Resources & Opportunities

Maine College of Art & Design provides career-connected resources, professional opportunities, and creative networks that support artists at every stage of their practice. Explore jobs and opportunities, funding pathways, residencies, and tools that help you build a sustainable creative life during your studies and beyond.

Current Opportunities

Jobs

Maine College of Art & Design uses Handshake to help connect students and alumni to nationwide opportunities.

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Artists at Work sends out a newsletter on the first of every month with new jobs and opportunities listings. This includes calls for art, residencies, grants, fellowships and more!

Resources

We strive to keep our community informed about creative professional development opportunities, including grants, fellowships, residencies, and related resources.

Jobs Search

Arts Specific

General

Remote

Freelance

Gaming

Graphic Design

Studio Spaces

Here is a selection of studio spaces within 25 miles of Portland:

Bakery Photo Collective: For film and digital photographers
Cassidy Point 121 Cassidy Point Drive, Portland, ME
Dana Warp Mill 90 Bridge St, Westbrook, Me
Fort Andross 14 Maine St, Brunswick, ME
Mayo Street Arts 10 Mayo St, Portland, ME
Pepperell Mill Campus 2 Main St, Biddeford, ME
Running with Scissors 250 Anderson St, Portland, ME
SPACE Studios 538 Congress St, Portland, ME
State Theater Building 142 High St, Portland, ME

There are a variety of artist studio spaces available in the Portland area. This information can change frequently, but Creative Portland has a directory of spaces that is searchable by medium.

Maine Organizations

AIGA is a national organization that advances design as a professional craft, strategic advantage, and vital cultural force. AIGA Maine is the local chapter that offers memberships to access networking, programming, and events, as well as additional benefits.

Creative Portland is a nonprofit organization that seeks to leverage, grow, and sustain Portland’s creative industries, enterprises, and workforce. As the City’s official local arts agency, they provide connections, maps, and a bevy of additional resources, as well as managing the listings for Portland’s First Friday Artwalk.

MADE: Maine Ad and Design: To celebrate, cultivate, and connect Maine’s professional creative community, including advertising, design, and marketing agencies, corporate marketing teams, media organizations, independent professionals, and students.

Maine Arts Commission is a State of Maine agency devoted to enhancing the cultural heritage and cultural programs within the state. Their programs include arts accessibility, arts education, grants development, media arts, public arts, traditional arts, visual arts, and more, and they offer a variety of grant opportunities.

Maine Crafts Association is a nonprofit organization that provides advocacy for craft artists, with a focus on marketing and sales opportunities, business and creative development programs, public education, networking, and more. They offer memberships that provide established and emerging craft artists with connections and visibility.

New Ventures helps people all over Maine to venture in new directions by offering tuition-free programs for career, business, and financial education.

The Union of Maine Visual Artists (UMVA) represents visual artists statewide in all fields of endeavor. They collaborate with other cultural and political organizations and raise awareness for significant issues while promoting an inclusive arts community in Maine.

Additional Resources

Art Deadline has been dedicated to worldwide distribution of information for artists and institutions; part of their mission is to sponsor grants to help artists, as the arts are an important and innate part of the human experience.

Call For Entry Cafe is a resource for finding national and international calls for art.

GYST is an artist-run company providing resources, technology, and solutions created by artists for artists.

Hyperallergic is a forum for serious, playful, and radical thinking about art in the world today. Founded in 2009, Hyperallergic is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York.

Sunlight Tax is a great resource for artists and freelancers. Hannah Cole, the founder, empowers creative workers with accessible tax and business setup skills. They provide engaging tax workshops for creative audiences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these resources only for current students?

Many opportunities are available to alumni and members of the wider creative community, not only current students. Through our Artists at Work resources, Maine College of Art & Design supports artists long after graduation with job listings, grants, residencies, and career guidance that evolve alongside your practice. Some tools are tailored to students and recent graduates, while others are designed to support artists and designers for life.

How often are jobs, grants, and residencies updated?

Opportunities are updated on different schedules depending on the organization or program. Job boards, newsletters, and calls for work may refresh weekly or monthly, while grants and residencies follow set application cycles. Artists are encouraged to check original sources regularly and treat this as a living artist residencies and grants list rather than a static directory.

Do I need formal representation or extensive experience to apply?

No, many artist jobs and opportunities are designed for emerging and early-career creatives. Selection committees often prioritize artistic vision, problem-solving ability, and potential for growth over formal credentials.

Can I apply to opportunities outside my primary discipline?

Yes. Many listings support interdisciplinary work and welcome artists whose practices span multiple media or professional roles. Creative professional development opportunities often value adaptability, collaboration, and cross-disciplinary thinking, especially in areas such as public art, education, design, and community-based practice.

What if I’m balancing creative work with another job or responsibilities?

Many opportunities acknowledge that artists balance studio practice with work, caregiving, or study. Residencies, grants, and fellowships may offer flexible timelines, short-term commitments, or project-based support. These structures align with Maine College of Art & Design’s approach to helping artists sustain creative lives over time, not just at a single career stage.