Religions for Peace Europe, in cooperation with the Committee for interreligious and Interconvictional Dialogue of the Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe, announces an international painting and photography competition on the theme:
| “Interfaith Dialogue: Bridges of Cooperation, Peace and Understanding” |
This competition aims to encourage young people to express, through art and photography, their ideas on religious harmony, respect for diversity, peaceful coexistence, and the role of dialogue in building a more open and inclusive society.
| COMPETITION SECTIONS
Section A: Painting |
AGE CATEGORY
18–30 years old |
PRIZES PER SECTION
1st Prize: 700 EUR |
Submitted works should reflect themes such as interfaith coexistence, respect for others, peace, solidarity, friendship, cooperation among religious communities, and shared human values.
Geographic Scope and Partner Participation
The competition is open to young people aged 18–30 who reside in Europe or are affiliated with a European university, faith/community organization, or partner network.
The European Interfaith Youth Network within Religions for Peace Europe will support outreach and encourage youth participation. Other partner organizations may also be invited to disseminate the call and encourage participation, without being considered co-organizers unless confirmed in writing by the organizers.
Prizes, Recognition and Online Voting
Prizes will be awarded separately for the Painting and Photography sections. For each section, the following prizes will be awarded:
First Prize: Trophy, Letter of Recognition, and 700 EUR.
Second Prize: Framed Certificate of Recognition and 500 EUR.
Third Prize: Certificate of Recognition and 300 EUR.
Selected works may also be exhibited in Strasbourg on 18–19 November 2026 and promoted through the official communication channels of Religions for Peace Europe and the Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe.
Online voting: Following eligibility screening, selected paintings and photographs may be published online for public voting. The paintings and photographs receiving the highest number of online votes may be selected for the exhibition in Strasbourg on 18–19 November 2026, subject to space, quality, and safeguarding/data protection requirements.
Evaluation
Works will be evaluated by a jury based on creativity, originality, relevance to the theme, artistic expression, and the message conveyed. Online voting may be used for exhibition selection and public engagement, while the final prizes will be determined by the jury.
Application Period, Deadline and Contact
| Application period: 1 September–10 November 2026 | Submissions should be sent by email to: art@rfpeurope.org |
Each submission should include
- Full name
- Age
- Country
- University or institution
- Contact number or email address
- Competition section: Painting or Photography
- A short description of the work
Technical Requirements
- Accepted file formats: JPG, PNG, or PDF.
- Maximum file size: 10 MB per submitted file.
- For paintings: participants should submit a clear scanned or photographed digital copy of the artwork.
- Physical painting works should measure between 20 × 20 cm and 80 × 80 cm, where physical transport or exhibition is required.
- Painting techniques may be freely chosen by the participant according to the subject and artistic concept of the work. Accepted techniques may include pencil, rapidograph/technical pen, ink, pen drawing, watercolor, acrylic paint, mixed media, or other non-AI artistic techniques.
- Painting works should be created on physical materials such as cardboard, canvas, wood, stone, or other suitable artistic supports.
- For photographs: participants should submit a high-resolution original image.
- All submissions must be the original creation of the participant.
- Fully AI-generated artworks or images are not eligible for submission. Minor technical adjustments, such as cropping, exposure correction, colour/light correction, or scan cleanup, are acceptable, provided that the original artwork or photograph was created by the participant. Any use of digital tools must be declared in the submission.
Data Protection
Personal data submitted in connection with the competition will be processed solely for the administration, communication, evaluation, online voting, promotion, and documentation of the competition and will not be used for unrelated purposes.
Use of Submitted Works
By submitting an entry, participants retain full ownership of their work while granting the organizers a non-exclusive right to display, publish, reproduce, and promote the submitted work in connection with the competition, online voting, exhibition, and related educational or promotional activities, with appropriate attribution to the creator.
Photography Permissions
Participants are responsible for obtaining permission from any identifiable individuals appearing in submitted photographs. For photographs featuring children, appropriate parental or guardian consent must be obtained prior to submission.
Award Ceremony and Travel Support
The official opening of the exhibition, together with the award ceremony and announcement of the winners, will take place on 17 or 18 November 2026 in Strasbourg, France (exact date to be confirmed). The exhibition of selected works will be held on 18–19 November 2026.
The organizers will cover the travel and accommodation expenses of the winners attending the award ceremony in Strasbourg. The practical arrangements and applicable conditions will be communicated directly to the winners. Selected works may be presented during the ceremony or included in the exhibition.
We invite all eligible young people to take part in this competition and contribute through their talent to sharing messages of peace, dialogue, and interfaith understanding.
Websites
https://rfpeurope.org/ | https://niric-dialogue.eu/
