Organizer Information
BE OPEN is a philanthropic think-tank founded in 2012 by Elena Baturina, former president of an international construction company and a long-standing member of the Forbes Billionaires list, to support the promising minds of younger generations and act as an incubator for bright ideas. Described as a global initiative to foster creativity and innovation, BE OPEN's mission is to promote people and ideas today to build solutions for tomorrow. Its activities span competitions, exhibitions, conferences, master classes, and cultural projects, all aimed at unlocking the world's creative potential, and the organisation champions creativity and innovation as a global think tank.
BE OPEN Art is an online gallery designed by the think-tank, dedicated to giving visibility to artists worldwide. BE OPEN runs an ongoing programme of international competitions tied to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — Design Equality with Innovation, dedicated to SDG 5 (Gender Equality), reached its seventh edition in 2025/2026 — alongside past open calls addressing SDG#2 (Zero Hunger), SDG#11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG#12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Past BE OPEN Art recognitions include naming Rwandan visual artist Jean D'amour Imanishimwe as Artist of the Year 2023, selected from the year's monthly winners.
Title & Description
Art Limitless — SDG#12: Responsible Consumption and Production (H2 2026)
Art Limitless is a programme within the BE OPEN Art online gallery dedicated to competitions, webinars, master classes, and other sources of knowledge and guidance on sustainability in the arts. For the second half of 2026, the programme is dedicated to UN Sustainable Development Goal 12, Responsible Consumption and Production, which aims to fundamentally change how goods are produced and consumed in order to reduce ecological footprint, promote resource efficiency, and support a transition to a circular economy. BE OPEN Art is spotlighting artists and artworks that engage with this goal by posting selected work at its online gallery and inviting the public to vote for an Artist of the Month.
Theme
UN Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. The programme specifically invites artists engaging with sustainable creation, waste reduction, public awareness around consumption and production, rethinking material sourcing, incorporating recycled materials, and repurposing discarded items.
Categories
- Environment
- Sustainability
- Visual Arts
- Multiple Disciplines
Eligibility
Not explicitly restricted by nationality, age, or career stage in the source. The programme description and general application form do not state a residency, citizenship, or professional-experience requirement — the call is framed as open to artists whose work engages with SDG#12 themes.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Monthly Artist of the Month is selected via public and art-community online vote at the gallery's website; the winner (determined by vote count) receives a €1,000 grant plus promotional visibility BE OPEN provides across social and traditional media
- A separate €500 prize is allocated directly by BE OPEN's Founder, Elena Baturina
- A further €300 prize is awarded based on an open online public vote at the gallery's website
- Per the general BE OPEN Art application terms, a cash-prize winner has six months to confirm acceptance and provide bank details for the prize transfer; if this is not done within that window, BE OPEN is relieved of the obligation to transfer the prize
- No reimbursement, production budget, or in-kind support beyond the cash prizes and promotional visibility is mentioned
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 1 October 2026
Location
Online
Additional Details
- Art Limitless launched in 2025, with its first year dedicated to inclusivity in the arts, spotlighting artwork by artists with disabilities across monthly gallery features; three winners were selected at the end of that year and awarded cash prizes
- The current cycle (second half of 2026) marks the programme's move to a sustainability-focused theme aligned with SDG#12
- Selected artwork is posted to the online gallery on an ongoing monthly basis throughout the cycle