Artist Opportunities

American for the Arts is the national advocacy group for the National Endowment for the Arts. They feature a job bank on their site with listings of arts administration-related positions available across the nation.

The Toledo Museum of Art has several positions available, from administrative and specialty to maintenance and service staff. For up to date listings and information about individual postings, click below. 

American Frame has several positions available. For up to date listings and information about individual postings, click below. 

MULTIPLE POSITIONS OPEN

The origin of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library dates back to 1838, making it the first public library funded by tax dollars in the state of Ohio. In 1970, three Library systems merged to form the current countywide Toledo-Lucas County Public Library. In subsequent years, the logic of that merger has been demonstrated repeatedly in improved service, increased usage, and more effective use of tax funds. The system now claims a Main Library with 19 neighborhood branch locations and one of the oldest bookmobile services in the country.

Various positions throughout the library system are posted at the link below. Click to browse opportunities, view application deadlines, and apply.

Toledo-Lucas County Rescue Plan Grants for Arts Organizations and Individual Artists

In light of the negative economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Arts Commission worked with the Toledo Area Cultural Leaders to advocate for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for the arts and culture sector in Lucas County and Toledo. As originally announced in October 2022, the Lucas County Board of Commissioners, Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz and Toledo City Council allocated a total of $6 million in ARPA funding to support a multi-year grant program. Nonprofit arts and cultural organizations and individual artists in Lucas County and Toledo may be eligible for these funds. The program is being administered by The Arts Commission.

The program will provide multi-year funding, ending no later than December 2026.

NON-PROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATIONS - Applications are now CLOSED for Arts Organizations

INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS - The portal for Cycle 3 of the Toledo Lucas County Rescue Plan Grants for Individual Artists is CLOSED as of March 25, 2024.

Accelerator Grant Program 2024

The Arts Commission values the many artists across disciplines who are part of Toledo's vibrant creative community. The Accelerator Grant is a competitive program offering financial support with a quick turnaround for local artists to advance their creative projects and their careers. Eligible categories of support for this program include equipment, supplies, professional development, and project support. Grant amounts are not to exceed $1500.

The 2024 Accelerator Grant Program Dates:

Cycle 1 - Opens April 22. Application deadline: May 20

Cycle 2 - Opens May 21. Application deadline: June 24

Cycle 3 - Opens June 25. Application deadline: July 22

Cycle 4 - Opens July 23. Application deadline: August 26

Cycle 5 - Opens August 27. Application deadline: September 23

Applicants are encouraged to apply to all cycles until they receive a grant award.

Contact Information

For all inquiries about Accelerator Grants, please contact Andrea Price, Artist Services Manager, at APrice@theartscommission.org.

The Artists with Disabilities Access Program (ADAP) provides funding that gives individual artists with disabilities – and organizations that serve them – the resources they need to further their artistic development. Creative expression by artists of all abilities is essential to building dynamic and diverse communities throughout Ohio, and developing an artistic career is a long-term process. ADAP awards help artists with disabilities advance their artistic practices, making Ohio a more accessible and inclusive place to build an artistic career.

Grant Awards

Grants are awarded to individual artists at both the emerging artist level ($500) and professional artist level ($1,000), with no match required. Organizational applicants may request between $1,000 and $3,000, a 1:1 cash match is required.

Note: For the purposes of the ADAP program, emerging artists are individuals who have consistently worked in their chosen art form for more than three years, have demonstrated strong artistic potential, and want to develop their careers. Professional artists are individuals who devote a major portion of their time to creating, practicing, performing, or teaching any of the arts.

Eligibility

All applying artists must:

• Be an Ohio resident (the OAC defines an Ohio resident as someone who spends at least eight months of the year living and working in Ohio), and, if awarded funding, remain a resident during the grant period

• Have exhibited, performed, or published work as an artist within the past five years

• Have a disability (per Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) guidelines)

• Not be a student enrolled in any degree- or certificate-granting program

Both creative and performing artists who have a disability and are residents of Ohio may apply to this program. The OAC uses the definition of disability contained in Sec. 12102 of the ADA, as amended by the ADA.

Amendments Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-325), which went into effect on January 1, 2009. This act is available online: ada.gov/pubs/ada.htm.

All applying organizations must be based in Ohio, serve Ohio artists, and possess nonprofit status or nonprofit intent. Applicants need not be registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Application Deadlines

June 1 annually (for activities taking place July 15—next June 30) and, if program funds are not expended, December 1 annually (for activities taking place January 15—June 30)

Staff Contacts

Brianna Dance
Organizational Investment Coordinator
for organizations in the Eastern Region
brianna.dance@oac.ohio.gov
614-728-4427

Jim Szekacs
Organizational Investment Coordinator
for organizations in the Western Region, and
Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Lorain
counties
jim.szekacs@oac.ohio.gov
614-728-4449

APPLICATION DEADLINE MARCH 15 ANNUALLY

APPLY

The Ohio Arts Council is excited to share two opportunities aimed at supporting and celebrating Ohio's folk and traditional artists.

The Traditional Arts Apprenticeship program provides awards that allow dedicated apprentices to follow a time-honored method to develop skills in valued art forms. Apprentices and traditional arts masters should submit a joint application.

Master artists may request up to $4,000 to work with one, and if appropriate, two, apprentices. At least 50 percent of the request must be used for master artist honoraria. No match is required.

Application Deadline: March 15 annually

Application Draft Deadline (for feedback prior to submission): March 1 annually

NOMINATE

The Ohio Heritage Fellowship program recognizes and supports Ohio folk and traditional artists who are the most influential masters of their particular traditions and whose work in the folk and traditional arts has had a significant impact on their communities.

Each year, the Ohio Arts Council will award one Ohio Heritage Fellowship to an individual or group whose work in the folk arts has had a significant impact on the people and communities of the state. The folk and traditional arts grow out of particular cultures and are recognized as the artistic expressions of ethnic, linguistic, occupational or regional groups. The recipient will receive a commemorative plaque plus a $5,000 award at a public award ceremony.

Nomination Deadline: March 15 annually

CITY OF TOLEDO FIG PROGRAM INCLUDES NON-COMMERCIAL MURALS

The Facade Improvement Grant (FIG) program helps property owners transform the facade of commercial, industrial, and mixed-use buildings located in low-to-moderate income census tracts by providing a 50% matching grant to reimburse expenses incurred during a comprehensive facade improvement. The minimum grant amount is $10,000 and the maximum grant amount is $40,000.

The FIG program is funded by Federal Community Development Block Grant (“CDBG”) dollars. Therefore, grant funds are subject to federal requirements. The program is subject to a two-year period of compliance, reporting, and annual inspection by the City of Toledo. The grant is collateralized by a promissory note that is secured by a mortgage on the property for two years. Applications will be processed in the order they are received and grants will be awarded as funding is available.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants:

Eligible applicants, whether individual or entity, meet the following criteria:

• *Applicant owns the building for which they are applying

• Applicant is in good standing with governmental entities (i.e. current on income tax, property tax, utilities, code violations, fees).

*If the applicant does not own the building for which they are applying but does have the building under contract, the applicant is eligible to apply for the grant. However, grants will not be awarded until the applicant owns the building for which they are applying.

Eligible Buildings

Eligible buildings must:

• Have no code violations

• Be located in a low-to-moderate income census tract of the city of Toledo

A building's eligibility is determined by use, not zoning.

Eligible buildings include:

• Commercial use (non-residential)

• Industrial use

• Mixed-use (integrated commercial and residential uses)

A building is ineligible to receive the grant if it contains businesses in the following industries:

• Payday loan businesses

• Liquor and tobacco stores

• Pawn shops

• Firearm or other weapons dealers

• Adult entertainment

• Passive real estate investments

Buildings with vacancies are required to provide a marketing plan that demonstrates their intention to actively market the property for commercial, industrial, or mixed-uses, a letter of intent from a business to occupy the space, or a statement of self-occupancy by the building owner. Buildings with an exclusively single-family residential or multi-family residential use are not eligible. A building may not receive more than one Facade Improvement Grant in its lifetime.

Eligible Expenses

The Facade Improvement Grant provides funding for a comprehensive enhancement to a building's facade. A facade is defined as the side of a building that faces a public street and contains a customer or primary entrance. Eligible projects include replacement, repair, or addition of at least two of the expenses below.

Eligible expenses include:

• Building facing materials

• Windows

• Doors

• Gutters and down spouts

• Stairs

• Ramps

• Sidewalks

• Permanent deck

• Permanent patio

• Exterior lighting (including lighting directed on the building, but not attached to it)

• Exterior painting

• Awnings

• Canopies

• Non-commercial artist mural approved by The Arts Commission

• Walk-up service window

• Permanent patio or deck

• Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) assessment recommendations for the building facade.

• Roofing expenses are eligible, but non-reimbursable expenses, which are applicable toward an applicant's match amount and must be accompanied by at least two of the expenses listed above to be eligible for the FIG.

Ineligible expenses include:

• Paving

• Landscaping

• Fencing

• Sidewalks located on public property

All enhancements must be located on private property and comply with zoning and building codes to be eligible for the Facade Improvement Grant. Any eligible expense incurred prior to the execution of the Facade Improvement Grant Agreement, or work performed without required permits, is ineligible.

A minimum of three quotes is required for each eligible expense, listed as a separate line item. Quotes must confirm adherence to Davis Bacon requirements, be on contractor letterhead, have individual line items for each eligible expense, and clearly identify the scope of work and estimated cost. Contractors shall have required licensing, bond, and insurance, and all work shall be performed according to applicable codes (i.e. Ohio Revised Code and Toledo Municipal Code).

Projects shall be completed within 12 months of the Effective Date of the Facade Improvement Grant Agreement.

The Art in Architecture Program oversees the commissioning of artworks for federal buildings nationwide. These artworks enhance the civic meaning of federal architecture and showcase the vibrancy of American visual arts. Together, the art and architecture of federal buildings create a lasting cultural legacy for the people of the United States.

Selection

We reserve 0.5% of the estimated construction cost of each new federal building or modernization for an Art in Architecture commission — a contractual agreement with an artist to create a site-specific artwork as part of the building project. For each new project, a panel of art professionals, the primary federal client representative, civic and community representatives, the project’s lead design architect, and our staff meet to discuss opportunities for artists to participate in the building project.

The panel reviews a diverse pool of artist candidates, drawn from the National Artist Registry and SAM.gov solicitation responses, and nominates finalists for us to evaluate. Artists who receive federal commissions work with the project architects and others as members of a design team to ensure that the artworks are meaningfully integrated into the overall project. We initiate about five commissions each year.

Commission timeframe

We commission large-scale, permanently installed artworks for federal building projects nationwide. These Art in Architecture commissions typically require a commitment of approximately three to five years, starting with our award of the project artist's contract and ending when the completed artwork is installed.

Art in Architecture contract schedules are based on the design and construction schedule of the associated building project. This allows the commissioned artwork to be developed in conjunction with the architectural design of the building and installed at the appropriate moment in the overall project schedule.

Art in Architecture Policies and Procedures Aug 2022 [PDF - 215 KB]

Who is eligible

Who is eligible for an Art in Architecture commission:  American artists who are citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States.

To be considered for:

• All new commissions for the next ten years, join the National Artist Registry.

• One commission at a time, respond to the solicitation announced in SAM.gov.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: MARCH 15 (ANNUALLY)

The Traditional Arts Apprenticeship program provides support for master artists to work with apprentices to build understanding and proficiency in folk and traditional art forms. By pairing exemplary practitioners of traditional art forms with dedicated apprentices, this program allows for concentrated study and cultural exchange. Traditional Arts Apprenticeship awards support the teaching and sharing of important cultural traditions, and enrich the lives of people throughout the state.

GRANT AWARDS: Master artists may request up to $4,000 to work with one, and if appropriate, two, apprentices. At least 50 percent of the request must be used for master artist honoraria. No match is required.

ELIGIBILITY: Apprentices must live in Ohio; master artists may live in another state if there is no suitable artist in Ohio. Both masters and apprentices must be U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens, and must have lived in the country for at least eight months prior to the deadline.
Applicants are eligible for only one award per year. Applications are accepted for apprenticeships in all forms of traditional arts, including traditional music and instrument making, sacred and secular crafts, occupational traditions, folk and ethnic dance, and traditional arts associated with annual celebrations.

STAFF CONTACT
Kathy Signorino
Individual Artist/Percent for Art Program
Coordinator and Traditional Arts
Apprenticeships Program Coordinator
kathy.signorino@oac.ohio.gov
614-728-6140

DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 1 ANNUALLY

The Individual Excellence Awards program recognizes outstanding accomplishments by artists in a variety of disciplines. Awards give artists the resources to experiment and explore their art forms, develop skills and advance their careers, and receive affirmation and acknowledgment for outstanding work. Competitive applications focused on the merit of past artistic work, combined with an open panel review conducted by nationally recognized professionals, ensure that only the most exceptional individuals receive funding.

GRANT AWARDS: Individual Excellence Awards are $5,000.

Odd-numbered years (e.g. 2017, 2019): choreography, criticism, fiction/non-fiction, music composition, playwriting/screenplays, and poetry.
Even-numbered years (e.g. 2018, 2020): crafts, design arts/illustration, interdisciplinary/collaborative & performance art, media arts, photography, visual arts 2D, and visual arts 3D.

STAFF CONTACT
Kathy Signorino
Individual Artist/Percent for Art Program
Coordinator and Traditional Arts
Apprenticeships Program Coordinator
kathy.signorino@oac.ohio.gov
614-728-6140

The Ann Arbor Art Center (A2AC) is committed to providing accessible opportunities for artists at every stage of their careers providing invaluable space and time to explore, experiment and enrich their creative practice.

Located in the heart of Ann Arbor’s emerging creative district, A2AC is the premier venue for artists to sell, exhibit and teach.

CONTEMPORARY GALLERY IN DOWNTOWN TOLEDO

River House Arts accepts submissions from contemporary artists working in all types of media, including video, for consideration on an ongoing basis. Visit link for submission details. 

Sylvania Arts' 23rd annual juried art show and sale takes place in downtown Sylvania, Ohio. This event draws thousands of visitors for art, music, food and fun.

In 2011, the Sylvania Arts launched its first community festival: Maple & Main Art and Music Festival. This iconic event attracts more than 5,000+ people annually to downtown Sylvania. The organization is looking for Musicians to perform and Artists from all over the region to line Main Street with everything from glass art to ceramics, jewelry, and paintings.

Deadline for musicians and artists to apply for a spot at the festival is April 23,2024

The Toledo Zoo and Aquarium will be hosting Wild about Art on August 10 & 11 and is seeking creative artists and skilled makers to take part in their art fair!  The deadline to apply is Friday, April 26.

Call for Artists: Fine Art Photography Competition

Open Themed Fine Art Photography Competition is looking for photographers to showcase their skills. We are now accepting entries from all styles, levels, and locations. The competition is Open Worldwide. Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or just starting your visual journey, this competition invites you to participate.

Awards & Prizes
A $250 cash prize is awarded to the 1st place winner. Recipients of the competition’s top positions will be granted digital certificates, with the first, second, and third place winners receiving a spotlight on the website’s front page. Accompanied by Featured articles highlighting their journey and creations, this is a chance to share your story with a global audience.

Must be 18 or older to participate. Entry fee: $25 for 4 images
Submit your application by Entry Deadline | March 31, 2024

All images appearing in the Blue Koi Gallery remain the intellectual property of the original artist.

Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of botanical art with our Botanicals Online Art Competition at Ten Moir Gallery. Capture the intricate beauty of flowers, plants, and nature's wonders in your artwork.

Important Dates:
Submission Deadline: April 30, 2024
Artist notification: May 9-11th 2024
Exhibition Date: May 12th, 2024

Fees: $18 for 2 images

Are you an artist who loves creating illusions and incorporating hidden images into your artwork? Do you possess a distinctive vision that captures the interest and fascination of viewers?

Important Dates:
Submission Deadline: April 31st, 2024
Artist notification: May 9-11th 2024
Exhibition Date: May 12th, 2024

Fees: $18 for 2 images

Blue Koi Gallery proudly presents the Women's Only Online Fine Art Competition—an exclusive opportunity for women artists to globally show their collective talents. Both 2D and 3D artists are encouraged to apply. This open theme (Artist Choice) competition invites women artists to submit their best artwork or photographs. A $250 cash prize is awarded to the 1st place winner.

Entry Deadline: April 28, 2024

Crosby Festival of the Arts is a highly recognized fine art show. Since 1965, Crosby Festival has been held at Toledo Botanical Garden, set amidst the beauty of gardens and nature. Now celebrating its 58th year, this festival is heralded as Ohio’s oldest outdoor juried art festival and as the premier fine arts festival in Northwest Ohio. As the only show of its size and caliber in our region, participating artists are received enthusiastically by nearly 10,000 visitors each year.

Proceeds from the 2024 Crosby Festival of the Arts will benefit Toledo GROWs and the organization's work to support community gardens and healthy eating in the greater Toledo area.

Application Deadline: March 6, 2024

The Blue Koi Gallery would like to welcome you to the International “Wild and Tamed” Art Competition. This online competition is all about the interplay of wild and tamed elements in our world. Submissions may range from untamed landscapes and fierce wildlife to serene domestic cultivated gardens. Artists can use different mediums like paintings, sculptures, digital art, prints, photos, and mixed Media art to create their vision. Join us in unraveling the intricate interplay between the wild and the tamed.

All backgrounds, skill levels and styles accepted. All visual media accepted.
Open worldwide. Artists must be 18 years old.

Entry fee: $20 for 4 images.
Submit your artwork by March 31, 2024.

Are you intrigued by the mystique of concealed identities? Enter into the Behind the Mask Online Art Competition at Ten Moir Gallery! Artists are invited to delve into the complexities of identity, emotions, and hidden narratives.

The Best in Show award offers a $150 cash prize, a solo exhibition, and extensive promotion. Plus, entry automatically qualifies you for the Blu Sky Artist Award, with a chance to win $500!
1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Winners receive an Artist Profile page, social media features, and inclusion in the online exhibition. Honorable Mentions are also showcased.

Open Worldwide: All mediums, styles, and backgrounds accepted.
Fees: $18 for 2 images

Deadline to apply: 05/15/2024

Partnered with the Toledo Lucas County Public Library, The Actors’ Workshop is a monthly event featuring studies of film acting techniques, interactive improv exercises, and discussion of the local film scene.

ToledoPoet.com is the site for Toledo Poets.  View our Calendar of Events, join our Email group to get notification and reminders of events, and check out our Local Publishers Accepting Submissions page. Be sure to sign up for the email list!

The Artist Opportunities Database is a searchable listing of opportunities for artists, managed by the Ohio Arts Council (OAC), and is free and open to the public for browsing and searching. The purpose of the database is to announce opportunities available to artists.

Candid houses a wealth of information for nonprofits, organizations, and individuals, including some services such as webinars and workshops tailored specifically to artists. In short, it is a great organization to be aware of with comprehensive search options for grants and other financial resources. Individuals and organizations can purchase a membership to find funding online ($50/month) or can visit the Toledo Lucas County Public Main Library and access the portal (with training) for free.

Toledo-Lucas County Public Library
Business Technology Department
325 N Michigan St
Toledo, OH 43604
Phone: 419-259-5209
Main URL: https://www.toledolibrary.org/business

Grantspace is a service of Candid with a honed mission around grantmaking and services.

From cardio drumming to salsa lessons to pottery and cooking classes to cultural tours, SQACC offers a host of community classes and programs. 

For more information or to sign up for a class follow the link below.

The Collingwood Arts Center facility houses over 25 visual arts studio spaces of varying sizes, as well as nine music studios and one dance studio. Studio leases are written for 6 month periods only, with the contract reverting to a month to month basis after the original 6 months. Restrictions: these spaces are for studio work space only. They may not be used as residential spaces. Utilities are included in rental rate. Click here to download the application. Return completed application and $25 application fee to: Collingwood Arts Center, 2413 Collingwood Ave., Toledo OH 43620. For detailed information, photos, dimensions, and pricing, visit the CAC's website

Join the BiG Fab Lab and gain access to our woodshop, metalshop, pottery studio, 3D printers and scanners, laser engraver and more! Schedule a tour now!

Once you become a member and pass basic tool safety training, your creativity can have full reign!

Members are expected to work in a safe manner, treat others with respect, clean up after themselves, and care for the equipment. Memberships will be revoked if these guidelines are not followed. Check out our Member Handbook to understand your responsibilities as a member.

Each member will be issued an RFID swipe picture ID. This card will be necessary to access various areas of the Lab. Soon, our swipe system will allow us to control tool access, monitor usage, and monitor scheduling.

The library offers free small business resources for those looking to get an idea off the ground. Topics include: learn about the business you're interested in, know your competition, define your overall goals, create a business plan.

The library also has a WorkSpace for individuals and organizations to establish a home base for up to 3 months.

The University of Toledo Community Music Program offers group and private music lessons to members of the community. You do not need to be a UToledo student to participate. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are not holding GROUP lessons at this time. We hope to hold GROUP LESSONS in the future when the pandemic is passed. Any decision will be announced here on the website.

Private lessons will be conducted virtually if a student teacher is available in the desired instrument or in voice. Please complete the inquiry form below and someone from the Music Department will get back with you.

TMA offers an assortment of virtual and in-person art classes for youth and adult audiences in a range of media.

Explore your creativity for the first time—or the first time in years—at the Toledo Museum of Art. For more than a century, this community resource has offered classes for every age, every experience level, and every schedule. All classes and workshops are related to works of art in the TMA collection.

Students will visit the galleries virtually, learn about some of the iconic works of art, then combine that inspiration with their own creativity at home. Looking for a creative outlet for the kids, wanting to try something new or seeking an opportunity to refine your skills? You’ll find it here.

Copper Moon teaches you the basics of fused glass to assemble a project designed by you. Using a variety of fused glass techniques, you'll choose the colors and patterns. After you design the piece, we'll fire the design in our kiln and have it ready for pick up at our studio one week from the day of your class.

A great option for birthday parties, corporate events, troop activities, or a family fun day! Do you need a quiet afternoon to create? Come by yourself and work independently. Call 419-867-0683 for more information.

The Toledo Artists’ Club has made it a priority to offer classes and workshops for both children and adults.

All classes held at the Toledo Artists' Club, in the Toledo Botanical Garden, 5403 Elmer Drive, Toledo, Ohio

The Scribe is a free, monthly, arts-focused newspaper that showcases and promotes local Toledo area artists, authors, photographers, and other talented individuals.

Apollo Press is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is dedicated to producing and managing community newspaper publications. We are local to the Toledo, Ohio area, and work with community creators to give them free exposure and networking.