Culture of Solidarity Open Call
FAQ
We believe that the coronavirus crisis can be a strong catalyst for the European idea as it reveals the fundamental necessity for collective action, unity, and a culture and practice of solidarity. At the same time, the crisis has demonstrated the danger of increasing nationalist sentiments, growing authoritarianism, closing borders, and a crackdown on civil liberties. There is an urgent need for uplifting messages of unity, togetherness and solidarity that would reinforce the feeling of belonging and the idea of Europe as a shared space.
Why this challenge?
What kind of works do you look for?
We do not look for works that simply reflect the direness of a situation, or ‘it what it is’ – we are more interested in what it could be, and how we can get there.
We are looking for illustrations that: inspire; depict a hopeful view of the world that can be; are universal, speaking to our shared humanity in ways that makes them relevant to people in different countries, languages and contexts; have an actionable or inspiring written message, or without one - as long as the idea is clear and powerful; are “evergreen” - that is, remain relevant for a long period of time; light and smart humor is always welcome.
We are not looking for: dark and depressing images or statements of what the world is now; works with a level of abstraction that is too unclear for a wider audience; works containing trademarked imagery, visual elements or text (е.g. logos, brands, popular slogans, etc.); works containing offensive language or imagery; works that reinforce prejudices and stereotypes; works containing hate speech or discrimination of any kind.
The challenge takes into consideration the conclusions of cognitive, behavioral science and neuroscience on what makes people care: Provoking an emotional response should be done carefully. People will not respond if we simply evoke their sadness, guilt or fear. In the context of general desensitization, campaigns that cause positive emotions—such as admiration, affirmation, happiness or hope—are most effective.
Originality
The call is for original, but previously created works. If you want to design and submit a new work, this is permissible, but not required. By submitting the work, you confirm that it is your submission, and that the work does not violate any intellectual property rights of any third party, or organization. You also agree that upon submission of the work, you agree to defend and hold Fine Acts harmless from any liability resulting from the publication or distribution of your work.
Will I receive feedback on my submission?
Please note that we will only feature a small number of submissions, and due to the high volume of interest, we won’t be able to provide any feedback, or answer individual emails. We will only be in touch if your work has been selected to be featured.
Do I keep the ownership of the works I submit?
Yes. By submitting your work, you preserve your right to the artwork but grant Fine Acts a worldwide perpetual, non-revocable license to publish the submission under a creative commons license CC-NC-SA-4.0. This means that nonprofits, activists and citizens will be able to use and adapt them non-commercially to spread the message of solidarity and unity in their community and country. Please read what this open license entails, before submitting your work.
Our challenge offers a solution to a very real problem in the nonprofit world. Visual content is of great importance for campaign visibility and engaging support, but often organisations and activists don’t have the necessary capacity or resources to create it.
Anyone can participate in this open call. The only important thing is that your work should be able to be interpreted as promoting European Solidarity.
Do I need to be
a EU citizen to participate?
How will the selected artworks be showcased?
All selected submissions will be published on The Greats, our global platform for open social impact art. Selected artworks may be showcased across Fine Acts platforms, as well as on multiple offline creative placements across Europe.
What’s in it for me?
All selected submissions will be published on The Greats platform, and you will be credited.
20 of the open call artists will be awarded 100 EUR each. A jury panel will select the notable recipients who will also get an award certificate.
All selected artists will also receive an official, limited edition of printable swag as a token of appreciation for joining The Greats.
Artists could get the opportunity to be featured across Fine Acts’ and official campaign partners’ channels, and to be commissioned for future work by us.
And lastly—and most importantly—selected artists will actively be contributing to the future of Europe!