UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES

Each year, Orchid Gallery holds an Open Call for Submissions, from which artists are selected for a series of solo shows, thematic group exhibitions, site-specific installations, and programming opportunities. Artists of color who live and/or work in the Greater New Haven Area, and are not commercially represented, are invited to apply. Guest curators are also invited to apply with original exhibition proposals. Exhibitions run for 8-12 weeks, and are accessible to the general public, ConnCORP staff, and those participating in special events at Orchid Hall. Each exhibition launches with an Opening Reception that is free and open to the public. At the end of each calendar year, all artists who participated in past and current exhibition seasons will be invited to attend a Makers’ Meetup, a large informal gathering held in Orchid Hall that celebrates the unique creativity in our region. The event is designed to foster connection and collaboration amongst local creatives working across disciplines. Before applying to the 2026 Open Call, please see the Eligibility & Terms below: Application Dates: 2026 Open Call Application Opens: November 1, 2025 Deadline to Apply: March 15, 2026 Eligibility & Terms: Visual artists of all ages, who self-identify as an early-career artist and a person of color and are not commercially represented, are invited to apply Artists must submit an Artist Statement describing what they make and why (500 Words Max) Artists must submit a CV, detailing their exhibition history and any relevant projects and experiences. A degree in art is not needed to apply! To learn how to write an Artist Statement or CV, you can sign up for Creative Capital’s free online course, Grant Writing and Promoting Your Practice, here. There are also many other free courses and resources available. Artists must submit documentation for a minimum of 2 and maximum of 8 artworks. This should also include: caption information: title, year, dimensions, materials, edition, and price if applicable an artwork description wherever possible/applicable Artists are also invited to submit an optional proposal for a site-specific installation that builds upon ConnCORP’s mission, vision and values, and suits the specificity of the space. This should include: a materials list, installation requirements and a proposed layout with dimensions using the Gallery blueprint which can be made available upon request caption information: artwork title, year, dimensions, materials, edition, and price if applicable Artists are responsible for the hand-delivery of install-ready artwork Orchid Gallery cannot accept any single work valued at more than $10,000 Applications must be submitted by March 15, 2026 at 11:59pm If an artist is interested in contracting the bldg fund to support the promotion and sale of their work–including special tours for collectors and related programming–please indicate this on your application. Otherwise, each artist is responsible for directly managing inquiries and sales Guest curators interested in applying with an Exhibition Proposal must submit a Curatorial Statement, CV, Proposed Checklist, Artist Biographies, installation requirements and a proposed layout with dimensions using the Gallery blueprint which can be made available upon request.

The New Haven Civic Innovation Prize awards up to $25,000 to the best student- or community-led venture or project focused on benefiting the City of New Haven. The Prize aims to catalyze student- and community-led innovations that address, and are informed by, community priorities. Community members, students, or teams of students and community members who are working on projects in key areas of community development are welcome to apply. The competition provides participants with constructive feedback from experienced professionals, mentorship from relevant experts, and chances to meet social entrepreneurs and civic leaders. The judges will award a total of $25,000 in prizes and may elect to allocate the prize amount to a single winner, or between two teams. Application Selection & Judging Criteria Opportunity: The problem the venture/organization/idea seeks to address is clearly defined, and there is evidence that there is a target population who considers it important. Viability: The team has developed a clear solution to the problem, has a realistic path for getting the solution to the end user, and can continue to deliver the solution in a way that is financially and operationally sustainable. In short, the idea seems like it could work. Innovation: The idea is truly innovative. It presents a new model, product or service that fills a unique gap and/or applies an existing model to a new context. Team: The team has the knowledge, skills, passion, energy and ability to execute. Catalytic-ness: The prize will be meaningful in driving the team/project forward in ways that may otherwise not have been possible as quickly or at all. Impact: The project addresses key areas of community development. Important Dates January 20, 2026: Startup Yale Application Fest February 2, 2026: Startup Yale application opens February 12, 2026 at 5:00 pm EST: Startup Yale application deadline March 6, 2026: Finalist announced. April 10, 2026: Finalists participate in a live pitch event as part of Startup Yale. Contact Johnny Scafidi Director of Community Outreach and Engagement johnny.scafidi@yale.edu 2025 Winners: New Haven Civic Innovation Prize: First Place: Enrich Health Second Place: ShellVive Third Place: Wealth Beacon Group Foundation Audience Choice Winner: Black Obsidian Healing

The Eli Whitney Museum & Workshop produces about 80,000 projects each year. Apprentices train in the design and production of these projects throughout the school year. They also support our educators in our vacation day and summer programs for students ages 6+. Apprentices begin training in 8th grade and typically stay in the program through their senior year of high school. Some apprentices graduate from the program and return as EWM staff in a variety of roles. Apprenticeship encourages many passions and builds the discipline needed to excel. The next info session will be on Sunday, February 15, 4-5 pm. For any questions, contact Maddie Ardito.

Named for Bucknell's renowned literary alumnus and initiated in the fall of 1993, the Philip Roth Residence in Creative Writing offers up to four months of unfettered writing time for a writer working on a first or second book in any literary genre. The residency provides lodging in Bucknell's "Poets' Cottage" and a stipend of $5,000. In the spring semester of 2026, the Stadler Center will accept applications for the 2026–27 Roth Residences (Aug.–Dec. 2026 and Jan.–May 2027). The application deadline for both residencies is Feb. 1, 2026. Please note: The Roth Residency is now open to writers in ANY literary genre: fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, hybrid works, graphic fiction, etc.

CALL FOR ENTRY: Re-Inhabiting Conservation Creature Conserve is pleased to announce Re-Inhabiting Conservation: Using Art to Bring Wildlife Conservation Closer to Home, a juried exhibition of international artists at GoggleWorks Center for the Arts in Reading, Pennsylvania, USA for Spring & Summer 2026. Re-Inhabiting Conservation: Using Art to Bring Wildlife Conservation Closer to Home is the final exhibition in a three-part series that “re” considers the role of artists in wildlife conservation and explores the possibilities of art informed by science. The exhibition asks, “In light of all we have wondered, imagined, and hoped, what do we DO NOW?” This exhibition encourages artists, writers, creatives, and viewers to rethink our relationship to boundaries, both geographic and practical, including divisions between art and science. Re-Inhabiting Conservation asks us to live in a conservation mindset, make a home here—at the intersection of art and science—and commit to caring for the habitats, resources, and species around us. With Re-Imagining Conservation, we're asking artists to dream big and consider bold approaches to cross-disciplinary work. We are especially looking for proposals of work that creatively explore the following questions: - Where would you like to see conservation efforts focused in your community? - What is your current “relationship” with wildlife conservation? - What opportunities do you see for art and science to work together for wildlife conservation? - What would you do to encourage your community to live “in a conservation mindset”? Use the form below to apply by 11:59PM EST on Sunday, February 1, 2026. You will be asked to provide the following for this application. We recommend having these materials ready before applying: Visual Artists, Audio/Video Artists: - Up to 4 images or files of your work for consideration. Each file should be no larger than 1MB. - Works List (Title, medium, dimensions, date for each image or file) - Artist Statement relevant to submitted work (250 words) - Link to website or social media Writers: - Poets: 3 - 4 poems (up to 10 pages of poetry) submitted as one PDF. If including published poems, please include information about where the work was originally published. - Fiction/nonfiction writers: A single text OR 1-3 flash fiction pieces not to exceed 3,000 words submitted as one PDF. If including published work, please include information about where the work was originally published. - Brief Bio (60 words) - Link to website or social media Please review application requirements and FAQs before applying: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tiXhusC3CVhhWALotgF2FNBcO9xgWx7c/view?usp=drive_link Questions? Contact Heather McMordie, Director of Curatorial Programs, at artscurator@creatureconserve.com.