A public performance and visual art festival activating 14th Street in New York City with experimental, site-responsive work. Art in Odd Places 2026: UTOPIAS invites artists and collectives to imagine the city beyond its current conditions, using performance, installation, sound, and participatory practices to transform everyday urban space. Taking place over two days in September, the festival turns one of Manhattan’s busiest corridors into a site for artistic intervention, where audiences encounter work in motion, in passing, and in direct engagement. This opportunity is suited for artists interested in public-facing practice, social interaction, and creating temporary situations that invite reflection, dialogue, and shared experience in the city.
Explore more artist residency and open call opportunities at
https://contemporaryperformance.com/opportunities/
Opportunity Snapshot
What:
Art in Odd Places 2026: UTOPIAS
Who:
Individual artists and collectives
Where:
14th Street, New York, NY, USA
Application Fee:
0
Festival Dates:
September 26 & 27, 12–5pm
Deadline:
April 21, 2026, 11:59pm EST
Official Link:
https://artinoddplaces.org/utopias/
About the Opportunity
Art in Odd Places (AiOP) is an annual public art festival that transforms 14th Street in New York City into a site for performance, installation, and participatory work. The 2026 edition, titled UTOPIAS, invites artists to engage with themes of sense, dream, body, care, and connection.
Artists are invited to propose projects that activate public space through performance, sound, installation, and action. The festival emphasizes audience interaction, reflection, and the creation of temporary situations that open dialogue within the urban environment.
What Is Offered
- Presentation opportunity within a public art festival in New York City
- Outdoor activation along 14th Street
- Platform for performance, installation, and participatory work
- Engagement with audiences in public space
- Inclusion in the 21st edition of Art in Odd Places
Who Should Apply
- Individual artists
- Artist collectives
Timeline
Deadline: April 21, 2026, 11:59pm EST
Festival Dates: September 26 & 27, 12–5pm
Why This Opportunity Matters
This open call offers a platform for artists to present work directly in public space, engaging audiences outside traditional venues. It supports practices that experiment with participation, site, and social interaction within the city.
Apply
https://artinoddplaces.org/utopias/
Explore More Opportunities
Visit https://contemporaryperformance.com/opportunities/
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Image caption: Ayana Evans, AiOP 2017: SENSE, I Want Some Sugar with My S***. Photo by Karl Cooney
