OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMERGING ARTISTS TO APPLY TO RIGHT NOW!

words by FRANCESCO PIZZUTI

Trying to build a career in the creative industries, whether in film, fashion, photography, art, or writing, can unfortunately be a really strenuous and far from democratic process. Talent alone is rarely enough: funding, visibility, mentorship, and the right connections truly make the difference. While some major opportunities have already closed their applications this year — the Decentralized Pictures Sofia Coppola Short Film Award being one of the most talked-about examples — there are still plenty of grants, prizes, and open calls worth knowing about. Others, like the Eye Filmmuseum traineeships in Amsterdam or Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam Talent Call, are not currently open but remain essential opportunities to keep on your radar if you are an emerging creative based in Europe, and more specifically in the Netherlands.

From fashion craftsmanship and experimental cinema to photography and writing, these are some of the opportunities you can apply for right now.

image via @SkyPlLOT on pinterest

FONDAZIONE PRADA FILM FUND - Independent Cinema Funding

Supporting independent cinema with an annual fund of €1.5 million, the Fondazione Prada Film Fund offers grants for feature films at different stages of development: from early production to post-production. The initiative is open to projects regardless of geography, theme, genre, or language, with selections based on originality, artistic vision, and the strength of the production structure behind each project.

Deadline: Production projects: 6 August 2026. Development and post-production projects: 10 September 2026

LOEWE FOUNDATION CRAFT PRIZE 2027 - Celebrating Contemporary Craft

Inspired by LOEWE’s origins as an artisanal workshop, the LOEWE FOUNDATION Craft Prize celebrates contemporary craftsmanship across disciplines including textiles, ceramics, jewellery, wood, metalwork, leather, and more. Open to professional artisans over 18, the prize looks for works that combine technical excellence with artistic intention, innovation, and a contemporary reinterpretation of traditional practices.

Deadline: 15 October 2026

FOTOGRAFISKA “ONE IN EIGHT” OPEN CALL - Photography & Social Storytelling

In collaboration with The Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Campaign, Fotografiska is inviting emerging photographers to submit work exploring the realities of breast cancer, from personal experiences to broader reflections on care, resilience, and community. Selected artists will receive international exposure through exhibitions in Fotografiska Berlin and Stockholm, campaign visibility, and a €1,500 prize.

Deadline: 12 August 2026

PHOTOVOGUE MENA PANORAMA - Photography, Film & Multimedia

PhotoVogue’s MENA Panorama open call aims to amplify diverse visual voices from the Middle East, North Africa, and their diasporas. Open to photographers, filmmakers, and multimedia artists, the initiative welcomes projects across fashion, documentary, portraiture, fine art, and experimental practices. Three selected artists will share $8,000 in grants, alongside visibility through the PhotoVogue Festival and potential Condé Nast publications.

Deadline: 24 September 2026

DAS LEBEN AM HAVERKAMP - Screening “Costumes”

This open call invites artists working across animation, digital fashion, visual arts, and costume design to submit video works exploring the theme of “Costumes”. Selected works will be screened as part of an open-air projection programme in The Hague, transforming the organisation’s façade into a public cinema space. Selected artists will also receive a €1,151 artist fee.

Deadline: 30 August 2026

LOUISE GLÜCK PRIZE FOR POETRY OR PROSE - Emerging Writers

The inaugural Louise Glück Prize, launched by Poetries in English Magazine, awards $1,000 to an outstanding poem or prose piece written in English. Open to both emerging and established writers, the prize also offers publication opportunities for selected submissions beyond the main winner. Writers can submit up to five poems or one prose piece of up to 10,000 words.

Deadline: 25 December 2026

PREMIO FIRENZE 2026 - Visual Arts & Literature

The 43rd edition of Premio Firenze is open to Italian and international artists working across painting, sculpture, graphics, photography, and literature. Winners receive awards and cash prizes, while selected visual artworks are exhibited in prestigious Florentine venues, including Palazzo Vecchio’s Salone dei Cinquecento. A dedicated category, Premio Firenze Giovani, also supports artists and writers under 35.

Deadline: 10 October 2026