BE OPEN Foundation : BE OPEN Art launches the second regional competition of 2025 to support emerging artists of Oceania

Pacific Island nations have long struggled with the challenges of climate change, and the program aims to promote awareness and understanding through the arts. The program is funded by the European Union and is part of a broader initiative to support the Pacific region’s climate change adaptation efforts. The program is an innovative way to engage local communities in the fight against climate change and to raise awareness about the impact of climate change on the region’s ecosystems and wildlife. Through this initiative, local artists will be able to express their concerns and emotions about the impact of climate change, and their art will be showcased to a wider audience, potentially inspiring action and change. The program has already received positive feedback from local communities and artists, with many praising the opportunity to express themselves creatively and to share their concerns with a broader audience. The program’s success is also reflected in the growing number of participants and the quality of the art created, with many pieces showcasing the impact of climate change on local ecosystems and wildlife. The program is set to run for another two years, with a focus on the countries of Southeast Asia, and will continue to be funded by the European Union. The following is a detailed and comprehensive text based on the provided summary: The BE OPEN Regional Art program is an innovative initiative that aims to promote awareness and understanding of climate change through the arts. The program is set up by Elena Baturina’s humanitarian think-tank, BE OPEN, and has been running for three years. The program’s third year will focus on the countries of Oceania, specifically Australia, East Timor, Fiji, Kiribati, and the Marshall Islands. These Pacific Island nations have long struggled with the challenges of climate change, and the program aims to engage local communities in the fight against climate change through the creative expression of local artists.

Regional Competition

The regional competition is an exciting opportunity for artists to showcase their work and compete with others from their region. The competition is open to artists from the same region as the gallery, and the selected artists will have their work displayed in the gallery for a period of time. • The competition is open to artists who have not previously exhibited their work in the gallery. • Artists must submit their work in a specific format, which includes a portfolio of their best pieces and a brief artist statement. • The competition is judged by a panel of experts, who evaluate the work based on its technical skill, creativity, and overall impact.

Increased exposure for the artist’s work

Opportunities for networking and collaboration with other artists and industry professionals

Access to resources and support from the gallery and its experts

A chance to receive feedback and constructive criticism from the judges

The Selection Process

The selection process for the regional competition is rigorous and involves several steps. Here’s an overview of the process:

Artists submit their portfolios and artist statements, which are reviewed by the gallery’s experts.

A shortlist of artists is selected, and they are invited to participate in a final round of judging.

The final round of judging takes place in person, where the selected artists present their work to the panel of judges.The Role of the Judges

The judges play a crucial role in the selection process, and their expertise is invaluable to the competition.

The project is based on the fact that the art world has become increasingly commercialized and that the most relevant art is not that which reflects the current popular trends, but that which addresses the issues of the present and challenges the status quo. BE OPEN aims to highlight the importance of socially engaged art, fostering a dialogue between the public, the artists, and the institutions, in order to produce a more inclusive and more conscious society. The project is currently based on the following key aspects: a) Artist selection: BE OPEN selects artists who are at the beginning of their careers, typically in their early twenties. These artists have a strong focus on social consciousness and aesthetical solutions to the world’s problems. The selection process is based on a thorough research and evaluation of the artists’ work, which includes their artistic practice, exhibitions, publications, and online presence. b) Artistic focus: The selected artists are encouraged to develop their practice in a way that addresses the social and environmental issues of our time.