
FIND LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES & RESOURCES
One of the biggest challenges artists have is finding opportunities to show their art and find financing. That is why Klee and I openly share everything we find.
Below is a list of resources we use to find opportunities. You can look through these yourself and see if you find anything helpful to you. As I run across more and more opportunities, I’ll add them here. IF ANY OF THE LINKS ARE NOT WORKING, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
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LOCAL OPEN CALLS, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR CREATIVES!
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04-15-26 Take it to the Streets In Oil City: First Fridays are Back!
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04-15-26 One to Behold: New Kensington’s Manos Gallery
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04-12-26 Painting Beyond the Studio: Join “Friends En Plein Air”
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04-12-26 Local Opportunities For Creatives
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04-05-26 Opportunities For Writers Western PA April 2026
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03-22-26 Creative Opportunities You Need to Know Through April 2026 In Western PA
OPEN CALL GALLERIES AND FESTIVALS THAT WE HAVE FOUND (Local)
Below is a list of Galleries and festivals links that we keep track of for open calls. Some of these have monthly, quarterly, or yearly open calls. Some of them are markets and/or festivals. This is simply the list we use to find things in and around Oil City that interest us for showing our stuff. We like keeping things affordable, so you may not see any big expensive venues on our list, unless it is worth is.
The Manos Gallery (New Kensington)
https://themanosgallery.webflow.io
Arts & Education at The Hoyt
https://hoytartcenter.org/art-artists/callforartists/
The Gallery At Penn College
https://www.pct.edu/gallery/exhibitions-entry-form
Hatch Hollow (Meadville)
https://www.hatchhollow.com/
City Gallery (Erie)
https://www.facebook.com/citygalleryerie
Clifford’s Carpets (Oil City)
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100051551304743
Red Brick Gallery (Foxburg)
https://alleghenyriverstone.org/red-brick/
10/20 Collective (Erie)
https://www.1020collective.com/
Glass Growers Gallery (Erie)
https://glassgrowersgallery.com/
Art Association Of Harrisburg
https://www.artassocofhbg.com/juriedshow/
Oil Heritage Festival
https://www.facebook.com/OilHeritageFestival/
Gallery Night At Exchange (Oil City)
https://rafiandklee.com/events/art-night/open-call/
GRANTS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE FOUND INTERESTING
Below is a list of grant and residency opportunities that we have found that we find interesting. Some are rolling grants (happen monthly). Check for more details.
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1. Pennsylvania & Regional Grants (PA / NW PA / Western PA & Mid-Atlantic)
Erie Arts and Culture
Deadline / Window: Spring & Late Summer (Varies by Program)
Details: Funding for NW PA individual artists, regional project grants, and artist fellowships.
Official Link: https://www.erieartsandculture.org
Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA)
Deadline / Window: Annual Cycles Across Regional Partners
Details: Statewide individual artist grants, creative sector support, and folk/traditional art apprenticeships.
Official Link: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/coa
Commonwealth of PA Grants Schedule
Deadline / Window: Varies by Agency Stream
Details: Master schedule of state arts, humanities, and cultural grant deadlines.
Official Link: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/coa/resources/due-dates-for-grants
PA Dept. of Community & Economic Development (DCED)
Deadline / Window: Year-Round / Program-Specific Windows
Details: Statewide business, revitalization, and creative community development funding.
Official Link: https://dced.pa.gov/programs-funding/
Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (PASBDC)
Deadline / Window: Year-Round Advising & Consulting
Details: Free business consulting, business planning, and grant navigation for creative entrepreneurs and small arts businesses.
Official Link: https://www.pasbdc.org/
Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council
Deadline / Window: Spring & Fall Cycles (Emergency Grants Rolling)
Details: Grants for SW PA individual artists including Artist Advancement Grants, Emergency Funds, and Travel Grants.
Official Link: https://www.pittsburghartscouncil.org/
The Pittsburgh Foundation
Deadline / Window: Spring & Fall Deadlines
Details: Supports Greater Pittsburgh artists, career fellowships, and community-engaged arts initiatives.
Official Link: https://pittsburghfoundation.org/
The Opportunity Fund
Deadline / Window: Bi-Annual: Spring & Fall
Details: Grants for Pittsburgh & Western PA visual/performing artists and social justice-focused creative projects.
Official Link: https://theopportunityfund.org/
Brew House Association
Deadline / Window: Summer & Fall Open Calls
Details: Pittsburgh visual arts support featuring the Distillery Artists Residency and Prospectus exhibition grants.
Official Link: https://brewhousearts.org/
Creative Philadelphia
Deadline / Window: Varies by Project Cycle
Details: Philadelphia regional artists, public art opportunities, and community micro-grants.
Official Link: https://www.creativephl.org/
Keystone Creatives
Deadline / Window: Opens Fall (October)
Details: Statewide platform partnership with Bridgeway Capital and PA Council on the Arts offering the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator (CEA) program, business funding, and network support for PA creative entrepreneurs.
Official Link: https://keystonecreatives.org
Leeway Foundation
Deadline / Window: Art & Change: Spring/Fall | Transformation Award: May 15
Details: Supports women, trans, and gender-nonconforming artists creating social change in Greater Philadelphia.
Official Link: https://www.leeway.org/
NYFA Fiscal Sponsorship Program
Deadline / Window: Mid-August (Quarterly Cycle Deadlines)
Details: Grants access to NYFA’s 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status for individual artists and emerging arts collectives to raise project funding and apply for institutional grants.
Official Link: https://www.nyfa.org/fiscal-sponsorship/
PACDFN BASC Microgrants
Deadline / Window: Rolling / Periodic Open Calls
Details: Micro-grants supporting community-based creative projects across Pennsylvania.
Official Link: https://pacdfinetwork.org/basc-microgrants-program/
Centre Foundation
Deadline / Window: Annual Spring Cycle
Details: Funding for Central PA community projects, public programs, and local arts initiatives.
Official Link: https://centrefoundation.org/
French Creek Art Collective
Deadline / Window: Rolling Community Calls
Details: Meadville & Crawford County regional artists, pop-up events, and community exhibits.
Official Link: https://www.frenchcreekartscollective.com/
Corry Artists’ Guild
Deadline / Window: Year-Round Events & Calls
Details: Corry, PA local art initiatives, community workshops, and exhibition opportunities.
Official Link: https://corryartistsguild.org/events/
HopeCAT (Hope Center for Arts & Tech)
Deadline / Window: Year-Round Program Support
Details: Sharon, PA arts education, youth programming, community projects, and artist faculty opportunities.
Official Link: https://www.hopecat.org/
Berks Arts
Deadline / Window: Late Summer / Early Fall
Details: Regranting agency providing funding for local artists and projects in Berks, Lancaster, and Schuylkill counties.
Official Link: https://www.berksarts.org/
Lancaster County Community Foundation
Deadline / Window: Annual Spring/Summer Cycles
Details: Community grants and creative project funding serving Lancaster County.
Official Link: https://www.lancfound.org/
Cultural Alliance of York County
Deadline / Window: Annual Fall Cycle
Details: Direct grants and project funding for individual artists and creative ventures in York County.
Official Link: https://www.culturalalliance-york.org/
Pocono Arts Council
Deadline / Window: Annual Spring Regranting Deadlines
Details: NE PA regional grants, juried exhibitions, and individual artist support.
Official Link: https://poconoarts.org/
Elk County Council on the Arts (ECCOTA)
Deadline / Window: Varies by Program Stream
Details: NC PA regional artist grants, workshops, and gallery showcase opportunities.
Official Link: https://www.eccota.com/
Perry County Council on the Arts
Deadline / Window: Annual Summer/Fall Cycles
Details: Central PA regranting, artist-in-residence programs, and community project funding.
Official Link: https://www.perrycountyarts.org/
Lawrence County Arts Council
Deadline / Window: Year-Round Programming
Details: NW PA local exhibitions, workshops, and community arts development.
Official Link: https://lawrencecountyarts.org/
Lehigh Valley Arts Coalition
Deadline / Window: Periodic Project Deadlines
Details: Lehigh Valley regional artist advocacy, resource clearinghouse, and project grants.
Official Link: https://www.lvartscouncil.org/
2. National Fine Arts & Unrestricted Individual Grants
Creative Capital Award
Deadline / Window: Round 1 Application Due in April
Details: Provides up to $50,000 plus career development support for innovative, risk-taking, and adventurous project proposals across all disciplines.
Official Link: https://creative-capital.org/
The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts
Deadline / Window: Bi-Annual: March 1 & September 1
Details: Grants supporting visual arts organizations, curatorial research, and artist-centered exhibition spaces.
Official Link: https://warholfoundation.org/grants/
Guggenheim Fellowships
Deadline / Window: Opens Summer | Portal Closes Mid-September
Details: Prestige grant awarded to mid-career individuals demonstrating exceptional creative ability in fine arts and humanities.
Official Link: https://www.gf.org/
The Virginia A. Groot Foundation Grant
Deadline / Window: Opens November | Closes March 1
Details: Substantial grants awarded to ceramic and sculpture artists creating exceptional 3D work.
Official Link: https://www.virginiaagrootfoundation.org/
VIA Art Fund
Deadline / Window: Bi-Annual: May & October
Details: Direct artistic production grants, public art installations, and curatorial research funding.
Official Link: https://viaartfund.org/apply/
National Academy Grants & Fellowships
Deadline / Window: Varies by Award (Winter/Spring)
Details: Grants and fellowships for visual artists and architects, including the Abbey Mural and Edwin Austin Abbey awards.
Official Link: https://nationalacademy.org/the-academy/grants-and-fellowships
Jonathan and Barbara Silver Foundation
Deadline / Window: Annual Cycle (Winter Application)
Details: Financial awards supporting sculptors and sculpture scholars.
Official Link: https://jonathanandbarbarasilverfoundation.org/grants/
Money for Women (Deming Memorial Fund)
Deadline / Window: Bi-Annual: June 30 & December 30
Details: Grants for individual feminist artists and writers who are US or Canadian citizens.
Official Link: https://www.demingfund.org/
Puffin Foundation Grants
Deadline / Window: Request Form Opens Sept | Proposals Due Nov/Dec
Details: Supports emerging artists whose work addresses critical social, environmental, and human rights issues.
Official Link: https://www.puffinfoundation.org/
Harpo Foundation Grants
Deadline / Window: Opens February | Closes April
Details: Grants up to $10,000 supporting under-recognized visual artists aged 21 and older.
Official Link: https://www.harpofoundation.org/
The Hopper Prize
Deadline / Window: Bi-Annual: May & November
Details: Unrestricted cash grants ($2,000–$5,000) for visual artists and photographers judged via open call.
Official Link: https://hopperprize.org/
Lillian Orlowsky and William Freed Grant
Deadline / Window: Opens January | Closes April 1
Details: Grants ranging from $5,000 to $35,000 for under-recognized American painters aged 45 and older.
Official Link: https://paam.org/education/the-lillian-orlowsky-and-william-freed-grant/
Artadia Awards
Deadline / Window: City-Specific Cycles Throughout the Year
Details: $15,000 unrestricted awards for visual artists living in designated hub cities (Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, LA, NYC, SF, Twin Cities).
Official Link: https://artadia.org/
Sustainable Arts Foundation
Deadline / Window: Bi-Annual Cycles (Fall & Spring)
Details: Direct cash grants for visual artists and creative writers with at least one child under 18.
Official Link: https://apply.sustainableartsfoundation.org/
3. Discipline-Specific: Sculpture, Craft, Music & Writing
Halstead Jewelry Grant
Deadline / Window: Annual Cycle | Deadline May 1
Details: Targeted award for emerging silver jewelry designers, offering cash funding, jewelry supplies, and business recognition.
Official Link: https://grant.halsteadbead.com/
Musicians’ Foundation, Inc.
Deadline / Window: ROLLING / Open Year-Round
Details: Emergency financial assistance for professional musicians facing crisis, illness, natural disaster, or unexpected hardship.
Official Link: https://www.musiciansfoundation.org/
Alex J. Ettl Grant (National Sculpture Society)
Deadline / Window: Opens Fall | Closes January
Details: $5,000 grant awarded to figurative or realist sculptors demonstrating a lifetime commitment to the medium.
Official Link: https://nationalsculpture.org/programs-awards/ettl-grant/
Dexter Jones Award (National Sculpture Society)
Deadline / Window: Opens Fall | Closes January
Details: Recognizes young sculptors working in bas-relief (ages 18–39).
Official Link: https://nationalsculpture.org/programs-awards/dexter-jones/
Marilyn Newmark Memorial Grant (NSS)
Deadline / Window: Opens Fall | Closes January
Details: $5,000 award for sculptors specializing in animal or equine sculpture.
Official Link: https://nationalsculpture.org/programs-awards/newmark-grant/
National Sculpture Society (NSS Main Portal)
Deadline / Window: Varies by Specific Program
Details: Central clearinghouse for sculpture awards, student scholarships, and professional creation grants.
Official Link: https://nationalsculpture.org/
4. Residencies, Media & Special Open Calls
Fine Acts TED POSCA Residency
Deadline / Window: Annual Call | Closes July 31
Details: Global remote residency offering a $15,000 grant for visual artists producing work on human rights and climate justice.
Official Link: https://fineacts.co/ted-posca-residency
Hayama Residency (Japan)
Deadline / Window: Annual Open Calls Posted Online
Details: International visual arts residency located in Hayama, Japan, covering housing, studio space, and travel stipend.
Official Link: https://www.hayamaresidency.com/
Smithsonian Magazine Submissions
Deadline / Window: ROLLING / Pitch Submissions Open Year-Round
Details: Accepts pitch proposals from freelance writers and cultural journalists covering arts, history, science, and culture.
Official Link: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/contact/smithsonian-magazine-online-article-submissions/
5. Rolling & Emergency Grants (Apply Anytime)
Foundation for Contemporary Arts (FCA) Emergency Grants
Deadline / Window: ROLLING / Open Year-Round
Details: Immediate micro-grants ($2,000–$5,000) for visual and performing artists with sudden, unexpected exhibition or performance opportunities.
Official Link: https://www.foundationforcontemporaryarts.org/grants/
Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant
Deadline / Window: ROLLING / Open Year-Round
Details: Significant direct funding for visual artists (painters, sculptors, artists on paper) based on artistic merit and financial need.
Official Link: https://www.pkf.org/
The Awesome Foundation
Deadline / Window: ROLLING / Monthly Deadlines
Details: $1,000 micro-grants given out monthly by local chapters for creative community initiatives and innovative art projects.
Official Link: https://www.awesomefoundation.org/
The Gottlieb Foundation Emergency Grant
Deadline / Window: ROLLING / Open Year-Round
Details: Emergency financial aid for mature painters, printmakers, and sculptors who have been actively creating work for 20+ years.
Official Link: https://www.gottliebfoundation.org/
Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation
Deadline / Window: ROLLING / Open Year-Round
Details: Grants for emerging figurative painters, sculptors, and printmakers worldwide.
Official Link: https://www.elizabethgreenshieldsfoundation.ca/en
6. Federal Agencies & Master Search Databases
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
Deadline / Window: Fixed Annual Windows (Spring/Summer)
Details: Federal grants for arts projects, plus individual writing and translation fellowships.
Official Link: https://www.arts.gov/
National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
Deadline / Window: Varies by Program Stream
Details: Federal grants for media projects, research, fellowships, and cultural preservation.
Official Link: https://www.neh.gov/grants/listing
Instrumentl Grant Database
Deadline / Window: Search Engine Database
Details: Comprehensive grant discovery database for institutional, non-profit, and project funding.
Official Link: https://www.instrumentl.com/browse-grants
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