Kaleidoskop media
Kaleidoskop Cultural Center, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia and the support of UNESCO and the Kolarac Endowment, announces a Call for Participation in the international, juried, collective exhibition of sacred art THE LIGHT OF THE LOGOS 2026.
The exhibition will be held from 1 to 16 September 2026 at the Gallery of the Ilija M. Kolarac Endowment, Studentski trg 5, Belgrade, Serbia.
We are proud to announce that UNESCO, at its regular session in Paris on 20 February 2026, through the International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD), supported the project of the Kaleidoskop Cultural Center: “The Light of the Logos: Digital Networking, Education, and Inclusion for the Sustainable Development of Contemporary Sacred Art”. This decision gives contemporary church art strong international recognition and confirms it as a living and relevant artistic practice on the world stage.
Out of 881 selected projects from around the world, only 11 received support, and our project was ranked second, with a margin of just half a point behind the first-ranked project from Namibia.
This support is of special significance for global sacred art. Participation in The Light of the Logos exhibition is part of a broader two-year project, starting in May 2026, which will provide artists with opportunities for international networking, education, and long-term professional development, details of which will be shared with artists and the public shortly.
OPEN CALL FOR THE EXHIBITION THE LIGHT OF THE LOGOS 2026
ARTISTIC CONCEPT
The theme of the Open Call is free, allowing the exhibition, with the support of UNESCO, to be presented to a global audience in the full beauty of sacred art.
We invite artists to present the sanctity of the saint through three complementary subjects:
Portrait of the saint – the traditional focus of the exhibition, emphasizing the saint as a window and pointer to the First Image (Prvolik).
Partial and full-figure depictions of the saint – expanded representations allowing the viewer to experience internal dynamics and movement within the icon, as a means of communication between observer and observed.
Scenes from the saint’s life or biblical events – depictions contextualizing church feasts.
ARTISTIC COUNCIL
Dr Todor Mitrović, Dean and Full Professor, Academy of Arts and Conservation, Serbian Orthodox Church
Dr Tihon Rakićević, Bishop of Moravica, Associate Professor, Academy of Arts and Conservation, Serbian Orthodox Church
MA Natalija Stokanović, Curator and Art Historian, Museum of the Serbian Orthodox Church
Dr Jorgos Kordis (Giorgos Kordis), Full Professor of Iconography, University of Athens, Greece
Gabriel Toma Chițuc, Painter and Iconographer, Romania
Authorial Concept: MA Luka Novaković
Curator: Vera Vitorović, Art Historian
COMPETITION CONDITIONS
Deadlines and Jury Procedure
⊕ The call is open from 24 February 2026 to 25 June 2026.
⊕ By submitting an application, artists accept all participation conditions.
⊕ The Artistic Council’s decision will be announced by 5 July 2026 on the Kaleidoskop Media portal.
⊕ All participants will be officially notified by email.
⊕ Jurying is anonymous - members of the Artistic Council will not know the names or biographies of the applicants during evaluation.
⊕ Works submitted by invited artists are not subject to jury evaluation and have the status of honorary participants.
Conditions for Works
⊕ Only original works of high artistic and professional quality, as evaluated by the Artistic Council, will be accepted for exhibition.
⊕ Artists may submit photographs of up to two icons from their new production, created in 2025 and 2026.
⊕ Maximum dimensions: 80 × 80 cm
⊕ All techniques are allowed (including digital): drawing, watercolor, tempera, egg tempera, acrylic, encaustic, fresco, printmaking, mosaic, etc.
⊕ Submitted and selected works must not be reframed or altered in any way before the exhibition.
⊕ By submitting an application, the artist confirms the works are their original creations.
Technical Guidelines for Submission
⊕ Photographs must be in JPG format, 300 dpi.
⊕ Works must be photographed frontally, neatly cropped, with no background, and of suitable quality for catalog publication.
⊕ File names should follow this format: FirstName_LastName_Title_Dimensions (e.g., Petar_Petrovic_Sveti_Sava_30x30cm).
⊕ Applications (photographs, completed application form, and proof of participation fee) must be submitted electronically in a single email to: prijava@kaleidoskop-media.com from 24 February to 25 June 2026.
⊕ The application form for international participants in English (Word document) can be downloaded HERE (If you are unable to download the application form from the provided link, please contact us so that we can send the form to you by email).
Participation Fee
⊕ Participation fee for international artists: 30 EUR, payable in euros to the Kaleidoskop Cultural Center account.
⊕ Payment instructions are available HERE
⊕ Proof of payment must be sent to: gordana.tadic@kaleidoskop-media.com
PRIZES
The Kaleidoscope Cultural Centre, upon the proposal of the Artistic Council, will award four prizes:
⊕ Grand Prize “The Light of the Logos”
(Awarded to the work achieving the highest level of iconographic, artistic, spiritual, and authorial integrity.)
⊕ Prize for Originality of Icon Painting Expression
⊕ Prize for Harmony of Color Composition
⊕ Prize for Young Author of Sacred Art (up to 25 years old)
Winners will be announced at the exhibition opening ceremony.
The Artistic Council reserves the right not to award certain prizes, depending on the quality of submissions.
Works selected for awards or commendation must be delivered in original form; otherwise, the prize will be reassigned to other high-quality original works.
CATALOG AND COPYRIGHTS
⊕ The exhibition will be accompanied by a bilingual printed color catalog and a digital PDF edition.
⊕ Award-winning works will be highlighted at the beginning of the catalog.
⊕ Each exhibitor receives one printed catalog and a digital version.
⊕ Information from the application will be used for the catalog, captions, and promotional materials.
⊕ By submitting photographs, artists consent to the use of their works in the catalog and promotional materials without additional compensation.
DELIVERY AND RETURN OF WORKS
⊕ Selected works must be properly prepared for exhibition.
⊕ A label with the artist’s name, title, and dimensions must be placed on the back.
⊕ Works sent by mail must arrive by the announced deadline (exact delivery date will be published later) at:
Kaleidoskop Cultural Center
Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 83A/3
11050 Belgrade, Serbia
Tel: +381 65 3600554
⊕ Shipping and return costs are the responsibility of the artist. The organizer is not responsible for damages or loss during transport.
⊕ Works may also be delivered in person to the Gallery of the Ilija M. Kolarac Endowment, Studentski trg 5, 11000 Belgrade.
⊕ Returns will be made within 30 days of the exhibition’s closing.
⊕ For international artists unable to send original works, high-quality reproductions may be exhibited for a 15 EUR fee per work.
SALE OF WORKS
⊕ Artists wishing to offer their works for sale must indicate the price in their application.
⊕ Works not for sale are equally welcome in the exhibition.
⊕ Sales are conducted officially through Kaleidoskop Cultural Center.
INFORMATION AND CONTACT
Kaleidoskop Media, exhibition page ⇒ The Light of the Logos
Instagram ⇒ Svetlost Logosa | Kaleidoskop media
Facebook ⇒ Svetlost Logosa | Kaleidoskop media
Join the Viber channel of the exhibition ⇒ HERE
Email ⇓
gordana.tadic@kaleidoskop-media.com
Contacts ⇓
Miona Kovačević +381 63 8032831
Gordana Tadić +381 65 3600554
We wish you success in the competition and look forward to seeing you in September at Kolarac!
DISCLAIMER
The organizer, Kaleidoskop Cultural Center, and staff at the Gallery of the Ilija M. Kolarac Endowment will take maximum precautions for the safety of the works (the gallery is monitored by cameras) but cannot be held responsible for damage or theft.
Works are not insured by the organizer or gallery. The organizer and gallery are not responsible for potential infringement of third-party intellectual property rights.
WATCH THE DOCUMENTARY FILM ABOUT THE LIGHT OF THE LOGOS EXHIBITION 2025 ⇓⇓⇓
READ ALSO:
RETROSPECTIVE: THE LIGHT OF THE LOGOS 2025
PALACE OF SERBIA: PRIMER OF CONTEMPORARY ART
ICON: FROM CRAFT TO CONTEMPORARY ART
All content on the Kaleidoskop media magazine portal is free of charge, and the website is financed exclusively through donations from readers and friends.
Support the work of our magazine HERE
Komentari