Terms of the 22nd International Art and Graphics Contest “In My Homeland”
Green Cross Belarus NGO with the support of the Green Cross International, Science and Practical Center for Bioresources of the National Academy of Science of Belarus, International Union of Teachers-Artists announces 22nd International contest-exhibition “In My Homeland”.
Contest themes:
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“In My Homeland” – traditional free theme of the contest.
- “Dedicated to Petrov-Vodkin”
2028 will mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of the famous Russian artist Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin. Not everyone knows that he wrote two excellent autobiographical novels: "Khlynovsk" and "Euclid's Space". In "Euclid's Space", the artist talks about the search for his creative method, about the discovery of a new perception of space. We strongly recommend reading them!
We suggest you to do your creative work using the system of space that Petrov-Vodkin created in his works (spherical perspective), his color scheme. NOT a copy of the artist's work or a portrait against the background of his work, but yours own.
- “Me and…”
This nomination is not just a SELF-PORTRAIT, but about your favorite places, events and situations.: "I'm at the theater, I'm at the museum, I'm in the open air, I'm with friends, I'm at home, me and my journey...". I'm in that place or with those people where I'm interested. It will be good if your creative work will be not only well organised and executed, but also convey your passion to the audience.
- “Disappearing Nature: Keepsake pictures” (together with SPC for Bioresources of the National Academy of Science of Belarus)
The disappearing landscapes of the small Homeland are most vulnerable to climate change. The flora and fauna of open habitats – meadows, steppes, swamps, deserts – was under special threat in the era of the sixth global extinction. Biologists note that in recent decades, against the background of rising global temperatures around the world, biodiversity has been declining at an alarming rate. Scientists have found that most terrestrial cold-blooded organisms are not sufficiently resistant to high temperatures to survive in open habitats. Insects were in the greatest danger. Since insects perform central functions among terrestrial animals as pollinators, consumers of living plants, and utilizers of dead organic matter, their disappearance affects the rest of the natural world, primarily swamps, meadows, steppes, and deserts.
Let's try to preserve this world in our paintings!
Please pay special attention to the species from the Red Book of your region.
In works on this theme, in addition to reproducing the appearance of animals and plants, there should be a plot reflecting the interactions between the characters inside.
It will also be interesting if you can convey the recognition of a particular place in your work!
As an example, we suggest you get acquainted with the works of the artist John James Audubon.
The nomination is conducted in partnership with the SPC for Bioresources of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. Additional diplomas from the partner will be awarded in this nomination and an exhibition will be organised at the Academy of Sciences of Belarus.
- “Art in the process” – photographic nomination for young artists
About where and how creative people grow up, about clubs, studios and interesting schools. About young artists, musicians, artists, craftsmen, inventors, ballerinas, gymnasts, figure skaters, photographers... and about their teachers. About everything related to creativity in and outside of school, about imaginations, performances, experiments, open-air performances, self-trials, aspirations and experiences – in general, about a young life filled with creativity.
Entries for this nomination are accepted only in electronic form via the form on the website (to be published on the website on October 1, 2026). The image resolution must be at least 2000 pixels on the smaller side.
The photo must be taken by the author.
Color and monochrome images taken during the same shooting that have a common graphic content (duplicates) are not considered.
It is not allowed to collage or add labels/elements to the original image. Images generated using AI are not accepted for consideration..
Suggested techniques (optional):
Contemporary art is dynamic – artists incessantly come up with new drawing techniques that help them to better reflect the world around us and their attitude to it.
We suggest our contest applicants try their hand at collage, as well as remember the somewhat neglected technique of lead or color pencil drawing.
Collage (participants' age from 10 to 18 y.o.)
Conventionality! Symbolism! Generalization! Experiment! Collage presents a new way of depicting both familiar themes and new ones as well as of expressing our emotional attitude to the things we depict.
Have you ever noticed how much our life resembles a collage? Isn't it, like a collage, made up of various bits and pieces: home, family, school, friends, love, hobbies, travels, conversations, music, films, etc? Each of these numerous pieces has its own size, emotional value, color, shape, texture, and significance we allocate to it depending on the role it plays in the canvas of our life.
By the way, the name collage originates from the French word meaning TO GLUE. There are a few different forms of collage – paper, magazine, art and even floral. This technique allows gluing, layering and combining totally different elements as long as it agrees with the author's concept.
When one starts a collage, the result is impossible to predict. How will fragments of color paper, cardboard and newspaper come together in each particular project? This is an amazing opportunity for experiment. There is no answer or prearranged solution!
Pencil drawing technique
This technique is not particularly popular with young artists probably due to its association with tedious hours of sketching in the classroom. By creating a separate nomination for this technique we would like to emphasize its potential. It is not only the general color scheme of your drawing but also a variety of stroke methods that can enhance the expressive impact of your work even if it has been created with an ordinary lead pencil.
Using color pencils/crayons can be exciting, too! For instance, you can mix colors by covering one layer with another or by interspersing strokes of different colors. What is more, the untouched areas of the paper you use might become an element of your composition.
Tip: take your time to study works by famous graphic illustrators in order to know more about/master the pencil drawing technique.
PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS:
1/ Возраст участников ОТ 5 ДО 18 ЛЕТ включительно.
2/ Artwork should be creative, original and performed entirely by its author in the current year. NB. ALL ARTWORKS WILL BE CHECKED FOR PLAGIARISM.
NB. РАБОТЫ ПРОХОДЯТ ПРОВЕРКУ НА ПЛАГИАТ! WE RECOMMEND YOU TO CHECK WORKS FOR PLAGIARISM LOCALLY BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR WORK TO THE CONTEST.
3/ Artwork dimensions are at the author's discretion, no framing.
4/ Original works are submitted to the contest. A REGISTRATION FORM is pasted on the back of each work. The form must be filled out on a computer or by hand in legible block letters.
5/ No works will be critisized or returned to their authors. The contest organisers reserve the right to use the originals and copies of the artworks to popularize and promote the contest as well as for their educational and charitable activities without asking for the author's consent or paying the author's fee.
APPLICATIONS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED FROM OCTOBER 1, 2026 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2026.
WORKS are to BE MAILED TO THE FOLLOWING POSTAL ADDRESS:
Non-governmental Organization "Green Cross Belarus"
Contest "In My Homeland"
222201, Minsk oblast, Smolevichi, the Republic of Belarus
(The provided postal address is complete. The works will be picked up directly from the post office by the organizers.)
We ask all the participants to use the services of REGULAR or EMS post. DO NOT INDICATE the value (price) of the goods on parcels.
RESULTS OF THE CONTEST:
The jury will consider all applications in February 2027 and name winners / diploma recipients in all nominations. The awarded works will be used to compile an exhibition and presented on the GCB website.
The 22nd INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF ART AND GRAPHICS «IN MY HOMELAND» is to be opened in April 2027.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
(+375 17) 392 88 02, (+375 29) 667 57 80