Every year in late Autumn the Section prepares an annual tender or call for projects of non-governmental public and private cultural organisations or public institutions, which are not otherwise subjects of a direct call by their founders (either MInistry of Municipality). This annual public call also includes a tender for working stipends for international residencies by 10 distinguished artists. The so-called programme public tender is published every four years and involves the most outstanding producers in various fields (fine arts, cartoons, design, etc) competing for the three-year support contract. Tenders or calls aim to create better working conditions for visual artists as well as funding exhibitions or festivals and facilitating the international promotion of Slovene visual arts. Individual freelance artists can also compete for a residency at the Ministry's New York or Berlin studios, while NGOs can get subsidies for vocational training initiatives.

The evaluation of programmes and projects in the Section for Visual Arts is made by two expert juries, each consisting four members, which are appointed by the Minister. The Visual Arts Expert Jury also selects the promoter of a proposed artist who will represent Slovenia at the Venice Biennial, while the Design and Architecture Expert Jury selects an organiser to participate in the Architectural Biennial.