February 2026 Artist Opportunities: Residencies, Grants & Open Calls for African and International Artists
A curated guide to February 2026 deadlines—combining the best international opportunities open to African artists with residencies based on the continent and funding specifically designed for Africa-focused creative work. Whether you’re an artist based in Lagos seeking a European residency, a photographer in London planning fieldwork in East Africa, or a curator anywhere building pan-African networks, this guide covers what’s actually worth your application time.
Deadlines verified as of February 1, 2026. Always confirm on official sites before applying.
Africa-Based Residencies Accepting Applications
pIAR International Artist Residency 2026 (Ghana)
Location: Kumasi, Ghana
Duration: Minimum 4 weeks (January–August 2026)
Deadline: Rolling applications
pIAR (Performance in Artist Residency) emerged as a communal space for radical empathy, learning, and deconstructing colonial histories. Artists in residence develop projects focusing on processes, collaborations, critical investigations, and experimentation. The residency emphasizes performativity, documentation, and archiving.
What’s covered:
- No residency fee
- Ghanaian artists receive free meals
- International artists contribute approximately €350/month for food (not a fee—covers breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Studio access and community engagement
Note: pIAR operates on a low budget with no “sophisticated” studios. Artists should be prepared for grassroots conditions and heavy political/emotional discussions. Documentation happens throughout for archival purposes.
Apply: pIAR Application Form
Gasworks Residency for West African Artists (UK-Based)
Location: London, UK
Duration: 11 weeks (April 8 – June 23, 2026)
Eligibility: Artists based in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Saint Helena, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo
Deadline: Check Gasworks website for current deadline
Gasworks hosts approximately 20 international residencies annually, bringing artists from across the world to London. This specific call targets West African artists who have already presented work in several venues.
What’s covered:
- Fully funded (travel, accommodation, stipend, materials)
- Administrative, pastoral, and curatorial support
- Self-led, non-prescriptive program focused on research and development
Note: Gasworks expects residents to be self-motivated and lead their own research. This isn’t a teaching program—it’s professional development for established practitioners.
Apply: Gasworks West Africa Residency
International Residencies Open to All (Including African Artists)
Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten (Netherlands)
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Duration: 1-2 years (starting 2027)
Deadline: February 1, 2026
One of the world’s most prestigious artist residencies, the Rijksakademie welcomes applications from artists of all countries and disciplines. The program houses a highly international, multi-disciplinary, experimental community.
What’s covered:
- Private studio with internet/heating/electricity
- Stipend: €19,800 annually (2026 rate)
- Working budget: €2,500/year
- Extensive technical facilities, library, and social practice workshop
Fees: €60 application fee, but waived for artists from most African countries including: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, DRC, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and more.
Artist Opportunity Deadlines
February 2026MacDowell Fellowship (USA)
Location: Peterborough, New Hampshire, USA
Duration: Variable (Fall/Winter 2026 session)
Deadline: February 10, 2026 (11:59 PM EST)
MacDowell encourages applications from artists of all backgrounds in architecture, film/video, interdisciplinary arts, literature, music composition, theatre, and visual arts. Approximately 300 fellowships awarded annually—the sole criterion is artistic excellence.
What’s covered:
- No residency fees
- Private studio and room
- All meals
- Need-based stipends available
- Travel reimbursement grants available
Fees: $30 application fee
Apply: MacDowell Application
Houston Center for Contemporary Craft Residency (USA)
Location: Houston, Texas, USA
Duration: 3-12 months
Deadline: February 1, 2026
Open to international artists working in craft disciplines. Provides substantial support for extended practice development.
What’s covered:
- 24/7 studio access
- $1,000 monthly stipend (includes housing/materials allowance)
- Cultural and professional development opportunities
- Artist talk opportunity
Apply: HCCC Residency Application
Long Meadow Art Residency (USA)
Location: Berkshire Mountains, Massachusetts, USA
Duration: 6 weeks to 3 months
Deadline: February 18, 2026 (11:59 PM EST)
Solo residencies in a stunning natural setting with exceptional financial support.
What’s covered:
- $3,000 monthly stipend
- $2,500 supply budget
- Studio space and on-site housing
- Professional photography
Apply: Long Meadow Application
Watermill Center International Summer Program (USA)
Location: Water Mill, New York, USA
Duration: 4 weeks
Deadline: February 18, 2026 (11:59 PM EST)
Brings 20 artists together for intensive collaborative residency alongside emerging artists and established creative professionals from various countries and disciplines.
What’s covered:
- Free residency (no additional stipend)
- Opportunity to develop new works in collaborative environment
Fees: $12 application fee
Apply: Watermill Center Application
Rabbit Island Residency (USA)
Location: Lake Superior, Michigan, USA
Duration: 2-4 weeks
Deadline: February 22, 2026 (11:59 PM EST)
91 acres of forest and sandstone wilderness. Artists live and work on the island, engaging directly with landscape and responding to notions of conservation, ecology, and sustainability.
What’s covered:
- Financial support
- Pristine natural environment
- Three residency periods available
Apply: Rabbit Island Application
Prairie Ronde Summer Residencies (USA)
Location: Vicksburg, Michigan, USA
Duration: 5-6 weeks (Summer: June 1 – September 14)
Deadline: March 1, 2026
Hosted at The Mill, a redevelopment of the former Lee Paper Company mill. Open to artists from a range of disciplines.
What’s covered:
- $2,000 stipend upon completion
- $500 travel grant
- Private housing
- Gallery show
Fees: $25 application fee
Apply: Prairie Ronde Application
Grants & Funding for African Artists
Goethe-Institut Mobility Grants (Africa-Europe)
Amount: Up to €4,000 per mobility
Eligibility: Artists and culture professionals based in Sub-Saharan Africa or EU
Deadline: Rolling (quarterly cut-offs: March 15, June 15, September 15, December 15, 2026)
Part of the Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture programme. Primarily supports Africa-Africa short-term mobility, with secondary support for Africa-Europe exchanges.
What’s covered:
- Travel costs (up to €400 within Africa, €1,800 from Europe)
- Accommodation and daily allowances
- Project expenses
- Additional support for applicants with children, accessibility needs, or eco-friendly travel
Requirements: Clear mobility purpose, existing connections or invitations at destination.
Apply: Goethe-Institut Application Portal (GAP)
Pro Helvetia Residency Program (Switzerland)
Location: Switzerland (various partner institutions)
Duration: Up to 3 months
Eligibility: Artists and cultural practitioners from West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa, plus other Pro Helvetia liaison regions
Deadline: March 1, 2026
The Swiss Arts Council offers comprehensive residency support with strong alumni network across African arts communities.
What’s covered:
- Flights
- Accommodation
- Monthly stipend
- Production budget
Note: Unlike grants requiring projects already in motion, this supports development of new work. Swiss context provides access to European institutions, collectors, and networks.
Apply: Pro Helvetia (check liaison office for your region)
The Ian Rosenfeld Fund (International)
Amount: £7,500
Eligibility: Early- to mid-career artists (international)
Deadline: February 7, 2026
Gallery Rosenfeld’s annual award offers not just financial support but an ongoing relationship, guidance, and mentorship—in the spirit of patronage.
Apply: Ian Rosenfeld Fund Application
Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant (International)
Amount: Up to $50,000
Eligibility: Painters, sculptors, and artists working on paper (including printmakers)
Deadline: Rolling
Grants intended for one year. Size determined by artist’s circumstances. Professional exhibition history considered.
Apply: Pollock-Krasner Foundation
The Adolf and Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant (International)
Amount: Typically $5,000, up to $15,000
Eligibility: Painters, printmakers, and sculptors facing unforeseen catastrophic incidents
Deadline: Rolling
One-time financial assistance for qualified artists who lack resources to meet emergency situations.
Apply: Gottlieb Emergency Grant
Open Calls & Competitions
Jackson’s Art Prize (International)
Prizes: First Prize £6,000 + £2,000 art supplies; 31 total awards
Eligibility: Artists working in two-dimensional media
Deadline: February 11, 2026
Fees: £6.50 per artwork entry; students get one entry free
Apply: Jackson’s Art Prize
Sónar+D Exhibition (International)
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Stipend: €800 + exhibition costs covered up to €1,000
Deadline: February 19, 2026
Festival focused on creativity and innovation in digital creativity. Selected projects receive guaranteed exhibition space.
Apply: Sónar+D Open Call
Hasselblad Masters 2026 Competition (International)
Prize: Hasselblad X2D II 100C camera, two XCD Series lenses, €5,000 creative fund
Eligibility: Photographers (any camera, any brand, digital or film)
Deadline: February 28, 2026
Winners published in Hasselblad Masters book. Looking for great images and unique visions.
Apply: Hasselblad Masters
The Other Art Fair Brooklyn (International)
Location: Brooklyn, New York (May 14-17, 2026)
Deadline: February 1, 2026
Accepting applications for general booths and New Futures program (free booth space for early-career artists).
Apply: The Other Art Fair Brooklyn
Boise Airport Wall Surface 3D Public Art (International)
Budget: $50,000 (design, fabrication, installation)
Deadline: February 13, 2026
City of Boise seeking submissions for three-dimensional work on vertical wall in Boise Airport.
Apply: Boise Airport Public Art
World of WearableArt Competition (International)
Sections: Kinetic, Metallic, Bizarre Bra, Aotearoa, Open, Avant-garde
Deadline: February 26, 2026 (international); April 15, 2026 (New Zealand)
World’s leading wearable art competition. Individuals or teams of 2-3 designers welcome.
Apply: World of WearableArt
Fellowships
Luminarts Fellowships (Chicago, USA)
Amount: $10,000-$15,000 (unrestricted)
Disciplines: Visual arts, creative writing, classical music, jazz improvisation
Eligibility: Chicago-based artists
Deadline: February 1, 2026 (11:59 PM CST)
Apply: Luminarts Fellowships
Van Lier Fellowship 2026-27 (New York City, USA)
Amount: $20,000
Duration: 18 months
Eligibility: NYC-based visual artists ages 18-30
Deadline: February 22, 2026 (11:59 PM EST)
Pilot residency at The Clemente Center providing monetary award, shared studio access, professional development, and exhibition development.
Apply: Van Lier Fellowship
Forge Project Fellowship (USA & Canada)
Amount: $25,000
Eligibility: Indigenous artists, scholars, organizers, cultural workers, researchers, educators (enrolled member, citizen, or descendant of recognized American Indian tribe, Alaska Native corporation, Native Hawaiian, Canadian First Nation, Métis, or Inuit)
Deadline: February 15, 2026 (10 PM EST)
Full access to Forge Project site and libraries in Taghkanic, New York.
Apply: Forge Project Fellowship
Virginia A. Groot Material Exploration Residency (USA)
Amount: $10,000 honorarium
Duration: 8 weeks
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Deadline: February 23, 2026
Center for Craft residency providing time to develop work, access to new materials, and facilitated shared learning experiences. Four residents selected.
Apply: Virginia A. Groot Residency
Application Strategy for African Artists
Maximize Your International Competitiveness
Fee waivers: Many prestigious international residencies (Rijksakademie, MacDowell) waive fees for artists from lower-income countries. Always check eligibility—this significantly reduces application costs.
Layer funding sources: Use Goethe-Institut mobility grants to cover travel to a residency that provides accommodation and stipend. Pro Helvetia covers comprehensive costs but is highly competitive—apply simultaneously to multiple opportunities.
Timeline planning: Most February deadlines are for residencies happening later in 2026 or 2027. Apply to multiple well-matched opportunities rather than depending on single applications. Typical acceptance rates are 5-15% for competitive programs.
Documents to Prepare
- Updated CV (academic/exhibition history)
- Artist statement (500-1000 words, adaptable to different calls)
- Project proposal template (adapt for specific opportunities)
- Portfolio: 10-20 images with titles, dates, dimensions, media
- 2-3 reference contacts (confirm their availability before listing)
- Work samples: video/sound documentation if relevant to practice
Strong Applications Include
- Clear articulation of why THIS residency at THIS moment in your development
- Specific connections to destination (institutions, artists, research interests)
- Realistic project scope for the residency duration
- Evidence of self-directed productivity
- Professional quality documentation of existing work
Funding Landscape for African Artists
Key opportunities by source and region • February 2026
Quick Reference: February 2026 Deadlines
| Deadline | Opportunity | Location | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1 | Rijksakademie | Amsterdam | €19,800 stipend + studio |
| Feb 1 | Houston Center for Contemporary Craft | Texas, USA | $1,000/month + studio |
| Feb 1 | Luminarts Fellowships | Chicago, USA | $10,000-$15,000 |
| Feb 1 | The Other Art Fair Brooklyn | New York, USA | Booth/exhibition |
| Feb 7 | Ian Rosenfeld Fund | International | £7,500 |
| Feb 10 | MacDowell Fellowship | New Hampshire, USA | Full residency + stipend |
| Feb 11 | Jackson’s Art Prize | International | £6,000 + £2,000 supplies |
| Feb 13 | Boise Airport Public Art | Idaho, USA | $50,000 commission |
| Feb 15 | Forge Project Fellowship | New York, USA | $25,000 |
| Feb 18 | Long Meadow Art Residency | Massachusetts, USA | $3,000/month + $2,500 supplies |
| Feb 18 | Watermill Center | New York, USA | Free residency |
| Feb 19 | Sónar+D Exhibition | Barcelona, Spain | €800 + exhibition costs |
| Feb 22 | Rabbit Island Residency | Michigan, USA | Financial support + wilderness |
| Feb 22 | Van Lier Fellowship | New York City, USA | $20,000 |
| Feb 23 | Virginia A. Groot Residency | North Carolina, USA | $10,000 |
| Feb 26 | World of WearableArt | New Zealand (int’l deadline) | Competition |
| Feb 28 | Hasselblad Masters | International | Camera + €5,000 |
| Mar 1 | Pro Helvetia Residency | Switzerland | Full residency |
| Mar 1 | Prairie Ronde Residency | Michigan, USA | $2,000 + $500 travel |
| Mar 15 | Goethe-Institut Mobility (Q1 cutoff) | Africa/Europe | Up to €4,000 |
| Rolling | Pollock-Krasner Foundation | International | Up to $50,000 |
| Rolling | Gottlieb Emergency Grant | International | $5,000-$15,000 |
| Rolling | pIAR Residency | Kumasi, Ghana | No fee residency |
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