Zealous | Artist Opportunities + Creative Community

Hey, Hi, Hello, What’s Up 👋 We thought we were due a quick re-introduction for anybody new here 👀 💜 What even is Zealous? Technically, we’re a submissions platform for creative opportunities 🧑‍💻We host opportunities for the likes of Cass Art, UK New Artists, Folio Society and more. BUT we’re also so much more than this… We’re a community that nurtures creative talent 💫 💜 Who are you trying to help? We champion artists and those who support them. Creatives make our world go round, so we’re working to link creative organisations, artists and judges together in one amazing space. 💜 What can you do for me? If you’re an artist or creative, we can do a thing or two for you 👀 ✨ We can motivate you and provide you with helpful tips and advice if you follow us 🫶 ✨ We can provide you with creative insights on our blog every month 📖 ✨ We can send you the latest creative opportunities straight to your inbox each month 💌 ✨ We run our own Open Calls and Opportunities where you can submit your work for the chance to get some cash to support your art practice 💸 Now we’d love to get to know YOU 💜 So go ahead and introduce yourself in the comments 💜✨ #ArtistIntroduction #ArtistCommunity #ArtistSupport #CreativeNetwork #CreativeIndustries #CreativePeople

Setting Up a Creative Award? We’re here to lend a hand! 👋 Whether you’re an arts organisation in charge of art awards, or an artist keen on launching an open call… Zealous is your co-creator, ready to support you at every turn with our award-winning contest management system, designed to make your life a whole lot easier by saving you time and taking care of the admin so you can focus more on the things that matter to you. So whether you’re running art awards, art prizes, creative grants or calls for submissions….It’s never been easier to launch an online competition. Here’s how it works 🤓👇 📝 Create a customised form. 🌟 Attract creatives from our vast talent pool of emerging artists, freelancers and more. 🧑⚖️ We’ll introduce your judges to our easy-to-use system and e-mail them reminders. ✅  Select and celebrate your award winners. 💌 We’ll email updates and results to everyone involved. 🎊 Celebrate your creatives and create unforgettable moments. Zealous is all about championing creative talent, by reinvesting some of our profits into projects that support the future of the creative industry. 🫶 Tap the link in our bio to bring your art award to life now! 💫 #OpenCallForArtists #OpenCall #CallForEntries #ArtAwards

Hey there 👋 New Year, same us! But for those who have followed us recently, we thought this would be the perfect time for a re-introduction 😃 What exactly is Zealous? 💻 Zealous is an online submission platform connecting organisers, creative candidates and judges together with ease 🥅 Our goal is to save you time, which you can use to create more work, more opportunities and in turn, creating a more creative world 🗣️ We believe that Creative journeys are worth sharing – so we provide as much opportunity as we can to creative people so they can get their work seen and their voices heard! What you can expect to see from us this year? 💡 Creative insights and resources on our blog to help your creative career 🎙️ More Amplify Live sessions talking about important topics 💬 Exclusive interviews with the 5 Amplify 2022 winners 📣 Perhaps even another Amplify Open Call Do you have something else in mind you’d like to see from us? Let us know my dropping a comment below or DM’ing us! 👀 #Creativity #Submission #Platform #Creative #Artists #Art #Insight #Blog

“It’s like a relationship full of red flags 🚩 but the little green ones keep you going… one day I’ll leave it, not sure when” 💬 COMMENT what your relationship with social media feels like rn 👆The quote above is how artist Lucy Rostron (@lucyrostronart ) describes her own relationship with social media. Sometimes it’s difficult to detach our identity as an artist to our perceived value on social media 💔 The constant pressures to post and be consistent on social media can create an unhealthy relationship 🤒 The algorithm can often drain more inspiration than it provides, leaving creatives feeling exhausted and creatively depleted 😪 These creatives keep it real by exposing the drawbacks of social media so we can learn to become more self-aware and use it for creative good 😇 ⬇️ 🎨 Kirsty Paints (@kirstypaintss ) teaches us how to separate our artistic identity from our like count online 💫 Artist Chloe RH (@littletownieart ) shares her perspective on how broken social media has become and the effects of synergetic marketing 📸 Photographer Johnathan Williams (@pharaohdraws ) talks about where he sources his best moments of inspiration (spoiler - it’s not here) 🟡 Founder of Dark Yellow Dot (@darkyellowdot ) Lauren Little reveals the effort and persistence it takes to make your mark on social media 👩‍🎨 Artist Lucy Rostron (@lucyrostronart ) gets real about the frustrations she encounters using social media 👀 READ the full article on our blog via the link in our bio 🫶 SAVE this advice for future reference #ArtistAdvice #ArtistTips #ArtMarketing

Creativity has changed our lives for the better 💜 🪄 Because of creativity, we can channel our complex thoughts and feelings into a magical tangible output. 🤝 Because of creativity, we can build connections across cultures and generations, sharing stories and experiences. 👁️ Because of creativity, we can see the world through the eyes of a stranger. ❤️‍🔥 Because of creativity, we can make new friends that can shape how we think and feel about the world. 🌍 Because of creativity, our world has opened up to more diverse perspectives. 🙏 Because of creativity, we have hope. Creativity is not just a tool or mode of expression. It’s a community-giver, a life-transformer, and sometimes even a lifesaver 🛟 Creativity makes our world a better place 💜 The artworks featured here are by artists who submitted to our Zealous Amplify award, celebrating impactful works on mental health and well-being by creators from across the UK 🎨 Through this open call, we proudly raised over £300 for @createcharity , supporting their vital work empowering vulnerable communities through creativity 🫶 🎨 Artists: @birungiart , @pinkie.maclure , and @jennychanartworks Now that we’ve shared what creativity means to us, tell us - how has creativity changed your life? 💜 #CreateWeek #Creativity #CreativityEveryday #Artist

FREE TO ENTER Open Calls for Artists and Writers 🥰 Because we never share anything less than the best Creative Opportunities each month 😏 📌 SAVE this post 🌟 SHARE this post on your story All links to apply can be found on our ‘opportunity’ highlights 💫 1️⃣ @futureverything Cultural Accelerator Open Call 🎁 Funding up to the value of £25,000, support from Manchester Immersive Technologies Hub and FutureEverything and more 📍 Greater Manchester based artists, creative practitioners, and collectives ⏰ 10th July, 10am (BST) 2️⃣ @burlingtoncontemporary Art Writing Prize 🎁 £1,000 cash prize, your review published on Burlington Contemporary, and the opportunity to publish a review of a future contemporary art exhibition in The Burlington Magazine. 📍Art writers from anywhere ⏰ 15th July, 10am (BST) 3️⃣ @shortsupplymcr x @dmz_studio Made It Open Call 🎁 25 aplicants will exhibit their physical works in a exhibition in Manchester with lots of different prizes to be awarded, including the CASS Art Prize (a Solo show at CASS ART Manchester in 2025) and Curators choice (£200 no strings attached grant) 📍BA and MA graduates who are graduating/have graduated from a North West-based university OR are now based in the North West, having graduated elsewhere ⏰ 19th July, Midnight (BST) 4️⃣ @tomcoxgallery Gallery Open Call 🎁 Exhibit at Tom Cox Gallery from 6th-29th September, with a chance to sell your work 📍Artists of all levels ⏰ 23rd July 5️⃣ @kunstpalast Jutta Cuny-Franz Memorial Award 🎁 The Jutta Cuny-Franz Memorial Award is endowed with 10,000 Euros, Two Talent Prizes are awarded, each with an endowment of 1,500 Euros 📍International call for artists up to the age of 40 who make significant use of glass in their work ⏰ 28th July, 11pm (BST) FOLLOW us if you don’t already to stay up to date with the latest open calls for creatives 🫶 #ZealousCommunity #ZealousOpportunities #ArtCall #ArtContest #ArtCompetition #ArtSubmissions

Only ONE WEEK until the UK 2024 general election 🗳️ But what does this mean for the arts and cultural sector? 🎨 Share this to better inform your creative friends 🫶 ❗️[Disclaimer: We advocate for the arts and do not endorse any specific party or candidate. We’re not suggesting you should vote for a political party solely based on their stance on creativity, sharing this information is only to benefit our sector and creative audience and to generate healthy discussion.] We’ve researched each party’s policy proposals and simplified them into key points, so you can make an informed decision at the ballot box. Remember, informed voting empowers our cultural and creative future 🎭 Sources: 📌 (Conservative Party) The Conservative and Unionist Party Manifesto 2024: Our plan to support sport and the creative sector (Pg 70) 📌 (Labour Party) Creating Growth: Labour’s Plan for the Arts, Culture and Creative Industries 📌 (Liberal Democrats Party) For A Fair Deal, Manifesto 2024: Section 17 - Culture, Media and Sport 📌 (Green Party) Our 2024 General Election Manifesto: Arts, Sports and Culture For All Other articles highlighting arts and cultural policies (linked in our stories/ ‘Resources 🗳️’ highlight): 📌 @campaignforthearts - General Election 2024: What are the parties pledging for the arts? 📌 @dacsforartists - General Election 2024 Manifestos Roundup 📌 @theartnewspaper.official - UK General Election: Where Do The Parties Stand On Culture 📌 @itsnicethat - POV: The UK is losing its creative spark 👀 We’re starting a new initiative in July in response to recent cuts to the arts. Stay tuned for more details! #Creativity #ArtsAndCulture #UKArts

If canvases could talk 👁️👄👁️ Tell us the last time you made art in the comments 🫶 It’s okay – we’ve all been there. Months gone by without touching pen to paper or brush to canvas. Feeling like there’s so much distance between you and your art that you don’t even know how to pick back up where you left off 😔 But remember, this doesn’t mean you’re not an artist 🧑‍🎨❌ ✨ You deserve to make time for yourself to create ✨ and it starts with a small, manageable commitment. So we challenge you… Find 5 minutes a day everyday for the next week ⏰ Those 5 minutes are bonding time for you and your art practice 🤝 Doodle, sketch, paint, or simply brainstorm ideas. It doesn’t have to be perfect or profound, just be playful and use your curiosity to relight that creative fire 🔥 Don’t deny yourself the pleasure and fulfilment that comes from creating when making art is such a HUGE part of who you are. Embrace it, nurture it, and return closer to your true creative self as each day passes and your creative relationship with yourself strengthens. You owe it to yourself to keep creating 💜 #ArtistLife #CreativeJourney #ArtistStruggles

Can’t say we didn’t warn you 🥺 Imagine this. Our climate is collapsing, and our survival hinges on inhabiting the bodies of whales 🐋 Having grown up near the coast in Essex, artist Sam Williams (@s_a_m_w ) has always been intrigued by his relationship to the coastal landscape. Sam began to conduct in-depth research around whales, which developed into thinkings around cetacean strandings as omens, climate change, oceanic futures, communal strategies of coping with disaster and bodies in states of transformation. Sam tells us more about his fascinating approach to his art practice… “Currently I am thinking more and more that my practice is multi- or even non-disciplinary. Despite working predominantly with moving-image, I have expanded this term to encompass my work with choreography, writing, sound, drawing and most significantly collage. I now approach all work with a collage mindset and think about assemblage as my main way of creating. This spills out into the way I edit films, create and craft movement with live bodies, write texts and so on.” “My practice is research driven and I take a holistic and interconnected approach to work making. The final form of a thing is not predetermined but emerges throughout the process of making. Often there is no final form but a multitude of outputs from an ongoing entangled maze of research. I am resistant to setting things in stone. To beginnings and endings. I enjoy open-ended-ness, ongoing-ness and collaboration.” Sam Williams is the 2nd Place Winner of Environmental Art Award Zealous Amplify: Environment for his Film ‘Deep In The Eye And The Belly’. Read more about Sam and his work on the Zealous Blog, via the link in our bio. #ClimateChangeArt #EnvrionmentalArt #EmergingArtist #ClimateMemes

🚨 Final Call For Entries - One Week Left! 🚨 SAVE this opportunity right now 🫶 @womeninartprize_ is an annual award celebrating emerging women artists 👩‍🎨 The Prize strives to challenge the systemic biases that exist in the art world, recognising the exceptional work of women artists whilst provide a platform for female artists who are often underrepresented and undervalued in the industry 💜 🎁 Prizes include: ✨ Multiple cash awards up to the value of £1500 - including The Susan Angoy Artist of African and Caribbean Heritage Award prize of £1500, and the Best Overseas Artist Award of £250, A Solo Exhibition at The Cass Art and £250 worth of Art vouchers to spend in the store, and the Winning Work displayed at Zebra One Gallery + more! ✨ Private View and Award Ceremony at The Roundhouse Camden 📍All emerging women artists who are Painters, Photographers, Illustrators and Printmakers living and working in the UK, and overseas women artists may apply for the Overseas Prize. 💸 Fees: £15 for Students and £25 Standard ⏰ Deadline: 30th June, 23:59 (BST) 👉 ENTER by visiting the link at @womeninartprize_ bio 👈 If you’re in need of some inspiration for your entry, check out the 2023 Finalists and Prizewinners from this reel 💫 Artists and their artworks: 1️⃣ ‘Lost To Daydreams’ by @avakheraart 2️⃣ ‘BETH’ by @sv_fineart 3️⃣ ‘Glass of Milk’ by @weisstub 4️⃣ ‘Self Portraits’ (inspired by Francis Bacon) by @melodythorntonartist 5️⃣ ‘Roles’ by @saragregoryart 6️⃣ ‘Lucid Dreaming’ by @suziesilk1 7️⃣ ‘Nestle’ by @jodiewingham 8️⃣ ‘Wednesday’ by @lindseytysonart #ArtPrize #WomenArtist #EmergingWomenArtists #FemaleArtistsOfInstagram #WomenInArt #WomenPhotographers #WomenPainters #WomenPrintmakers #WomenInIllustration

Must. Protect. My. Peace. 💆 SHARE this with your bestie 🫶 And repeat these creative affirmations after us… ✨ I honour my need for solitude to nurture my creativity and well-being ✨ I embrace my unique creative voice and express it fearlessly ✨ I am resilient and I use criticism to greater my creativity ✨ I trust the winding path of my creative journey ✨ I cultivate a steady creative routine that nurtures my growth and productivity ✨ I release creative projects that no longer inspire me ✨ I honour the call of unfinished projects that set my soul on fire YOU are doing just fine, now go and be the thriving artist that you deserve to be 💜 As always, thank you to the wonderful souls who inspire us and make us laugh every single day: 1️⃣ @wordsarevibrations 2️⃣ @camilaas.art 3️⃣ amandakettererart 4️⃣ @liztranwrites 5️⃣ @linescapes.drawing 6️⃣ @cosmiccanvass #ArtMemes #ArtMeme #ArtistLife #ArtistLifestyle

Please, please, please, where is the mute button for my own mind 🔇 It’s just another day in the life inside my creative mind 🫠 SHARE and SAVE this if it resonates with you 🫶 The day begins with the blaring of an alarm, a harsh reminder that those brilliant ideas swirling in my mind just before sleep are now lost to the night. Anxiety fills the void left by their absence. Pulling myself out of bed, I start my morning routine. Yet, the questions creep in: Am I good enough? Do I deserve a creative career? Am I worthy, and will I make it? It’s not even 7:30AM before my first existential crisis of the day. Arriving at my studio, a spark of excitement ignites. A surge of motivation, butterflies in my belly and a flood of ideas… six different projects all in need of my attention. I settle into a good flow and I feel like I’m on the cusp of creating my best work yet. But the euphoria is fleeting. Art block sneaks in like an uninvited guest. I reach for my phone, searching for inspiration, but instead, I find myself drowning in insecurity. Every scroll deepens my sense of inadequacy, and the fear of failure casts a long shadow over me. As the day wears on, my initial burst of energy fades. The joy I once found in my craft feels like a distant memory. The delicate balance between passion and pressure tips over, leaving me drained and disheartened. I head home and eat something, though the meal barely registers. Night falls, and while the world grows quiet, my mind does not. Thoughts—both good and bad—race around a track in my brain, refusing to settle. Lying in bed, my final thoughts drift toward possibility. Maybe, just maybe, the next sunrise will bring a breakthrough. With that fragile hope, I surrender to sleep, ready to face another day in the life of a creative mind. #CreativeMind #ArtistLife #ArtistProblems #ArtistStruggles #CreativeIndustries #CreativeCommunity #ArtistLifestyle