Art Calls ARC Gallery Open Call Fully Funded Solo Exhibition
Opportunity Description
U.S. National Deadline: March 14, 2026 – ARC Gallery is pleased to announce an Open Call for Three Fully-funded Solo Exhibitions in May 2026. This Exhibition Award is made possible by a generous grant from the Athena Foundation in support of making solo show opportunities accessible to a broader audience. Visual artists of all disciplines, ages and geographic locations are encouraged to apply. The artists will be selected by the ARC cooperative based on the quality of their work and commitment to their practice.
Due to the nature of this call, examples of work submitted must be of the actual work to be exhibited, and include a clear plan of display within the gallery space. Work must be completed, available, and ready to display as of the date of submission. ARC will make the final decision on which space the selected proposals will be installed.
Exhibitions for the three selected artists will take place in May 2026. Work will be installed on April 26, and deinstalled on May 30th. The Opening Reception will be May 1st, 5-8pm. Selected artists will be expected to be present for all three dates, and to work with ARC members to install and deinstall their work. ARC will work with selected artists leading up to the installation and opening of the exhibitions.
ELIGIBILITY
This call is open to all artists with the purpose of bringing in innovative and responsive new work. All work submitted should have been completed within the last 5 years. ARC will favor artists who have a strong, cohesive body of work, a clearly communicated vision of their show, and a compelling artist statement. Artists with incomplete submissions will be automatically eliminated. Artists whose work is deemed excellent, but is not selected, will be added to a roster from which ARC can draw for future opportunities and curated exhibitions.
APPLY ONLINE – $30 Application
SALES
ARC does not take commission for work sold; 100% of the sale price goes to the artist.
About:
ARC Gallery and Educational Foundation is a non-profit, woman-run cooperative gallery dedicated to providing alternative space exhibition opportunities for innovative artists outside the commercial gallery system. Since 1973 ARC has given exposure and support to artists, providing an atmosphere for the continued development of artistic potential and experimentation.
ARC is run entirely by its women artist members; as a non-profit exhibition space. ARC receives some support from outside funding sources but not enough to cover our operating expenses. Thus, to provide the space and services we offer to exhibiting artists, we defray our expenses by charging exhibition fees. Each of the rental spaces in the gallery actually costs twice as much as we charge the artists.
ARC Gallery & Educational Foundation
1463 W. Chicago Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60642
(773) 252-2232
