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Ignite 2026: Grants, Residencies & Exhibitions for Caribbean Creatives

Updated: Jan 6

As the new year begins, Caribbean artists and creatives have urgent opportunities to expand their practice, connect with international networks, access funding, and deepen their craft. Below is a curated guide to open calls, residencies, grants, and creative support programmes, some of which are closing soon in January 2026, from both regional and global institutions.


Exhibitions – Show Your Work


Royal Society of British Artists | Annual Exhibition 2026


  • Deadline: January 9, 2026

  • Media: Painting, sculpture, drawing, original prints

  • Awards: Over £20,000 in prizes

  • Exhibition Dates: February 26 – March 7, 2026

  • Location: Mall Galleries, London (gallery + online)

  • Details: Open call to exhibit alongside RBA members at their prestigious annual exhibition. Learn more and apply.


Residencies – Time & Space to Create


Rome Residency in Drawing, Painting & Sculpture (U.K. & Commonwealth)


  • Deadline: January 9, 2026

  • Duration: 6 months (September 2026 – March 2027)

  • Eligibility: Early- to mid-career artists working in painting, drawing, or sculpture from the U.K. or Commonwealth countries (including Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago)

  • Details: Residency at the British School at Rome, in partnership with the Bridget Riley Art Foundation. Learn more and apply.


WORTHLESSSTUDIOS — Photographer in Residence


  • Deadline: January 20, 2026

  • Duration: 1 month

  • Award: $1,500 stipend, darkroom access, film, and photo paper

  • Eligibility: Analog photographers and photography-based artists internationally

  • Details: Residency in an Airstream trailer darkroom, with the option to host a public program. Learn more and apply.


Houston Center for Contemporary Craft Residency


  • Deadline: February 1, 2026

  • Duration: 3–12 months

  • Eligibility: International artists

  • Details: 24/7 studio access, professional and cultural development, $1,000/month stipend (including housing/materials), and opportunity to give an artist talk. Learn more and apply.


Creative Process Residency – Greywood Arts (Ireland)


  • Deadline: Rolling

  • Duration: Flexible

  • Eligibility: International artists in craft, photography, drawing, painting, sculpture, mixed media, or new media

  • Details: Access to studios and living spaces in a historic Irish setting to focus on creative projects. Learn more and apply.


Olepangi Farm Artist-in-Residence (Kenya)\


  • Deadline: Rolling

  • Duration: 6–18 weeks

  • Eligibility: International visual artists, writers, musicians, and multidisciplinary practitioners

  • Details: Retreat-style residency offering reflection and project development in a natural environment. Learn more and apply.


The Ou Gallery Residency (Canada)


  • Deadline: Rolling

  • Duration: Varies

  • Eligibility: International artists in painting, sculpture, photography, drawing, film/new media, or mixed media

  • Details: Peaceful residency on Vancouver Island focused on experimentation and creation. Learn more and apply.


Grants & Fellowships – Funding to Support Your Practice


Prince Claus Fund SEED Award


  • Deadline: January 8, 2026

  • Eligibility: Emerging artists within the first five years of professional practice

  • Details: €5,000 in flexible funding for socially and politically engaged art projects. Caribbean artists can apply with support from local cultural funds. Learn more and apply.


Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant

  • Deadline: Rolling

  • Eligibility: International painters, sculptors, and artists working on paper, including printmakers

  • Details: Up to US$50,000 funding for one year. Grants support artists based on financial need and professional exhibition history. Learn more and apply.


Muze Creative Grants


  • Deadline: Rolling

  • Eligibility: Artists across all disciplines

  • Details: US $10,000 unrestricted funding for ambitious creative projects in any medium. Learn more and apply.


Jack Straw Artist Support Programme 2026


  • Deadline: Rolling

  • Eligibility: International artists working with sound, audio storytelling, installations, digital media, or multidisciplinary practices

  • Details: Fellowship support includes free studio time, production assistance, and selected matching awards. Learn more and apply.


Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant Program


  • Deadline: Rolling

  • Eligibility: Established painters, sculptors, and printmakers with at least 10 years of professional experience

  • Details: Emergency financial support (typically $5,000) for unforeseen crises like medical emergencies or loss of materials. Learn more and apply.


Whether you need space to develop new work, financial support for projects, or emergency assistance, January 2026 provides multiple pathways to strengthen your artistic practice and connect with international networks.


For more opportunities, visit Caribalent Opportunities

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