2026 Visual Arts Project Applications

This page sets out the conditions, timeline and evaluation criteria for taking part in the 8th International Istanbul Children and Youth Art Biennial 2026. Participants must submit their projects by the set dates and in line with the set criteria.

A- AIM

The eighth Istanbul Children and Youth Art Biennial will take place in April–May 2026. Held every two years, the biennial pursues its overall aim of “creating the right climate for raising creative new generations”.

The biennial helps children and young people aged 4–18 grow into the skilled, well-equipped generations needed by the high-value-added industries on which our country’s development depends, while encouraging students to engage with contemporary art, to work with different materials, techniques and disciplines, and to produce original works of art. By supporting learners of every age, it aims to help raise productive, informed art lovers who will shape cultural and artistic life.

B- PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

Participation and all events are free of charge. The biennial is open to applications from teachers at all types of schools who teach students aged 4–18, parents, independent art organisations and artist-educators.

Teachers share the conceptual framework set by the biennial curator with their students and tell them about the biennial. Ideas for the works to be produced are discussed together. Teachers then submit the ideas that have been developed into projects to the Biennial Evaluation Committee through the “Project Application Form” on the website.

Applications will be evaluated by the curators and by the Biennial Evaluation Committee, made up of expert artists and art educators. If it considers it necessary, the committee may contact project owners by e-mail or telephone to give feedback on developing their projects.

Production begins for the projects that pass the preliminary evaluation. During this process, project owners stay in touch with committee members. Completed projects are sent so that they reach the venue by the set delivery date.

1. Concept: “Let Your Art Meet Happiness” (a detailed description and the conceptual framework are available at cocukgenclikbienal.org).
2. The biennial is open to all kinds of artistic production by pre-school, primary, middle and high school students working under the guidance of teachers, adults or artists.
3. The venue where the works will be exhibited and the way they are installed will be decided by the curator and the art board.
4. If, after the preliminary evaluation, a negative discrepancy is found between the work described in the application and the work delivered by a project that has earned a place in the biennial, the right not to exhibit the work is reserved.
5. As stated in the application criteria, the right not to exhibit works is also reserved if adult intervention is detected in them or if they are found to be copies.

Timeline

| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 October – 5 December 2025 | Visual arts applications |
| 5 December 2025 – 15 January 2026 | Evaluation of visual arts projects |
| 20 January 2026 | Announcement of project application results |
| 20 January 2026 – 23 March 2026 | Production of approved projects |
| 1 October 2025 – 22 February 2026 | Applications for digital projects, music and performing arts |
| 1 March 2026 | Announcement of application results for digital projects, music and performing arts |

Note: The delivery date and place, and the opening and closing dates, will be announced separately.

D- EVALUATION

Applications will be evaluated in stages by the curators and by the Biennial Evaluation Committee, made up of expert artists and art educators.

Only projects that meet the criteria set out in the participation requirements will be considered.

Evaluation Criteria

• Works must be original and must not be made with teacher intervention.
• Works must be made of durable materials that will not be damaged in shipping or on display.
• Participants must be aged 4–18.
• Works must be innovative and in keeping with this year’s concept.
• Each work must have a concept text with meaningful content that reflects the work.
• The idea, project and concept text must be appropriate for the child’s age group.
• Works must not contain discriminatory or othering content.

Applications may be in disciplines such as video art, sound and image installations, new media art, sculpture, ceramics, works made from waste materials, mixed media, painting, photography, dance, music, drama and stage performance.

Priority will be given to projects by disadvantaged and disabled participants and to collectively produced projects.

E- DELIVERY

Accepted projects are handed over to the biennial team, together with the “Delivery Documents”, on the date and at the place set and announced.

Delivery Documents: Templates for the delivery documents will be sent to the owners of accepted projects.

• Work label
• Package label form
• Delivery receipt form
• Installation template for multi-part works
• Shipping label form for participants from outside Istanbul

When projects are delivered, the name, institution, contact details and number of pieces must be clearly marked on the package, and the same information must also appear on the back of the work. For projects that require a special display, an installation diagram must be included in the package.

Method of Delivery

• Participants in Istanbul must deliver their works by hand, through an authorised person, against signature.
• Participants from outside Istanbul must ship their announced projects so that they reach the venue by the delivery dates. The project owner is responsible for any damage that may occur in transit.

Works must be collected from the venue within 3 days of the end of the biennial; participants from outside Istanbul must arrange their return shipping within 3 days.

Digital Deliveries

Accepted video works must be sent to [email protected] by e-mail or WeTransfer by 06 April 2026.

• The file format must be MP4 only.
• The video must begin and end with 2 seconds of black screen.
• The video must end with credits (project title, year, school name, and the first names and surnames of everyone in the project team).
• The credits must be set in Times New Roman at 12–18 pt.

F- RIGHTS

All rights to the projects, works, performances, concerts and other pieces submitted belong to the individuals and groups who produced them. Photographs and footage of the works may be used in the catalogue, posters, website, promotional film, brochures and event materials with the permission of the work’s owner and under a “Copyright Transfer Agreement”.

Under the Law on Intellectual and Artistic Works, the copyright in submitted artworks belongs to their owners. Works will not be used without their owners’ permission.