts Artist Creative Practice Grant – Supports career-enhancing opportunities for artists in the South Arts region with grants up to $3,000 for activities between November 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, including milestone career activities.
Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grants – Provides one-year grants up to $50,000 for painters, sculptors, and artists working on paper, including printmakers. Covers both professional work expenses and personal needs for actively exhibiting artists.
Musicians Foundation Grants – Offers one-time financial assistance to professional music performers, composers/arrangers, and educators facing unexpected hardships including medical situations, natural disasters, or housing crises.
Innovate Artist Grants – Distributes two $1,800 grants quarterly to one visual artist and one photographer, plus features 12 honorable mentions on their platform, building community among emerging talent.
Gottlieb Foundation Emergency Grants – Provides interim financial assistance up to $15,000 (typical award $5,000) to qualified painters, printmakers, and sculptors whose needs result from unforeseen, catastrophic incidents.
Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grants – The only active multidisciplinary program offering immediate, project-based assistance ranging from $500-$3,000 (average $1,900) to artists living anywhere in the United States for U.S. and international projects.
Open Calls for Exhibitions & Competitions
October presents diverse opportunities for artists to connect with new audiences and build visibility, from community exhibitions and international art fairs to major public art commissions that engage directly with the communities where work will live. October Deadlines
October 4: Morton Fiber Show (Rhinecliff, NY) – Morton Memorial Library invites textile artists including knitters, quilters, rug hookers, embroiderers, crocheters, weavers, and spinners to share their creations for an art opening and community exhibition.
October 12: 2026 Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition (Chicago) – Griffin Museum of Science and Industry presents works from professional and emerging Black artists from across the U.S., plus Black teen artists from Chicagoland. $10 application fee; teen category submissions are free.
October 14: Direct Purchase of Completed Work for University of Nebraska Lincoln Westbrook Music Building – Maximum $132,000 allocated for artwork purchases. Committee has full discretion on selection and placement. Only submit works priced between $1,000-$20,000. Framing and installation handled professionally.
October 14: Aesthetic Dynamics (Rome, Italy) – Photographers, visual designers, and video artists submit 1-3 works addressing aesthetic elaborations inspired by organic world studies, scientific discoveries, and technological inventions creating fluid and dynamic shapes inspired by nature.
October 27: Rough Gems (Denver) – Union Hall Art Space accepts proposals for 2026 cycle of this curatorial incubator designed to uplift emerging voices. Artists, cultural producers, and aspiring curators submit proposals for original exhibitions pushing boundaries and sparking conversation.
October 29: Little Animals Collage Challenge (Asheville, NC) – Collage exhibition challenging artists to start with the same image and transform it into something else using collage in its loosest definition.
October 31: apexart Open Call (New York City) – Opportunities for artists, curators, and other professionals to turn their curatorial idea into an apexart exhibition in NYC.
November Deadlines
November 1: Open Source Call for 2027 Exhibitions (Brooklyn, NY) – Invites applications from artists working in any medium and location whose practices emphasize experimentation, sustainability, and social engagement. Selected artists receive W.A.G.E. certified artist fees, production budget, and support for planning, production, and communications.
November 1: Jada B. Gonzales Artist Series (Albuquerque, NM) – Visiting artist and speaker program allowing recognized artists to come to Albuquerque Academy's campus to inspire, inform, and enhance students' creativity and knowledge of the arts.
November 1: Purgatory Comics Press, Vol. II: Rot – Accepting comics, strips, essays, collages, fake ads, and other creative work for newest anthology under the theme "Rot."
November 7: Booooooom Illustration Awards (U.S.) – Five winners across five categories plus 20 shortlisted illustrators featured in special print publication. Prize includes cash pool of $7,500 plus special product award bundles. Everyone can submit one image free; members submit unlimited entries.
Rolling Deadlines
Open Call for Discovery Art Fair Frankfurt (International) – International galleries, project groups, and individual artists showcase work at this German art fair, profiting from Frankfurt and Rhine-Main-Area's high density of capital and collectors. Fair runs November 6-9.
Art in City Hall Exhibition Application (Philadelphia) – Philadelphia's Office of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy invites cultural community to present proposals for display cases on 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th floors of historic City Hall. Program provides platform for diverse cultural organizations to amplify community voices and foster healing through visual arts. Local nonprofits and cultural organizations welcome; does not present solo exhibitions.
Residencies & Fellowships: Time and Space to Create
October opens doors to immersive residencies and fellowship opportunities designed to give artists dedicated time away from daily pressures, whether you're seeking community with fellow creatives, mentorship from established practitioners, or simply uninterrupted space to push your practice in new directions.
October Deadlines
October 5: Visual AIDS Research Fellowship – Provides four fellows with $1,000 research stipends and editorial support to conduct research on artists lost to AIDS, drawing on the Visual AIDS Archive Project and other archival collections.
October 7: Studio Museum in Harlem Artist-in-Residence Program – Offers 24/7 access to private studio space, shared lounge, individual studio visits with curatorial staff, and a $37,500 stipend paid biweekly throughout the year. Artwork created culminates in an exhibition.
October 10: 2026 New Mexico Arts Artist Residency – Sandia Mountain Natural History Center – Six-week residency with $14,000 budget for artists to reside and work in Cedar Crest, NM. Artists interact with the land, culture, and visitor center, culminating in public engagement through talks, exhibitions, workshops, or installations.
October 10: Nacán Art Residency (Dominican Republic) – One week to three-month residency immersing artists in pristine tropical forest with beach access. Open internationally to visual artists, musicians, producers, writers, thinkers, and photographers engaging with local community and cultural traditions.
October 12: Oregon Contemporary Curator in Residence – Offers mid-career curators a research residency culminating in a major 2027 group exhibition. Includes spring 2026 Portland visit, up to one month at Sitka in fall 2026, $8,000 curatorial honorarium, plus $500 per week during residency.
October 13: Edward F. Albee Foundation Winter/Spring Residency (Montauk, NY) – Located two miles from Montauk center and the Atlantic Ocean, "The Barn" offers privacy and peaceful atmosphere for writers and visual artists. Includes private bedroom, studio, and food stipend, selected on talent and need alone.
October 13: Artist INC Live (Lawrence, Kansas) – Helps artists of all backgrounds and disciplines learn to grow careers and handle entrepreneurial challenges. Open to painters, musicians, writers, performers, and more residing in Lawrence, Kansas.
October 15: Art Omi: Writers Residency (Ghent, NY) – One-month residencies for published writers and translators of every type of literature throughout spring and fall in rural New York.
October 15: Art Omi: Music Residency – Invites ten to twelve musicians and composers for two and a half weeks of uniquely collaborative music-making.
October 15: Art Omi: Architecture Residency – Two-and-a-half week residency for 10 early- to mid-career architects to develop their work in Ghent, New York.
October 15: Art Omi: Artists Residency – Invites artists, critics, and curators to gather in rural New York to experiment, collaborate, and share ideas.
October 16: Quinn Emanuel Artists-in-Residence Program (Los Angeles) – Four-month residency for emerging and mid-career artists across all disciplines in Greater Los Angeles. Includes studio space in Quinn Emanuel's LA office, $5,000 monthly stipend ($20,000 total), plus up to $1,500 for art materials.
October 29: Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans – Merit-based funding for New Americans (immigrants and children of immigrants) pursuing graduate or professional school. Thirty fellowships support one to two years of graduate study in any field at any U.S. institution, up to $90,000 total.
October 31: Next Jazz Legacy – National apprenticeship and mentorship program elevating emerging jazz improvisers. Comprehensive support package includes intergenerational mentorship, performance showcases at major jazz festivals, professional networking, and financial resources for creative and career development.
October 31: Mudhouse Residency Early Acceptance – 2026 (Crete, Greece) – Artist residency in the village of Agios Ioannis providing inspiration from stunning natural beauty, solitude for creative growth, artistic community, and immersive cultural experience within rich historical context.
October 31: Better Together Residency (Tacoma, WA) – Hot-shop focused residency dedicated to supporting BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) artists, providing up-and-coming glass artists opportunity to expand their body of work or explore new creative directions.
October 31: Pilchuck Emerging Artist in Residence Program (Stanwood, WA) – Supports knowledgeable artists making professional transitions, providing space and time to develop ideas, projects, or new body of work in glass.
October 31: Pilchuck Artist in Residence Program – Pairs artists with expert glass fabricators and assistants to experiment with bringing glass into their practice, adding it to their vocabulary of work.
October 31: Pilchuck Fellowship – Dynamic professional development and educational program supporting emerging artists pursuing glass careers. Comprehensive program eliminates financial barriers while offering fellows chances to refine creative practice and build professional skills.
October 31: Tallgrass Artist Residency (Matfield Green, Kansas) – Offers individual artists or teams time and space in rural tallgrass prairie setting. Includes 10 nights lodging at Matfield Station, 20 miles from Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, plus $650 stipend for travel and material reimbursement.
November Deadlines
November 1: Iris Residency Fellowship (Western/Central Massachusetts) – Awards two artists based in Western or Central Massachusetts who are foreign-born or identify as first or second generation American.
November 1: SOS ART Artist in Residence (Various Locations) – Designed to encourage creators engaging with themes of peace and justice in their artistic practice.
November 1: The Studios at MASS MoCA (North Adams, MA) – Year-round program hosting up to 10 artists at a time for 2-4 week stays, primarily seeking visual artists and writers in all literary disciplines.
November 3: Ransom Center 2026-2027 Fellowship Program (Austin, TX) – Awards about 50 research fellowships including 10 dissertation fellowships. One- to two-month fellowships and travel stipends support scholars whose projects require substantial on-site use of the Center's humanities collections.
November 7: A.I.R. Fellowship Program (Brooklyn, NY) – Awards six local emerging and underrepresented women and non-binary artists with their first solo exhibition, professional development programming, curatorial support, and mentorship.
Rolling Deadlines
Steel Yard Micro-Residencies (Providence, RI) – One to three-month residencies helping artists grow their creative industrial art practice. Ideal for completing specific projects, commissions, or prototypes. Hosts one ceramics and one metals micro-resident at a time.
ART14 Residency (Los Angeles) – Self-prescribed objectives in conjunction with L.a. Studio community's art outreach. Welcomes all types of artists, writers, and musicians of all skill levels. Encourages exploration of new media and local community engagement.
Indigo Arts Alliance Mentorship Residency Program (Northeast U.S.) – Brings together artists from diverse backgrounds of the African Diaspora to engage in creative process while building relationships rooted in co-mentorship. Open to all disciplines from Northeast region.
Stochastic Labs Residencies (Berkeley, CA) – Fully-sponsored residencies of variable length for exceptional engineers, artists, scientists, and entrepreneurs. Includes private apartment, co-working or dedicated work space, shop access, monthly stipend, and materials budget. Open to individuals or teams.
Ready to Apply? Documentation Best Practices
Professional documentation can make or break your application. Funders and curators need to see your work clearly, and poor images or videos suggest a lack of professionalism regardless of the artwork's quality. Quality documentation demonstrates respect for your practice and makes it easy for panelists to advocate for your work.
📌 Pro Tip: Mastering Professional Photography and Video Submissions
Invest strategically in professional photography – Hire a professional for your 8-10 strongest pieces that will anchor your portfolio across multiple applications. Professional lighting, color accuracy, and composition matter especially for work with subtle textures, reflective surfaces, or specific color relationships. Budget $50-150 per piece and treat these images as infrastructure for your practice. These investments pay off across years of applications.
Create consistency in DIY documentation – For pieces you photograph yourself, develop a repeatable system: same neutral background, natural indirect light (north-facing window), camera at consistent height and distance. Photograph flat work straight-on to avoid distortion. Use free tools like Adobe Lightroom Mobile for color correction. Always shoot multiple angles and details - you can't restage a performance or temporary installation later.
Master video documentation basics – Time-based and performance work needs clean audio and tight editing. Invest in a basic external microphone ($30-100) - audio quality affects viewer engagement as much as visuals. Edit submissions to 2-4 minutes showing your strongest moments rather than documenting everything. Add simple title cards with work title, date, and duration. Use Vimeo for professional, ad-free presentation.
Organize files with professional naming systems – Create a consistent structure: "LastName_WorkTitle_Year_01.jpg" makes files easy to locate and looks professional when submitted. Maintain a master folder with subfolders for each work containing hi-res originals, web-optimized versions, installation views, and detail shots. When applications require specific file sizes, you won't waste precious deadline hours resizing emergency exports.
Document context and process, not just finished work – Capture installation views showing scale and spatial relationships that isolated object shots miss. Photograph studio process, material tests, and conceptual development. These "secondary" images often become your most compelling application materials - they demonstrate technical skill, show how you think through problems, and are especially valuable for residency applications emphasizing experimentation and research.
Stay Connected
We're taking a brief pause from our grant writing workshops but keep an eye out keep an eye out for upcoming workshop announcements with Asimina Chremos, Crux, & Stonez. Looking for more artist opportunities, funding updates, and creative resources?
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October's harvest of opportunities sets the stage for strong year-end momentum - here's to finding the funding and space that moves your practice forward.
