Open Call For Artists Near Me: Where To Apply In 2026 (UK, USA, Europe, Asia)

Angelos
Jul 24
4 min read

Searching "open call for artists near me"? This guide covers current open calls by region so you can find the right opportunity wherever you are in the world, whether you want to exhibit locally or internationally.

The short answer first: The Holy Art runs open calls across nine cities on three continents (London, New York, Tokyo, Paris, Milan, Athens, Barcelona, Amsterdam and Brighton), accepts artists from anywhere in the world, and offers digital exhibition options so you can exhibit in any of these cities without leaving home. Submission is free at theholyart.com/open-calls.

Now the full breakdown by region.

Open call for artists UK

The UK has one of the most active exhibition scenes in the world, centred on London but extending to Brighton, Manchester, Glasgow, Bristol and beyond.

London. The Holy Art runs exhibitions in London throughout the year. As one of the largest international galleries for emerging artists, The Holy Art has exhibited over 25,000 artists since 2020. Open calls are free to submit, all mediums are accepted, and no prior experience is required. The sister gallery Streeters Gallery also runs weekend group shows in London, with new dates in November 2026, plus billboard showcases in Kings Cross and Notting Hill.

Brighton. The Holy Art runs exhibitions in Brighton, giving artists on the south coast a route to exhibit without travelling to London.

UK based artists can apply to any Holy Art city worldwide, with physical exhibition (ship or deliver your work) or digital exhibition options.

Open call for artists USA

New York. The centre of the global art market. The Holy Art runs exhibitions in New York throughout the year. Streeters Gallery runs a four day show in Tribeca (November 20 to 23, 2026) and a Times Square big screen showcase where artists' work is displayed in the middle of Manhattan.

US based artists outside New York can participate through digital exhibitions or ship work to the venue. Many US artists also use Holy Art exhibitions in London, Paris and Tokyo to build an international exhibition history.

Open call for artists Europe

Paris. The Holy Art runs regular exhibitions in Paris. Streeters Gallery also runs weekend shows there.

Milan. The Holy Art's Milan exhibitions place artists in one of Europe's design and fashion capitals.

Athens. The Holy Art runs exhibitions in Athens, one of Europe's fastest growing contemporary art scenes.

Barcelona. Holy Art exhibitions in Barcelona connect artists with the Spanish and wider Mediterranean collector base.

Amsterdam. The Holy Art's Amsterdam exhibitions serve the Benelux art market.

European artists can exhibit in any of these cities, plus London, New York and Tokyo, through a single application at theholyart.com/open-calls.

Open call for artists Asia

Tokyo. The Holy Art is one of the few Western galleries running regular open call exhibitions in Tokyo. For artists anywhere in the world, a Tokyo exhibition credit is a distinctive addition to any CV. Japanese and Asia based artists can also use Tokyo as their local exhibition base while applying to the gallery's European and American cities.

What if there is no open call in my city?

This is where digital exhibitions change everything. The Holy Art offers digital exhibition formats in every city it operates in. Your work is displayed on screens at the physical venue and promoted to the gallery's community of over 245,000 across social media and its 180,000+ mailing list.

That means an artist in Lagos, São Paulo, Mumbai, Seoul or anywhere else can exhibit in London, New York or Tokyo without shipping a single artwork. The exhibition credit is real, the audience is real, and the promotion is real.

Why artists choose The Holy Art

Over 25,000 artists exhibited since 2020. Nine cities across three continents. Free to submit. All mediums accepted (painting, photography, digital art, sculpture, illustration, mixed media and more). No experience or CV required. Physical and digital exhibition options. A community of over 245,000 Instagram followers and 180,000+ on the mailing list. Zero commission on sales.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an open call for artists near me? If you are near London, New York, Tokyo, Paris, Milan, Athens, Barcelona, Amsterdam or Brighton, The Holy Art runs physical exhibitions in your city. If not, digital exhibitions let you participate from anywhere in the world.

Can I apply if I live in a different country from the exhibition? Yes. Artists ship work internationally or choose digital exhibition. The Holy Art has exhibited artists from over 100 countries.

How much does it cost to apply? Submission is free. Exhibition fees apply only if you are selected and choose to proceed.

Do I need an exhibition history to apply? No. The Holy Art and Streeters Gallery both accept artists with no prior exhibitions.

Which city should I choose for my first exhibition? Choose your nearest city for the simplest logistics, or choose the city whose audience best fits your work. Digital exhibition lets you test multiple cities affordably.