Creatives Unite October list of open calls gathers programmes supporting emerging artists, cultural organisations, and creative professionals. With opportunities ranging from unrestricted artist grants and organisational funding to fellowships and cross-border residencies, this month’s selection supports professional growth, experimentation, and exchange across disciplines.
By Nasia BaniaOctober offers new opportunities for cultural and creative professionals across Europe and internationally. This month’s curated list includes open calls that provide support for artistic practice, collaborative residencies, socially engaged fellowships, and nonprofit initiatives. With funding for artistic production, mobility, research, and organisational development, the calls cover disciplines such as visual and performing arts, design, literature, sustainable materials, and cross-sectoral practices, encouraging development, exchange, and visibility across the sector.
1. The Supporting Act Foundation | 2025 Artist Grant
Sector: Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Music, Digital Arts, Photography, Cross-Sectoral
Deadline: October 13, 2025, 11:00 CET
The Supporting Act Foundation launches its 2025 Artist Grant, offering €10,000 each to ten emerging artists from underrepresented backgrounds. Designed to strengthen living conditions and visibility for early-career practitioners, the grant supports artists working collaboratively to uplift their communities. This opportunity helps recipients dedicate time to their practice, build confidence, and expand the impact of their creative work.
Support provided:
- 10 unrestricted grants of €10,000 (paid in monthly installments of €1,000)
- Funding may cover living costs, artistic development, production, or community-based projects
Who can apply:
- Emerging artists with 2–10 years of professional practice
Applicants must identify as belonging to underrepresented or marginalized groups
- Based in Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, or the UK
- Applicants must hold a bank account in one of the eligible countries
More details here.
2. The Supporting Act Foundation | 2025 Impact Grant
Sector: Arts Management, Nonprofit, Cross-Sectoral, Community Support
Deadline: October 13, 2025, 11:00 CET
The Supporting Act Foundation introduces the 2025 Impact Grant, dedicated to arts-focused nonprofit organisations empowering underrepresented emerging artists. Designed to strengthen long-term infrastructure, the grant supports initiatives that improve artists’ living conditions, increase visibility, and create pathways for sustainable artistic practice.
Support provided:
- 10 unrestricted grants of €25,000 per year over two years (€50,000 total per organisation)
- Flexible funding to strengthen organisational capacity and sustain support for emerging artists
Who can apply:
- Arts-focused nonprofit organisations only (individuals, commercial entities, and unregistered groups are not eligible)
- Applicants must be based in Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, or the UK
- Organisations not registered in eligible countries may apply via a fiscal host located there
More details here.
5. EFFEA | Fourth Call for Two Residency Categories
Sector: Performing Arts, Music, Visual Arts, Cross-disciplinary, Festivals
Deadline: November 3, 2025
The European Festivals Fund for Emerging Artists (EFFEA) announces its fourth call, offering more than 50 emerging artists the opportunity to collaborate with over 150 festivals across Europe. Each residency is structured around a partnership of at least three festivals from different countries, supporting artists to develop new ideas or expand existing projects. With two distinct residency categories the programme nurtures early-stage artists and those ready for international expansion.
Support provided:
- EFFEA Discovery: ~40 grants of €8,000 each
- EFFEA Springboard: ~10 grants of €15,000 each
Residencies provide time, space, mentoring, and international exposure across a network of partner festivals
Who can apply:
- Emerging artists (individuals or groups) across disciplines such as theatre, dance, music, visual arts, literature, design, digital arts, opera, circus, street arts, and more
- Artists based in eligible Creative Europe and partner countries (see full list on EFFEA’s website)
- Festivals applying as host or partner organisations must also be based in eligible countries
More details here.
6. Prince Claus Fund | Moving Narratives Fellowship (Cycle 3)
Sector: Cross-sectoral, Visual Arts, Performance, Writing, Archival Research
Deadline: October 9, 2025, 17:00 CET
The Prince Claus Fund launches the third cycle of its Moving Narratives Fellowship, offering mid-career artists and cultural practitioners the chance to advance socially engaged creative work. The programme supports practices that question inherited histories, reimagine knowledge frameworks, and connect local realities to global emancipatory movements. Fellows will work alongside peers and mentors to develop strategies for artistic and social change.
Support provided:
- €10,000 grant to invest in individual practice
- 12-month fellowship programme with 8 selected peers
- Mentorship and exchange with 4 Senior Fellows
- Peer learning, critical dialogue, and visibility through the Prince Claus Fund
Who can apply:
- Individual artists and cultural practitioners (not duos, collectives, or organisations)
- Applicants with 7–15 years of professional experience
- Based in and working from eligible countries (see official list on the Prince Claus Fund website)
- Actively involved in a creative practice (not exclusively management or research)
- Must be able to work and communicate in English
More details here.
