Some weeks, creativity flows so easily it feels like magic. Other weeks? Not so much. Deadlines pile up, rejections sting, and the studio stays empty longer than we’d like. But here’s the thing, perseverance isn’t about pushing through without struggle, it’s about showing up anyway. Every artist has faced doubt, distraction, and detours, yet it’s the steady act of returning to the work that shapes the strongest voices.
The nina residency is a fully funded two-week program in Idyllwild, offering LGBTQ+ California artists time, space, and forest refuge for creative focus, reflection, and renewal. Visit the website to learn more. Deadline is September 26.
500 Capp Street invites international and U.S. artists to apply for its 2025–26 residency, offering two months of research and exhibition space in San Francisco. Learn more at the website. Deadline is September 30.
South Arts’ FY26 Emerging Traditional Artists Program awards $5,000 and mentorship to Appalachian folk artists, supporting skill development, cultural preservation, and community impact through training, networking, and peer exchange. For more information, visit the website. Deadline is September 30.
Praxis Center understands the struggle. We know that some days, it can feel easier to just throw in the towel. And that’s why we ceaselessly gather experts and resources from around the art world to keep that motivation fresh. So hang in there, no matter what, and lean into the struggle.
Brainard Carey is an author, artist and educator. He is the director of Praxis Center for Aesthetics and is currently faculty at the School of Visual Arts in NYC. He has written seven books for artists, including Making it in the Art World. His seventh book, The Problems in the Art World: An Artist’s A-Z Action Guide, is available now.
Photo credit: 500 Cap Street; Installation shot from Sherwin Rio: As Above So Below photograph by Henrik Kam