Legs walking illustration

Living Without Leaving?

Living without Leaving? is an art competition inviting emerging and established artists to focus on the shared challenges faced by youth in the Adriatic-Ionian region, particularly the question whether to stay in their home countries or leave for opportunities elsewhere.

Focusing on themes of migration, identity, and belonging, the exhibition highlights the dynamic movement of youth. This is an opportunity to share your unique journey as a young artist from the Adriatic-Ionian region, revealing the complexities and aspirations that shape your creative voice.

The selected artworks will be part of a nomadic exhibition across multiple countries, creating a space for dialogue and cultural exchange.

This initiative is part of a wider project which aims to promote cooperation, partnership, reconciliation and solidarity as key values of Interreg programmes and the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR).

Why participate?

  • Nomadic exhibition (Belgium, Greece, Albania, North Macedonia)
  • Artist fee: 200 EUR for 15 selected artworks

Application

  • Open to emerging and established artists (18-35 years old) who are residents or nationals from: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia.
  • Submit one personal artwork, created within the last five years (no earlier than 2020).
Format
  • A0= 84,1 x 118,9 cm (horizontal or vertical)/ A1= 59,4 x 84,1 cm (horizontal or vertical)
Accepted artworks form
  • Paintings & Drawings
  • Photography
  • Mixed Media & Digital Art
  • Textile Art
  • Sculpture & Ceramics
Submission Materials
  • Artist Biography: Brief introduction to your practice and its connection to the exhibition theme (max. 500 words).
  • Artwork Presentation: Description of submission (medium, dimensions, technical requirements, and theme engagement) (max. 300 words).
  • Contact Info: Phone, name, email, social media, website.

How to Submit

  • Send materials to info@livingwithoutleaving.eu with the subject ‘NAME - Open Call Living Without Leaving?’
  • Submit work in JPG, JPEG, or PNG (high-quality, 1-10MB), named as: FirstName_LastName_Title.

Selection Process

Submissions will be reviewed by a jury of communication experts and art professors, with final validation by the European Commission. The panel includes Gokas Vangelis, Head of the Department of Fine Arts & Art Sciences (University of Ioannina) and Xenofon Bitsikas, Professor of Painting and Dean of the School of Fine Arts (University of Ioannina). Additionally, independent experts Anja Gunjak, an art curator and critic, and French artist Thanouvone Thi-Hack Baldine will contribute their expertise to the selection process.

Key Dates:

  • Deadline: 15 March 2025
  • Winners Announced: 30 March 2025
  • Exhibition Opening: 6 May 2025

For any inquiries or further information, please contact us: info@livingwithoutleaving.eu