Open Call for Artists

Open Call for Artists 2026: Geoje International Art Festival (South Korea)

International Museum Exhibition with No Participation Fee

Are you looking for an international museum art exhibition in 2026 – with no participation fee and long-term reference value for your CV? The 12th Geoje International Art Festival 2026 in South Korea offers a rare opportunity.

Under the theme "Culture and Arts – Join Hands Together", the festival understands art as a connecting language across cultural, geographical, and social boundaries.

About the Geoje International Art Festival

The Geoje International Art Festival is one of the established international art exhibitions in Asia. The exhibition takes place in two renowned museums:

  • Haegeumgang Theme Museum
  • Yukyung Art Museum

Both museums are located on Geoje Island (South Korea) and have permanent collections of contemporary art.

The festival provides a platform for:

  • contemporary painting
  • drawing
  • sculpture

Photography, printmaking, installation, and video are not permitted.

Open Call for International Artists 2026

I, Daniel Heinz, am a jury member of the festival and cordially invite artists from around the world to participate.

Participation enables:

  • exhibition of one artwork in a museum context
  • international visibility
  • permanent museum reference for your CV

One artwork will be exhibited per artist.

Particularly suitable for:

  • Emerging Artists
  • Art Students
  • Artists looking to build international museum experience

Key Information at a Glance

Theme Culture and Arts – Join Hands Together
Application Period January – April 30, 2026
Exhibition Period October – December 25, 2026
Categories Painting (diptych allowed), Drawing, Sculpture
Artwork Size (Paintings) Minimum 50 × 70 cm
Maximum 200 cm
Participation Fee ✔️ None – completely free
Artwork Submission Deadline The original artwork must arrive at the museum in South Korea by June 30, 2026 at the latest.

Costs & Organization

Participation in the festival is free of charge.

Artists only cover:

  • Material costs
  • Shipping costs (rolled shipping approx. 45 € with DHL)

👉 Framing, exhibition, and organization are handled by the museum.

Donation Model & Volunteer Work – Explained Transparently

All exhibited artworks are donated to the museum and become part of the permanent museum collection.

In return, artists receive:

  • an official donation certificate
  • an institutional reference
  • long-term international visibility

Important: Copyright remains entirely with the artists. Only the physical original artwork is donated.

Why This Model?

An exhibition of this scale requires:

  • Transport and logistics
  • Insurance
  • Energy and personnel costs
  • Public relations

Although the museum has its own facilities, significant ongoing costs arise. Part of the organizational work is done on a voluntary basis to enable international cultural exchange.

👉 The donation of the artwork is therefore a fair, mutual exchange:
The museum provides infrastructure and international reach – artists contribute through a work with long-term museum value.

No Sale of Artworks

The Geoje International Art Festival is not a sales exhibition.

  • no sales
  • no commission
  • no gallery representation

This project is aimed at artists who want to give their work museum value and a long-term reference – not those expecting short-term sales.

Awards & Recognition

Last year, around 400 artists participated.

Awards given:

30

Best Artist Awards

Invitation to a solo exhibition in 2027

20

Excellence Awards

Recognition for outstanding artistic achievement

10

Curators Awards

Special recognition by the curators

Additionally, all selected artists receive:

  • Certificates of participation
  • Inclusion in the printed exhibition catalogue
  • International visibility and a lifelong CV reference

Application & Process – Step by Step

Step 1: Digital Application (Pre-Selection)

The application is initially submitted exclusively digitally via email.

Please send:

  • a brief artistic introduction
  • 1–3 artwork images (JPG) for stylistic assessment by the jury

📌 The digital images serve exclusively for pre-selection by the jury.

Step 2: Jury Decision & Form

After the jury decision, selected artists receive an official participation confirmation.

Then a participation form must be completed with:

  • Details about the selected artwork
  • Artwork description
  • Artist biography
  • Contact information

👉 The completed form forms the basis for exhibition, museum registration, exhibition catalogue, and archiving.

Step 3: Shipping the Original Artwork

After form confirmation, artists receive shipping approval via email.

The original artwork selected by the jury must:

  • arrive by June 30, 2026 at the latest
  • at the Haegeumgang Theme Museum, South Korea

Shipping is handled by the artists (rolled or framed).

⚠️ Artworks arriving at the museum after June 30, 2026, cannot be considered.

Step 4: Exhibition & Documentation

The artwork will be:

  • exhibited in the museum
  • permanently added to the museum collection
  • documented in the printed exhibition catalogue

Artists receive:

  • a certificate of participation
  • an official confirmation of museum acquisition
  • an international reference for their CV

Contact & Application

📩 Applications via email to:

h1z.online.shop@gmail.com

I look forward to numerous applications and inspiring works from around the world.
Together we show how art and culture connect people.

"Art transcends borders – and the Geoje International Art Festival is a place where diversity becomes visible. Every participation is a contribution to a global dialogue that extends far beyond the festival."

— Daniel Heinz

Jury Member – 12th Geoje International Art Festival 2026

Sources & Links

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