About us
“GraficaRi” project was launched in 2013 as a national initiative with the aim of affirming and promoting the art of printmaking among students and emerging artists. The project’s initiators, Dajana Radoš and Sunčana Simichen, established a platform with the vision of strengthening the local scene, and the project has continuously evolved over the years. In 2021, when Ivana Bajcer joined the team, “GraficaRi” made a major international breakthrough. The mission of this project is to promote cultural exchange and to strengthen dialogue among young artists through the lens of contemporary printmaking practices and media research. The First International Exhibition of Prints and Artists’ Books brought together creators from around the world, marking the fifteenth anniversary of the Rijeka Academy of Applied Arts, and creating a dynamic space for global exchange of ideas.
The international significance of the project was confirmed by the exceptional response to the open call, which received 635 works from 32 countries, including Argentina, Armenia, Bangladesh, Mexico, Vietnam, Italy, and Greece. Out of 246 applications, an international expert jury selected a total of 119 artists – 60 students and 59 emerging artists. Alongside three monetary awards, the jury granted a number of special commendations for outstanding works, thereby directly encouraging excellence and raising production standards. The success of the exhibition was also reflected in the impressive public interest: more than five hundred people visited Rijeka’s Kortil Gallery, while the works were viewed more than six thousand times in digital form, which gave the project strong global visibility.
“GraficaRi” project naturally continues on the rich tradition of the Rijeka printmaking school, and through its activities it has gained the reputation of a key international event. The Second International Exhibition of Prints and Artists’ Books further expands its program this year. With the focus on education and exchange of specific knowledge, the upcoming edition – alongside the exhibition in the Rijeka City Museum’s Kockica Gallery – will include professional workshops: from exploring intaglio printmaking in the carborundum technique for Academy students and professors, to the craft of hand-binding artists’ books. In this way, “GraficaRi” continues to build a strong connection between tradition and contemporary concepts, contributing to the development of creativity in printmaking on a global level.
Terms of participation
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
Students of art programs and academies, as well as artists up to 40 years of age who respond to the open call within the specified deadline, are eligible to participate.
- Artworks in all printmaking techniques are accepted, including artist’s books, print installations, and digital prints in combination with traditional printmaking techniques.
- Monotypes will not be accepted.
- The maximum allowed print size is 200 × 200 cm, and it must not be smaller than 30 × 40 cm.
- Three-dimensional works must not be larger than 200 × 200 × 100 cm.
- Artworks must not be older than three years.
- There are no thematic restrictions.
- There is no entry fee.
In the first phase, artworks are submitted only in digital format, on the basis of which the selection process is carried out.
The international selection committee will choose artworks that meet the requirements, and that will be exhibited in the exhibition space of the Museum of the City of Rijeka – Kockica Gallery. The selected works are then sent by post.
IMPORTANT DATES
PRIJAVA NA NATJEČAJ
The application must include a completed APPLICATION FORM
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepOB3VQ_QN1PcC9fIZVonF3_Oq4B_W-b6WLy7QS7DJ8bxi8A/viewform
and high-quality photographs of the submitted artworks in high resolution (JPEG format, 300 dpi), with a total allowed size of up to 30 MB.
- Each artist may submit a maximum of 3 artworks in digital format.
- Each photograph must include the following information: artist’s full name, title of the work, technique, and paper dimensions (height × width in cm). For three-dimensional works, the depth must also be specified (height × width × depth in cm). example: Tea Horvat_Iluzija_bakropis_2024_80x60
- In case of submitting three-dimensional works, artists’ books, or spatial objects, it is necessary to provide multiple photographs taken from different angles to ensure a clear representation of the work.
- If needed, describe the work (concept) and its installation in the designated field in the application form.
In the first phase, applications are submitted exclusively through the online form. Artworks sent by post before the completion of the digital selection process cannot be returned.
15 May – 12 August 2026 — Application deadline (online application form and photographs of artworks up to 30 MB)
3 September 2026 — Selection of artworks in digital format
10 September 2026 — Notification of selection results (publication of the list of artists whose works will be exhibited at the Rijeka City Museum – Kockica Gallery)
10 – 30 September 2026 — Submission of selected original artworks (postal stamp deadline applies)
October 2026 — Selection of award-winning artworks based on the submitted original works
April 2027 — Exhibition set-up and opening, accompanied by an educational program
May / June 2028 — Return of artworks
SELECTION OF ARTWORKS FOR THE EXHIBITION
The committee selects works for the exhibition in the Rijeka City Museum – Kockica Gallery based on digital applications. All applicants will be notified by email about the selection results, and the list of selected artists will be published on the website and social media channels of the organizers (the 2nd International Exhibition of Prints and Artists’ Books, as well as the official Facebook and Instagram profiles of the Rijeka Academy of Applied Arts).
The members of the international selection and awards committee are academicians, art critics, art historians, and artists:
- Melinda Kostelac (professor at the Subdepartment of Printmaking, the Rijeka Academy of Applied Arts)
- Prof. Maja Rožman (Dean of the Zagreb Academy of Fine Arts at the Professor at its Printmaking Department)
- Sabrina Žigo (museum advisor at the Rijeka City Museum)
- Božidar Zrinski (museum advisor at the International Centre of Graphic Arts (Slovenia))
- hab. Agnieszka Lech-Bińczycka, prof. UR (Prof. UR (Professor of Printmaking, University of Rzeszów)
- Ivana Bajcer (teaching assistant at the Rijeka Academy of Applied Arts)
- Dajana Radoš (senior teaching assistant at the Rijeka Academy of Applied Arts)
- Sunčana Simichen (artist, printmaking teacher at Duga Resa High School)
SUBMISSION OF ARTWORKS FOR THE EXHIBITION
Artists whose works have been selected in digital format are required to send the original works by post at their own expense. The selected works must be sent between 10 September and 30 September 2026 (as confirmed by the postmark on the package) to the following address:
AKADEMIJA PRIMIJENJENIH UMJETNOSTI SVEUČILIŠTA U RIJECI – “GRAFICARI”
SLAVKA KRAUTZEKA 83
51000 RIJEKA
HRVATSKA
Please pack the works appropriately so as not to be damaged during transport (cardboard tubes, packages...). Framed artworks will not be accepted.
- The organizer is not responsible for damages caused by the sender’s faulty packaging or damages caused in transport.
- Artworks that arrive past the deadline will not be accepted.
- The artworks received by post must correspond to the artworks shown in the sent photographs, otherwise they will not be taken into consideration.
The organizer reserves the right not to exhibit an artwork if it significantly differs from the submitted photograph or does not meet the quality criteria.
AWARDING OF PRIZES
The selection of awarded and commended artworks will be based on the submitted original artworks, depending on the status of the applicant as well as the number and diversity of submitted entries.
The selection and awards committee will grant monetary prizes to young artists and students, as well as several equal-value recognitions for outstanding work.
EXHIBITION OPENING
The exhibition opening is scheduled for March 2027. In case of any changes, you will be informed in due time. At the opening of the exhibition, the organizer will present awards and recognitions to the awarded artists.
The organizer commits to careful and professional handling of the artworks. During the exhibition period, the artworks will be insured at the organizer’s expense.
DONATION OF ARTWORKS
In accordance with the practice of prestigious international printmaking events, artists whose works are selected for the exhibition are offered the possibility of permanently donating their work to the collection of the Rijeka Academy of Applied Arts.
By donating, you directly contribute to the development of the contemporary printmaking collection, and the Organizer will issue each donating artist an official Certificate of Donation as recognition of their contribution to the collection. The donation is entirely voluntary and does not affect the selection (jury) process or the awarding of prizes
RETURN OF ARTWORKS TO THEIR OWNERS
The organizer bears the costs of returning the artworks to the addresses specified on the application form. The artworks will be returned within one year from the closing of the exhibition.
Each selected artist receives one copy of the catalogue for free. The catalogue is published in Croatian and English, with color reproductions of one work per artist, based on the editor’s selection.
Artists who will not be able to attend the opening of the exhibition will receive their copy of the catalogue together with their artwork returned by post.
- Applicants are responsible for the accuracy and correctness of the submitted information used for the exhibition catalogue, which will be taken from the online application forms. The Organizer assumes no responsibility for incorrect data.
- The Organizer reserves the right to shorten participants’ biographies in accordance with the agreed catalogue format and length.
- Artists grant the Organizer the right to reproduce and use the works for catalogue production, documentation purposes, and promotional activities, without any obligation for the Organizer to pay remuneration.
In case of further questions, please contact as through: graficariapuri@gmail.com
By applying to this call, participants accept all stated terms and conditions.