Quad City Arts
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    • Art Services
    • Visiting Artist Series
    • Public Sculpture Program
    • Metro Arts Youth Apprenticeship Program
    • Arts Dollars Grant Program
  • Events
    • All Events
    • Quad City Arts Presents
    • Chalk Art Fest
    • Riverssance Festival
    • 2025 High School Art Invitational
    • Celebration of the Arts & Lloyd Awards
    • Festival of Trees
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    • Rock Island Gallery
    • Airport Gallery
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Opportunities for Artists
& calls for entry

Providing opportunities for artists in the Quad Cities since 1970
Quad City Arts is committed to sharing opportunities for artists. By sharing these local calls for entry, public art commissions, juried art competitions, sculpture commission and available grants, we further our mission by providing paid and beneficial opportunities for artists to thrive in our community.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: May 15, 2025

NewBo Art Festival Call for Artists

NewBo Art Fest is a juried art fair consisting of no more than 40 booths. The New Bohemia District is a Mainstreet historical area that includes : local food vendors and restaurants serving Mexican, Indian, Korean, hamburgers, grilled cheese, a bakery, pizza, chocolates, coffee shop, juice bar, local wine and beer bar, popcorn and ice cream, international music, art and performance venues. Specialty shops that include a book store, bicycle store, clothing stores, gift shops, guitar store, skateboard shop, second hand furniture, yoga studios, a running shoe store, a record vinyl store, artists’ studios and art galleries. 
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Organization: Black Earth Gallery
Entry Fee: $35-45 application, Booth Fee: FREE
Payment: Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place
Eligibility: Open to artists nationwide
Categories: Art fair, original artwork of any medium
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Learn more & Apply
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: May 20, 2025

Photography Triennial Exhibition

If you are a photographer living or working in the Midwest, please consider applying to the Galesburg Community Arts Center's first-ever Photography Triennial Exhibition: The Photograph as an Art Object! This is a juried, regional exhibition, and will feature three cash awards. This exhibition prompts artists and viewers to contemplate what it means to approach photography as an expressive, artistic medium much like painting, sculpture, printmaking, or fiber arts – and yet, to consider and embrace its unique and broad capacities as an artform and technology.

Organization: Galesburg Community Arts Center
Entry Fee: $30
Type: Group Exhibition
Eligibility: Midwest Regional
Categories: Photography
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learn more & Apply
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: June 20, 2025

Black Hawk College Artspace

ArtSpace Gallery in Black Hawk College invites artists to submit work for display.
Display room: 44' of wall space, Big and Small Gallery (shelving/pedestals for 3D works).
Artists must be available to deliver their work (no shipping). Partner and group shows may apply.
BHC is an educational institution that seeks to invigorate students' art education with a variety of exhibitions. 
First Exhibition for Fall 25 Semester to start on Monday August 25, 2025.
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Exhibiting artists are required to give an artist talk (small stipend provided).
Currently seeking artists for 25-26 school year and beyond.
Email 3 images of your artwork, an artist statement/bio, a description of what you plan to display, and (if applicable) a website URL to [email protected] for consideration.

Organization: Black Hawk College
Entry Fee: FREE
Type: Exhibit
Eligibility: IA/IL and the surrounding region
Categories: All 2D/3D media (no video or screen-based works)
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Apply by Email
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: August 11, 2025

Global Gathering Vietnam

The Bettendorf Public Library is excited to announce Global Gathering Vietnam, a vibrant two-month celebration of Vietnamese culture, heritage, and traditions. As part of this event, we invite artists to submit their artwork for display at the library throughout September and October 2025.
We are looking for pieces that capture the rich and diverse cultural fabric of Vietnam, enhancing our visitors’ appreciation of Vietnam's contributions to our community. There is no fee for displaying your artwork. As this is not a retail space, we do not permit pricing on the pieces themselves. However, you may include a brief biography with contact information next to your work.

Please contact Amanda Blanche at [email protected] for more information.​

Organization: Bettendorf Public Library
Entry Fee: FREE
Type: Exhibit
Eligibility: N/A
Categories: Cultural artworks of Vietnam
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Learn more & Apply by Email
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: ONGOING

Call for Artists to Display ARTWORK
​at the Moline Public Library

The Moline Public Library, is seeking artists for temporary displays. Displays of 2 to 3 months to allow a full range of our public to see and appreciate the artwork. There is no fee to display and no commission on any works purchased. There are spaces next to each display area for artists to show contact information. As this is not retail space we do not allow prices on the works themselves. 
 
All proposed shows need to be primarily 2-D artwork. There is limited availability of 3-D art display space. The main show is in our central “Blue Wall” area ( 30' long), and Gallery Hallway Cases (2x 7'wide x 9' tall x 18" deep) that space is for 2-D work only. We also accept proposals for two artists or small group shows. Please contact, David Zahn at [email protected] for more information with sample images. 
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Organization: Moline Public Library
Entry Fee: FREE
Type: Exhibit
Eligibility: n/a
Categories: 2D work, some small 3D work
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EMAIL Your Work
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: ONGOING

​ARTIST INDEX

Be included. Be counted. BE FOUND. 
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We invite artists to be a part of our Artist Index. This digital platform is completely FREE and is meant to be a resource for the community. The index can aid in searching for artists to hire for commissions, purchasing regional art, working on corporate/city projects, or just exploring and seeing the talent in our region. 
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Organization: Quad City Arts
Entry Fee: FREE
Type: Public Index
Eligibility: 250 mile radius 
Categories: All Artists
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SUBMIT YOUR work
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: ONGOING

JOIN ARTIST COOPERATIVE IN HISTORIC BISHOP HILL

Bishop Hill Creative Commons is a for-profit arts cooperative dedicated to helping artists make a living from their creative endeavors. In addition to our art gallery, we regularly host classes, workshops, storytelling events, and concerts, featuring performers from all over the globe. Interested artists may email [email protected] with samples of your work.

Organization: Bishop Hill Creative Commons
Entry Fee: $35
Type: Membership
Eligibility: Within driving distance of Bishop Hill in order to work shifts at the shop and/or participate in co-op activities.
Categories: All Contemporary Media
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LEarn More
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: ONGOING

Call for Artists to Display ARTWORK
​at the Gilded Pear Gallery

Gilded Pear Gallery represents local and national artists. We are interested in all contemporary media. Artists may email [email protected] with a PDF portfolio, artist statement, CV, and links to artist website/socials. 
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Organization: Gilded Pear Gallery
Entry Fee: FREE
Type: Gallery Display
Eligibility: n/a
Categories: All Contemporary Media
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Submit your work
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: ONGOING

Second Avenue Window Gallery 

Quad City Arts features the work of emerging artists who have 10-20 canvases or framed pieces of art to exhibit in our Second Avenue Window Gallery for 6-8 weeks. Sculpture is also welcome. All artists will be featured with their own page on our website during the exhibit. To apply, click to add your contact information, tell us about yourself (how you decided to express yourself visually) and tell us about your artwork. (Subject matter, medium, size range and inspiration.) Submit 5 clear images of your artwork.
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Organization: Quad City Arts
Entry Fee: Free
Type: Gallery Display
Eligibility: 250 mile radius 
Categories: Painting, Photography, Drawing, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Sculpture
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SUBMIT YOUR work
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: ONGOING

Become a Featured Artist on "Quad Cities Live"

KWQC TV6 and Quad City Arts has formed a partnership to feature artists on their latest Friday segment "QC Live". TV6 encourages local artists to create and submit new versions of their Quad Cities Live logo. During these segments artists are able to talk about the inspiration for their logo and feature up to seven (7) pieces of artwork. All interviews are currently done remotely.

Organization: KWQC TV6
Entry Fee: FREE
Type: Interview/Exposure
Eligibility: 250 mile radius 
Categories: Photography, Drawing, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Painting, Sculpture
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SUBMIT YOUR work

Have an opportunity you want to share with us?

Please fill the form below, approved listings will appear here until the marked deadline.

Opportunity Criteria
  • Opportunities must be related to the arts or creative field and/or hosted by an arts organization or creative business.
  • Local and regional opportunities are preferred.
*Please note that Quad City Arts reserves the right to omit opportunities that pay artists unfairly, require high application fees, ask artists to produce work for free or “for visibility”, or otherwise appear to not be beneficial for artists.

Need a correction?
If you would like to request a correction or listing update, please email us. 

Did you know that this artist opportunity board is a FREE resource and we never charge artists or arts organizations to be featured or to access it? Support this resource by donating to Quad City Arts. Become an art supporter today!

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Quad City Arts does not trade, share, or sell information that you provide to us. 

​Rock Island Gallery
​& Store Hours

Mon–Fri: 10a–5p
Sat: 11a–5p
Closed Sundays

CONTACT

Phone: 309.793.1213
[email protected]
1715 2nd Ave, Rock Island, IL 61201

HOME
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Programs

 • Visiting Artist Series
 • Public Sculpture Program 
 • Metro Arts Youth Apprenticeship 
 • Arts Dollars Grants
 • Visual Art Opportunities
 • Artworks Expo
 • High School Art Invitational

EVENTS

  • Chalk Art Fest
  • Riverssance Festival
  • Festival Of Trees
  • Annual Celebration
      & Lloyd Awards

  • Performing Arts Signature Series

GALLERIES

  • Rock Island Gallery
  • ​Airport Gallery

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​SUPPORT 

Make a tax-deductible donation to Quad City Arts and support art in your community!
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ABOUT

Quad City Arts is dedicated to enriching the quality of life in the Quad City region through the arts. The organization’s dual role of presenting the arts and humanities, as well as serving as an arts resource, allows us to serve more than 350,000 people annually in the Arts Center in Rock Island and at over 200 rural and urban community sites.​

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© 2024 Quad City Arts is a 501(c)(3). Privacy Statement
  • About
  • Programs
    • Art Services
    • Visiting Artist Series
    • Public Sculpture Program
    • Metro Arts Youth Apprenticeship Program
    • Arts Dollars Grant Program
  • Events
    • All Events
    • Quad City Arts Presents
    • Chalk Art Fest
    • Riverssance Festival
    • 2025 High School Art Invitational
    • Celebration of the Arts & Lloyd Awards
    • Festival of Trees
  • Galleries
    • Rock Island Gallery
    • Airport Gallery
    • Second Avenue Window
  • Resources
    • Opportunities
  • Artist Index
  • Blog
  • Store
  • Donate