Open Call For Artists By Medium: Painting, Photography, Digital Art, Sculpture And More (2026)

Most artists do not search for "open call for artists" in general. They search for their medium. "Open call for painters." "Photography open call 2026." "Digital art exhibition open call." This guide covers open call opportunities for every major medium in 2026, what each medium should know before applying, and where submissions are open right now.

The headline answer for every medium below: Streeters Gallery and The Holy Art both run open calls that accept all mediums, free to submit, with no experience or CV required. Streeters runs weekend shows in London (November 6 to 8), New York Tribeca (November 20 to 23) and Paris, plus the Times Square big screen showcase and London billboard displays. The Holy Art runs rolling open calls across nine cities worldwide.

Now, medium by medium.

Open call for painters

Painting remains the most submitted medium at group exhibitions, and the one collectors buy most at opening nights. Oil, acrylic, watercolour, gouache and mixed technique paintings are all accepted at Streeters Gallery and The Holy Art open calls.

What painters should know before applying: photograph the work unframed where possible to avoid glass reflections, watch for glare on varnished surfaces, and state true dimensions since scale reads differently in photos. For physical exhibition at Streeters, one work is £120 and two works are £200, with the work delivered or shipped to the venue. Painters who cannot ship internationally can exhibit digitally from £45.

Photography open call

Photography submissions compete on printing and presentation as much as the image itself. Film and digital photography are both accepted across all Streeters and Holy Art exhibitions.

What photographers should know: submit the highest resolution export of the final image, never a photo of a print. If selected for physical exhibition, professional printing and clean mounting matter enormously in a group show context. Photographers are also strong candidates for the screen formats, since photographic work translates perfectly to the Times Square showcase and the London billboards in Kings Cross and Notting Hill, where the image takes over the entire screen.

Digital art open call

Digital artists have more exhibition routes in 2026 than any other medium. At Streeters Gallery, digital work can be shown three ways: digital exhibition at the physical shows (from £45 for one work, £85 for two, £115 for three), the Times Square big screen in Manhattan, and the London billboard displays where each artist gets the full screen for 30 seconds, roughly 21 times a day from 6am to midnight.

What digital artists should know: export at the highest resolution available, follow the format specifications exactly, and never submit screenshots. Digital exhibition is also how artists anywhere in the world exhibit in London, Paris or New York without shipping anything.

Sculpture and 3D open call

Sculpture, ceramics and 3D work are accepted at Streeters and Holy Art physical exhibitions. Because three dimensional work needs floor space or plinths, capacity is more limited than wall based work, which makes early application even more important.

What sculptors should know: submit multiple angles per piece including at least one detail shot, state dimensions and weight clearly, and plan transport carefully. Fragile work should be delivered in person where possible.

Illustration open call

Illustration sits comfortably in group shows and sells well at accessible price points. Original illustrations and high quality prints are both accepted.

What illustrators should know: if submitting prints, state the edition clearly. Illustration also performs strongly in the digital and billboard formats, where bold graphic work reads instantly from a distance.

Mixed media and textile open call

Mixed media, collage, textile and material based work are accepted across all Streeters and Holy Art exhibitions. This category regularly produces the most talked about pieces at opening nights because texture and material invention stop people in a way flat images cannot.

What mixed media artists should know: include one straight on photo plus one close detail shot per piece so reviewers can see the texture. Note materials in your description, since the material story is often the hook. Artists working with unconventional materials, from found objects to invented substances, are exactly the kind of practice the network exists to show.

Printmaking open call

Screen prints, linocuts, etchings, risographs and other print media are accepted. State the edition size and whether the submitted work is an original print or a reproduction.

What printmakers should know: prints price accessibly, which makes them among the most sold works at group exhibitions. Bring or ship them flat and mounted cleanly.

Video and moving image

Moving image work suits the screen formats best. The Times Square showcase and digital exhibition screens can carry still or moving work depending on the format specifications of each show. Check the current requirements when applying at streetersgallery.net.

Which format should your medium choose?

Wall based work (painting, photography prints, illustration, printmaking) suits physical exhibition first, digital second. Screen native work (digital art, photography, bold graphic illustration, moving image) suits digital exhibition, Times Square and the London billboards. Object based work (sculpture, ceramics, textile, material innovation) suits physical exhibition, with detail photography doing the heavy lifting in the application.

Artists in any medium can combine formats: a physical spot in one city, digital in another, and a screen showcase for public visibility. That combination builds a multi city exhibition history within months.

Frequently asked questions

Are there open calls that accept all mediums? Yes. Streeters Gallery and The Holy Art accept painting, photography, digital art, sculpture, illustration, printmaking, mixed media, textile and moving image across their open calls.

Is there an open call for painters in 2026? Yes. Streeters Gallery shows in London (November 6 to 8), New York (November 20 to 23) and Paris all accept painting, and The Holy Art runs rolling open calls for painters across nine cities.

Where can photographers exhibit in 2026? Streeters Gallery physical and digital exhibitions, the Times Square showcase, the London billboards, and The Holy Art exhibitions across nine cities all accept photography.

Can digital artists exhibit without shipping anything? Yes. Digital exhibition spots at Streeters start at £45 and require only a high resolution file, with the work displayed at the physical venue and promoted online.

Do sculpture open calls cost more? No. Fees are the same across mediums at Streeters, though 3D capacity per show is more limited, so early application matters.

Do these open calls take commission on sales? No. Both galleries take zero commission. Artists keep 100 percent of every sale in every medium.

Apply in your medium today

Whatever you make, there is a format built for it.

Streeters Gallery: all mediums, London, Paris, New York, Times Square and London billboards. Free to apply.

The Holy Art: all mediums, nine cities worldwide, rolling open call, free to submit.

Your medium is not the barrier. Not applying is.