Open Call 2026
South Bohemia Region
Art in the City 2026
Theme: Fragility
19th annual festival of contemporary art exhibitions in public spaces
South Bohemia Region | June–September 2026
České Budějovice and the South Bohemian Region will come alive again in summer with art interventions. Join the international exhibition with your installation, this year on the free theme of Fragility.
Fragility calls for care, attention, and consideration. We live in a time when society is facing polarization and pressure to maximize profits. We live in a world focused on the new, more efficient, and easily replaceable, where care for what already exists recedes into the background. Fragile balances – both natural and social – are disintegrating subtly, often without warning. Ecosystems are transforming under the pressure of climate change, trust in democratic institutions is eroding, and interpersonal relationships require increasingly conscious effort. At the same time, fragility does not have to mean only vulnerability or weakness – it can also be a space for a more sensitive perception of the world, for recognizing the value of what cannot be easily replaced, which requires patience and care.
Come and think with us and offer artistic answers to how art can materialize intangible and fragile bonds? How can it address the casual passerby and the local community? We are interested in works that enter into a dialogue with the place – be it a city center, a park, the outskirts of the city, or an open landscape.
How to apply
Deadline: February 15, 2026
Send to the email: festival@umenivemeste.cz
- Design of the work (visualization, sketches, photographs)
- Basic description of the concept
- Technical data: material, dimensions, weight
- Portfolio and contact
Contact
Alena Doležalová, festival production
E-mail: festival@umenivemeste.cz
www.umenivemeste.cz
Pelhřimov Region
Art Connects Us
Sculpture Exhibition in the Villages and Landscape of the Pelhřimov Region
Join us and let’s bring new life to the public spaces of Vysočina together!
We invite visual artists to participate in the first edition of the exhibition „Art Connects Us,“ which will link art with the rural landscape and villages of the Pelhřimov region. We are looking for 14 artworks that will create a unique cultural trail through the region during the summer season of 2026.
About the project
The project is implemented for the Local Action Group Šipka by the Art in the City association, which has long been dedicated to organizing contemporary sculpture exhibitions and has been organizing a contemporary art festival in the public spaces of the South Bohemian Region for 19 years.
Art Connects Us is a joint initiative of LAG Šipka, the Pelhřimov Microregion, and partner municipalities, aimed at strengthening the region’s attractiveness and expanding its cultural offerings.
The exhibition will take place from May to September 2026 and will be complemented by accompanying events for the public – an opening ceremony, guided tours, and competitions.
Particiaptions conditions
This is the first edition in this location with a free theme / title Art Connects Us – there are no restrictions regarding material, treatment, size, or form of the work. We welcome a diversity of approaches and artistic signatures that will resonate in the public space through their form, idea, and message.
Important:
The works will be placed in public spaces freely accessible 24 hours a day – in open areas of villages, towns, or the landscape. It is therefore essential that the works be resistant to weather conditions (rain, sun, wind) and human activity (touch, possible climbing) and have a scale that will hold up in public space.
Who can apply:
All visual artists without restrictions
Technické požadavky:
- Works will be exhibited in public spaces 24/7 for 4 months (May–September 2026)
- Materials must be resistant to weather conditions and physical contact with the public
- Specific installation sites will be determined in collaboration with the artists according to the nature of the work and after discussion with LAG Šipka, the Pelhřimov Microregion, and partner municipalities
Co zajišťujeme
- Transportation of the work to the location and back
- Installation and deinstallation of works
- All necessary permits and technical support during installation
- Insurance of the work during the exhibition period
- Accommodation for artists at the opening ceremony
- Promotion – printed materials, website, cultural trail map, social media marketing
How to apply
Deadline: February 15, 2026
Format: Send by email to festival@umenivemeste.cz
- Work proposal – visualization, sketch, or photograph of an existing work
- Basic concept description – brief characterization of the work (max. 1 page)
- Technical specifications – material, dimensions, weight, installation method
- Portfolio – overview of your work
- Contact information – name, email, phone
In the email subject line, write: Open Call – Art Connects Us
Timeline
- February 15, 2026 – application deadline
- by March 30, 2026 – announcement of selection results
- May 2026 – exhibition opening
- September 2026 – exhibition closing
- by October 15, 2026 – deinstallation and removal of works
Contact
For questions and further information, please write to: festival@umenivemeste.cz
We look forward to your proposals and to connecting art with the landscape of the Pelhřimov region!
Organizers:
Art in the City, LAG Šipka
Umění ve měste (c) 2026