OSTEN BIENNIAL of CONTEMPORARY VISUAL ARTS Skopje 2026

OSTEN BIENNIAL of CONTEMPORARY VISUAL ARTS Skopje 2026

     GENERAL INFORMATION     

OSTEN BIENNIAL (organized by OSTEN Skopje, North Macedonia) is an event open to everything that is new and is much more comprehensive than the traditional one, giving priority to works that break the old and worn-out art matrices, works that have a specific artist's mark or hint at an attempt for stepping outside the established academic rules, into the free space of creation. The Biennial challenges artists to push conventional boundaries, both in terms of the use of techniques, tools, and media, and in terms of creative freedom of expression. So - feel free to submit your most innovative and creative works, regardless of form, technique, or medium. All are welcome:

1. Art on paper (drawing, print, and mixed media)

2. 2D and 3D (painting, objects, installations, textile art)

3. Photography, video art, multimedia art

The OSTEN BIENNIAL offers the opportunity for artists aged 18+ to participate in two categories:

INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION, and

GROUP PARTICIPATION (up to 7 artists), where the group can register with:

JOINT CONCEPT (with separate works by group members united around the concept)

JOINT WORK (one work created by all group members with group authorship)

* For groups over 7 artists - in separate communication with the Organizer.

The possibility of group participation is our contribution to encouraging collaboration between artists.

     CONDITIONS for PARTICIPATION     

For REGULAR PARTICIPATION, the artist should:

- Submit the ONLINE APPLICATION FORM along with a short bio and portrait photo (for promotional activities of the Biennial)

- APPLY WITH (up to five) WORKS created between 2024-2026 (the works that consist of more parts – diptych, triptych, polyptych – are to be considered as one work).

- ATTACH DIGITAL IMAGES of the work/s, as an integral part of the online application (obligatory full photo of the work/s + optional details) in .jpg, .png, or .tiff format (300dpi), 2MB/photo.

* Keep in mind the FORMAT OF THE PHOTOS, as they will be used for the catalog of the Biennial, if selected.

* By sending the ONLINE APPLICATION, the artist agrees that the organizer will use, exhibit, study, and publish her/his work/s for the needs of the OSTEN BIENNIAL and the OSTEN Museum.

* The SELECTED WORK (exhibited at the official exhibition and presented in the catalog) by the AWARDED ARTISTS and FINALISTS shall remain within the collection of the OSTEN Museum, and the donation of the other submitted works to the collection of the OSTEN Museum is optional.

ONLINE APPLICATION DEADLINE – 31 May 2026 

IMPORTANT!!! At this stage, artists should not send the original works. Only FINALISTS will be informed to send their original works after the selection process.

     PARTICIPATION FEE     

PARTICIPATION FEE for the OSTEN BIENNIAL Skopje 2026 is:

65 EUR for INDIVIDUALS | 130 EUR for GROUPS

Participation fee can be paid:

Via the LINKS BELOW - RECOMMENDED!!!

..if you face problems with the payment please contact us: drawing@osten.com.mk

     SELECTION and JURYING     

SELECTOR & CURATOR of the OSTEN BIENIIAL Skopje 2026 is Kornelija KONESKA, and she:

• Makes a short list of SELECTED ARTISTS with the work which will be presented in the Biennial’s catalog

• Draws up a list of FINALISTS who will be notified to send by postal mail all their submitted works for presentation in front of the THREE-MEMBER INTERNATIONAL JURY (TBD), which

• Decides which of the submitted works by the FINALISTS will be exhibited at the Biennial's official exhibition and reproduced in the Biennial's catalog, and

• Decides on the JURY AWARDS envisaged by the Organizer

  
  

Deadlines:

SELECTION – June 2026

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE SELECTED ARTISTS and FINALISTS – 30 June 2026

SENDING THE WORKS OF THE FINALISTS BY MAIL - July 1 – 20, 2026

JURY – August/ September 2026

ANNOUNCEMENT OF AWARDS – 30 September 2026

     MAILING the ORIGINAL WORKS (only for the FINALISTS)     

FINALISTS should send all their ONLINE SUBMITTED WORKS by postal mail.

IMPORTANT!!! The works that do not correspond to the online submitted works - will be rejected. Works that did not arrive before the given deadline will not be considered.

Shipping ADDRESS:

OSTEN BIENNIAL

8. Udarna Brigade 2, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia

INSTRUCTIONS for mailing the works:

• The transportation of the works is to be completely organized by the artists (including costs)

• The organizer does not assume any responsibility in case of damage or loss of the works

• On the back of each work should be written: Name and surname of the artist, the title of the work, year of creation, technique/medium, size of the work (H x W x L) - according to the online application form

• The works should be sent unframed and properly packed according to their dimensions: in cardboard packaging with reinforced protection for the corners (for smaller sizes), in a tube (for larger sizes), or in wooden boxes (for objects and installations)

• Artists participating in the official Biennial exhibition with installations must personally set up and dismantle their works.

  
  

IMPORTANT!!!

MAKE SURE to declare on the package: NOT FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES / FOR EXHIBITION ONLY

MAKE SURE the TOTAL VALUE of the shipment declared in the documents doesn’t exceed 20 EUR. It doesn’t represent the value of the works! IT IS ONLY FOR CUSTOMS PURPOSES.

*If the participant declares the total shipment value is more than 20 EUR and costs for customs clearance in North Macedonia applied - it should be covered by the participant, or the works will be returned on the participant’s expense.

Deadline for ARRIVAL of the works – 20 July 2026

Important Note: After the official Biennial’s exhibition ends, the artists who decided to take back the sent works should organize their transportation. The deadline for taking back the works will be defined additionally, according to the dates of the exhibition, and picking up the works  will not be possible after the deadline. Transportation providers that operate the best in North Macedonia: DHL, UPS, FedEx, or other transportation companies, at the artist’s responsibility.

     AWARDS     

AWARDS decided by the Ambassadors of OSTEN

GRAND PRIX FOR LIFE ACHIEVEMENT

WORLD CULTURAL HERITAGE AWARD

SPECIAL GRAND PRIX

AWARDS decided by the INTERNATIONAL JURY

3 FIRST AWARDS (with a money prize of 1000$/each)

3 SPECIAL AWARDS 

3 SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS

AWARDS decided by the OSTEN BOARD

5 GOLDEN OSTEN AWARDS

5 OSTEN AWARDS

OSTEN’s SPECIAL AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

AWARDS in collaboration with the WAVA (World Association of Visual Arts)

AWARD for object in collaboration with CCA Prilep

     PRESENTATION of the OSTEN BIENIIAL Skopje 2026     

PREVIEW PROGRAM      May 2026 - August 2026

(solo and group presentations at the OSTEN Gallery, Skopje)

OFFICIAL PROGRAM       September 2026 - December 2026 (at the OSTEN Gallery Skopje)

OFFICIAL EXHIBITION     to be announced (at the National Gallery of RNM)

                                           + continuous local and international promotion…

     CATALOGUE of the OSTEN BIENIIAL Skopje 2026     

AWARDED ARTISTS, FINALISTS & SELECTED ARTISTS will be presented with one reproduction in the CATALOGUE of the OSTEN BIENNIAL Skopje 2026

AWARD-WINNING ARTISTS receive a free copy of the catalogue by postal mail

OTHER PARTICIPANTS will be additionally informed about ordering the catalogue. 

     IMPORTANT DEADLINES – DON’T MISS THEM!!!     

ONLINE APPLICATION | 1 November 2025 – 31 May 2026

PREVIEW PROGRAM (in the OSTEN Gallery Skopje) | May 2026 – August 2026

SELECTION | June 2026

ANNOUNCEMENT of the SELECTED ARTISTS and FINALISTS | no later than 30 June 2026

MAILING of the ORIGINAL WORKS (for the FINALISTS ONLY) | 1 - 20 July 2026

JURYING | August/ September 2026

ANNOUNCEMENT of the AWARDED ARTISTS | no later than 30 September 2026

OFFICIAL PROGRAM (in the OSTEN Gallery Skopje) | September 2026 – December 2026

OFFICIAL EXHIBITION and AWARDS PRESENTATION | to be announced 

FOR REGULAR INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION the ARTISTS SHOULD

STEP 1.: SUBMIT the INDIVIDUAL ONLINЕ APPLICATION FORM - HERE >>>

STEP 2.: PAY the PARTICIPATION FEE (65 EUR) - HERE >>>

FOR REGULAR GROUP PARTICIPATION the ARTISTS SHOULD

STEP 1.: SUBMIT the GROUP ONLINЕ APPLICATION FORM - HERE >>>

STEP 2.: PAY the PARTICIPATION FEE (130 EUR) - HERE >>>

* The artists who are interested in participation in the preview program of the OSTEN Biennial 2026, please follow the links below:

SOLO PREVIEW EXHIBITION   <--- Click here

GROUP PREVIEW EXHIBITION   <--- Click here

For more information, contact us at drawing@osten.com.mk

OSTEN BIENNIAL Skopje 2026

• CALL FOR PARTICIPATION