ArtPop Artist Cohort | 2026 Open Call

ArtPop invites local artists within the Charlotte region (NC & SC) to apply for our 2026 Open Call!

24 local artists (19 Adults and 5 High School Seniors) will be selected through a jury process for ArtPop’s 2026 Artist Cohort. This flagship program activates public spaces with engaging art, and empowers local creatives through educational, marketing, and networking benefits.

Before applying, artists must read through the Submission Guidelines for crucial requirements and directions.

Deadline to Apply: Sunday, March 22, 2026 at 11:59pm EST
Before applying, artists must read through all Submission Guidelines for crucial directions.
Application Questions may be sent via email to Dylan@ArtPopStreetGallery.com by Thursday, March 19th, 2025 at 5pm.

ArtPop invites local artists within the Charlotte region (NC & SC) to apply for our 2026 Open Call!

24 local artists (19 Adults and 5 High School Seniors) will be selected through a jury process for ArtPop’s 2026 Artist Cohort. This flagship program activates public spaces with engaging art, and empowers local creatives through educational, marketing, and networking benefits.

Application Checklist - What You'll Need to Apply:

• Formatted Artwork File - A digital image file of your artwork which follows all Artwork Requirements listed below - properly cropped & formatted.
• Brief Artist Statement - A short statement describing your artwork and why you’re applying. Students should describe academic plans in the arts.
• Artist Website / Social Media Profile
  • Adult applicants must have both.
  • Student Applicants are only required to have an artist social media profile.
• CaFÉ Account (Registration is Free) - Applications are only accepted via CaFÉ, so all applicants must first register for a free account before applying.
• Application Processing Fee
  • $35 for adults.
  • $10 for students.
  • Entry fees cover the cost of the CaFÉ application system.

Artworks of all mediums (digital and traditional) that meet the following requirements are eligible for submission:

One Artwork Submission Per Artist

Each applicant may submit exactly one (1) original artwork. Group and collaborative submissions are not eligible.

If you’re unsure what to submit, we recommend you visit our Artist Gallery to review the artworks that were juried into past program years.

Artwork Must Be Original & Meet Content Regulations

Original artworks of any medium (traditional & digital) are eligible for this opportunity.

Plagiarized images, copyright infringement, and works created for paid commission projects are ineligible and will be disqualified. Images created with the assistance of Generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) are not eligible. Per billboard regulations, artworks depicting smoking, nudity, slander, religion or copyrighted brand images, logos, and characters are ineligible and will be disqualified.

Artwork Must Be Properly Cropped & Formatted

Submitted artworks must be properly cropped & formatted to be eligible. Artists may use the provided Photoshop template to ensure your file meets the necessary specifications:

• 5MB maximum file size*
• Exact dimensions: 7300px wide x 2200px high, at 300DPI
• Does not include the rectangular ArtPop brand label

*Note: If your artwork is selected for the Artist Cohort program, you will be required to provide high-resolution files of your accepted artwork, both cropped and un-cropped.

About the Jury Process

ArtPop’s Artist Cohort is a juried opportunity. All eligible submissions will be blind-reviewed by a jury of artists and art-lovers after the application deadline. Jurors will not have access to the applying artists’ identities, only the artwork image.

All artworks are first reviewed based on whether or not they meet the Submission Guidelines outlined here. Artworks that do not meet the Submission Guidelines are ineligible and will be disqualified.

Eligible artworks are then judged based on their successful artistic execution, and based on potential impact as a public art display. Artworks are considered both individually and collectively to curate a cohesive group with a variety of artistic mediums represented.

Artists must meet all of the requirements below are eligible to apply:

Residential Requirements

All applicants must currently reside in one of the following counties: 

North Carolina:

• Cabarrus
• Catawba
• Cleveland
• Gaston
• Iredell
• Lincoln
• Mecklenburg
• Rowan
• Stanly
• Union

South Carolina:

• Lancaster
• York

Age Requirements

Adult applicants must be 18 years or older.

High School Senior applicants do not need to meet any age requirements, but must be enrolled in their final year of high school, and should be planning to study the arts through higher education following graduation.

Social Media / Website Requirements

Adult applicants must have both an active artist website and a social media profile related to their artist practice.

High School Senior applicants are required to have a social media profile related to their artist practice, but are not required to have a website.

ArtPop “Alumni” from Past Program Years

Artists who have been juried into any past year of ArtPop’s Artist Cohort (previously known as the 'Cities Program’) are not eligible to reapply at this time, as communicated during our previous Open Call period.

We highly encourage our Alumni Artists to sign up to be considered for opportunities through ArtPop's Creative Commissions program.

Requirements for Juried-In Artists

This is more than just an opportunity to showcase your artwork on billboards. ArtPop’s Artist Cohort program is a mutually-beneficial partnership between the juried-in artists, ArtPop and our program sponsors, and the regional community.

All 24 juried-in artists will be required to participate in ways listed below, and failure to do so will result in their removal from the program, incurring fees to cover billboard printing costs:

• Engage with ArtPop’s Mission - Juried-in artists will be required to volunteer 1-4 volunteer hours and participate in a community-based Capstone Project. Traditionally, program artists who have participated in ArtPop’s events and activities have made more connections and benefit more from the program’s offerings.
• Provide High-Resolution Artwork Images - Juried-in artists must provide high-resolution image files (both un-cropped & cropped) to be used for ArtPop billboards & displays.
• Attend the Private Reveal Event - All 24 juried-in artists are expected to join on April 22nd, 2026, where they will be honored and welcomed into the program.
• Participate on Social Media - Each month in 2026, juried-in artists will be required to make at least one public social media feed post about your involvement in the program. Those artists will be provided with a guide of tips and suggestions to make this easy!
• Website Acknowledgement - Selected artists with websites will be required to to add content to their website about their participation in the Artist Cohort program, with a live link directing visitors to ArtPop’s website.