17 New Artist Opportunities in Metro Phoenix

Make haste if you’re an artist looking for new places to show your work in metro Phoenix. We’ve found 17 open calls for art, and some have rapidly approaching deadlines. Here’s a roundup of artist opportunities to keep on your radar in coming days and weeks.

Arizona State Fair Exhibition
Phoenix Center for the Arts is sponsoring an art exhibition and competition for this year’s Arizona State Fair, which takes place October 7 to 30. Entries are welcome in 15 categories, including painting, ceramics, glass art, and fine jewelry. The deadline is Friday, September 9. Find more information on the Arizona State Fair website. 

Cast Iron Art Exhibitions
The Western Cast Iron Alliance, Scottsdale Public Art, and Scottsdale Community College are looking for works to feature in two upcoming exhibitions happening in conjunction with an upcoming Western Cast Iron Art Conference in Scottsdale. Works chosen for the National Juried Student and Professional Cast Iron Art Exhibitions will be exhibited at The Gallery at Scottsdale Civic Center Library October 3 to December 31. Submissions are due Friday, September 9. Learn more on the Scottsdale Public Art website. 

Good 'N Plenty Award
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art is looking for performance artists, writers, educators, musicians, architects, and other creative types with innovative ideas that need funding for its next Good 'N Plenty Artist Award competition. After a panel chooses up to six contenders, finalists will get six minutes to make a pitch before community members at a Good 'N Plenty event happening October 21 at the SMoCA Lounge — and the project with the most votes will get a cash award. The deadline to apply is Sunday, September 11. Find details on the SMoCA website.

Tempe Streetcar Project
Valley Metro is seeking four experienced artists to plan and create artworks for stops along the Tempe Streetcar project, a three-mile route that will serve downtown Tempe, Arizona State University, the Rio Salado corridor, and some of Tempe’s oldest neighborhoods. Each selected artist will create work for three to five stops within one section of the streetcar system. Artists should apply by 3 p.m. on Monday, September 12. Details are available on the Tempe Public Art website. 

Chalk Art
The Town of Gilbert Parks & Recreation Department is looking for artists to create chalk art during its Off the Street Art Festival taking place Saturday, October 29, inside the Gilbert Heritage District. Applications are due Thursday, September 15. Find details on the Town of Gilbert website. 

Eye Lounge Artists
The Eye Lounge artist collective, which operates the Eye Lounge gallery specializing in contemporary art, is seeking new members. Eye Lounge members have one solo exhibition each year, and participate in several group shows as well. Applications are due Monday, September 19. Find more information on the Eye Lounge Facebook page. 

Moebius Art Show
Ash Ave Comics & Books in Tempe is celebrating the release of the first volume of the Moebius Library with a release-day art show on October 26. It also plans to create a mini-comic with works submitted for this show, and make it available during that night’s release party. Submissions are due Wednesday, September 21. Find additional details on the Ash Ave Comics & Books website. 

Valley Bike Month
Valley Metro is seeking artists and designers interested in creating the Valley Bike Month design that will be used on various materials during the April 2017 event. The winning design will be featured on posters, T-shirts, and other items. Designs should be submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday, September 30. Learn more on the City of Tempe website. 

@Central Gallery at Burton Barr Central Library
Phoenix Public Library is looking for artists to feature during 2017 exhibitions inside the first-floor gallery at Burton Barr Central Library, which typically run about six weeks. Artists can submit two- and three-dimensional works for consideration. The deadline to apply is Sunday, September 25. Learn more on the Phoenix Public Library website. 

Summer 2017 Installation at Scottsdale Civic Center Library
In summers past, Scottsdale Public Art has presented works by Nathaniel Lewis, Melissa Martinez, Roy Wasson Valle and Koryn Woodward Wasson, and Luster Kaboom inside the Gallery at Scottsdale’s Civic Center Library. Now it’s looking for an art installation to feature during the summer 2017. Applications are being accepted through Friday, September 30. Details are available on the Scottsdale Public Art website. 

Tempe Public Art Spaces
The City of Tempe is looking for artists whose works it can feature in various public exhibition spaces located at the U.S. Post Office on Mill Avenue and Tempe Public Library. Works in all media will be considered. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on Friday, October 14. Learn more on the City of Tempe website. 

Breaking Ground 2017
CONDER/dance is seeking submissions for its Breaking Ground contemporary dance and film festival happening January 27 and 28 at Tempe Center for the Arts. Choreographers can submit new or existing dance works, or dance films, to be shown on the main stage. Arizona choreographers can also submit short works to be performed on small portable stages as part of a “tiny dances” line-up. Submissions are due Saturday, October 15. Find more information on the CONDER/dance website. 

Surprise Invitational Exhibition
The West Valley Arts Council is seeking submissions of work in multiple media, including photography, painting, digital art, installation work, interactive art, and sculpture. Selected works will be featured in the Surprise Invitational happening November 3 to December 16 at the Arts HQ gallery. Applications are due Monday, October 17. Learn more on the West Valley Arts website. 

Contemporary Crafts Exhibition
Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum at Mesa Arts Center is accepting submissions of works in various media for its 2017 Contemporary Crafts exhibition, which happens February 10 to April 23. Interested artists should apply by Friday, October 21. Find additional details on the Mesa Arts Center website. 

Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum Exhibitions
The museum is currently seeking proposals for exhibitions in two of its galleries. The South Gallery is an experimental exhibition space dedicated to displaying solo and collaborative works in all media. The North Gallery is a community gallery that showcases work by Arizona artists or artists with a significant Arizona presence. Artists can submit work through Friday, December 16. Look for details on the Mesa Arts Center website.

Centerline District Performances
The City of Glendale is looking for artists to participate in its new Centerline Arts and Cultural Initiative designed to increase free cultural events and performances in the Centerline District bounded by 43rd Avenue and 67th Avenue between Myrtle Avenue and Ocotillo Road. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis at 5 p.m. on the first Friday of every month through March 2017. Details are available on the City of Glendale website.

Mantle at MADE
MADE Art Boutique presents month-long solo exhibitions that open during Third Friday art walks. It’s currently accepting submissions from artists interested in showing their work in its Mantle at MADE exhibition space. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more on the MADE Art Boutique website.