Opportunities for African creatives: October 2026
Grants, residencies, open calls and a job, still open this week.
- Piku is not part of NewComma.
- Checked on 22 October 2026, on each listing.
- Two close on 30 October. Apply early.
- "Posted" is when it was listed. "Closes" is the deadline.
About NewComma
- A platform for African and Black creatives, open to the world.
- Portfolio, feed, messages and an opportunities board.
- Plans: Lite at USD 0, Plus USD 6 a month, Pro USD 10 a month. Yearly saves 15%.
- Checked on NewComma memberships, 22 October 2026.
From NewComma
NC Fund: October 2026
- Who: NewComma Creative Fund, with the Mensah-Bonsu Foundation
- Where: Remote
- Amount: GBP 400, one winner
- Closes: no date on the listing. Winner announced end of November.
- What: a microgrant for an African or diaspora creative in any discipline. You need three projects in your NewComma portfolio.
- See the listing
African Female Artist Mentorship Program 2026 to 27
- Who: Girl Child Art Foundation
- Where: Lagos, online and in person
- Closes: 30 October 2026
- What: three months of one-to-one mentoring, January to March. For African women aged 19 to 40, early in their career, not in post-secondary study. No cost to mentees.
- See the listing · GCAF's page
Art Explora Artist's Residency, Paris 2027
- Who: Art Explora and the Cité internationale des arts
- Where: Paris, France
- Amount: EUR 1,000 a month, a EUR 3,000 production grant, a studio and a return trip (solo)
- Closes: 30 October 2026, 11:59 PM Paris time
- What: 3 or 6 months for artists of any nationality with five years of practice. No application fee.
- See the listing
Social Media Marketing Manager
- Who: GlowHaus Africa
- Where: Accra, Ghana. Remote, part-time.
- Pay: GHS 500 to GHS 1,500, as listed
- Posted: 26 September 2026. No closing date shown.
- What: plan and post content, short videos and community replies for a beauty retailer.
- See the listing
Eastern Cape Film Investment Fund
- Who: Eastern Cape Development Corporation
- Where: South Africa, for shoots in the Eastern Cape
- Amount: up to ZAR 150,000 for short films, up to ZAR 3,000,000 for series and features
- Posted: October 2026. No closing date shown.
- What: funding for registered South African production companies that film in the province.
- See the listing
Call for Artists: Posters for Nonprofits and Small Businesses
- Who: My Friend Frankie
- Where: Remote, artists anywhere
- Pay: from USD 200 a commission, or your own rate
- Closes: open database, no deadline
- What: join a pool of artists matched with paid poster commissions through the year.
- See the listing
From elsewhere
RMB Latitudes Art Fair 2027, exhibitor applications
- Who: RMB Latitudes. Source: the fair's own site.
- Where: Shepstone Gardens, Johannesburg. Fair runs 21 to 23 May 2027.
- Closes: 30 November 2026
- What: galleries, independent artists and collectives can propose a presentation at a fair for African contemporary art.
- See the applications page
Landed one? Get paid properly
A yes is the start. Then:
- Quote it. Scope, dates, usage and price, in writing.
- Take a deposit. 50% before you start is normal.
- Invoice the rest. On delivery, with a PDF their finance team accepts.
- Type: "Quote Kola Studio for the campaign we discussed, 50% deposit."
- Claude drafts the quote from your Rate Card. Nothing goes out until you say yes.
- The client pays the deposit from the link. The receipt sends itself.
- Set it up on the Claude page.
Client abroad? Quote in the currency you agreed and send a pay link they can pay by card. See getting paid by clients abroad and how to invoice a brand.
Sources: NewComma opportunities, each NewComma listing linked above, NewComma memberships, Girl Child Art Foundation and RMB Latitudes applications, checked on 22 October 2026.
Questions
Where can African creatives find grants and open calls?
NewComma lists grants, residencies, open calls and jobs for African and Black creatives. This post picks the ones still open on 22 October 2026, plus one from RMB Latitudes.
Is Piku part of NewComma?
No. Piku is not part of NewComma. NewComma is where you find work and show your portfolio. Piku is where you quote, take a deposit and invoice once you land it.
How much does NewComma cost?
Lite costs nothing. Plus is USD 6 a month and Pro is USD 10 a month, with 15% off yearly. We checked home.newcomma.com/memberships on 22 October 2026.
How do I invoice a client abroad?
Quote and invoice in the currency you agreed, take a deposit before you start, and send a pay link they can pay by card. Our guide on getting paid by clients abroad covers the details.