Short Description

The Biennale di Chianciano was born in 2009 with the vision of creating a center of contemporary art outside the established schemes. The will of the Chianciano Art Museum is to give a platform to living artists of great talent without constraints or discriminatory factors. Artists selected for the Chianciano Biennale are judged exclusively on the basis of their work, their talent and their creativity.

Curatorial study

  • All works are set up and curated by the Biennale team and there are no related costs of any kind for the artists.
  • The selected works will be exhibited at the Chianciano Art Museum and/or art galleries located in the medieval part of the city.
  • Artwork stretching/mounting/framing (2d works) is not required for the selection process but only if the work is approved and will therefore be exhibited in the Biennale.
  • Gallery stretched canvases (at least 30mm deep) can be exhibited unframed
  • Canvases below 30mm in depth must be framed
  • Other 2D artworks (works on board, works on paper etc) must be appropriately framed/mounted.
  • However, artworks that are specifically envisioned in a way that is incompatible with stretching/framing are of course exempt, please contact us if clarifications are required.
  • All 2D works should be ready to hang with string, hooks or other hanging fixtures.
  • To reduce transport costs (especially for large works), there is also the option to send canvases/works on paper rolled so that they can be stretched/framed locally (costs of stretching and framing apply for this option).
  • The Biennale provides screens for video art; therefore, all we need is the digital file. Artists that have specific screens or display equipment can, of course, provide them if they wish.

Eligibility

  • All exhibited works must be approved by the selection committee of the Chianciano Art Museum.
  • Artists can apply from any stage of their career (emerging or established) and from any nation.
  • Artists can apply with one or more artworks but each artwork will be judged individually
  • There are no geographical nor thematic limitations to artwork submissions and there is no minimum age
  • Submitted artworks can have been previously exhibited or published
  • Submitted artworks can be from any year of an artist’s career
  • Approximately 200 artists will be selected exclusively on the basis of the works submitted.
  • Accepted artistic disciplines are not restricted and include (but not limited to) works on canvas/ board/ paper/ other supports, mediums such as oil/ acrylic/ collage/ printmaking watercolours/ mixed medias, photography, digital art (including AI assisted art), video art, sculpture, fibre art and installation.
  • There is no specific size limit but if an artwork is larger than 250cm, on any side, contact us and request specific information before submitting the work
  • If a single artwork has numerous elements, that are integral parts of the same artwork such as a diptych or triptych, then it is considered as one artwork submission
  • Artworks that are in a series that can be sold or shown individually/separately are regarded as separate submissions
  • Collaborative works are eligible. When the work is submitted please write all artist names under the artist name field (e.g. artist name & artist name &…) and use your collaborative group name under the pseudonym field if you have one
  • Approved artists are invited to attend the Biennale inauguration with guests but there is no actual requirement for artists to be personally present during the Biennale
  • Recommended image qualities: The selection process is on screen and we receive the exact file you send. Therefore, if you are happy with how your artwork can be viewed/evaluated on your screen, that is exactly how we will see it on ours. JPG, JPEG, PNG formats accepted. 10mb limit per file

How to Apply

Online Application

Program Benefits & Awards

The Chianciano Biennale is an art competition & open call for artists. The main prizes are as follows and no artist may receive more than one prize.

  • €2.500 Best work at the Chianciano Biennale
  • €1.000 Chianciano Biennale Award for Best Painting
  • €1.000 Chianciano Biennale Award for Best Sculpture/Installation
  • €1.000 Chianciano Biennale Award for Best Work on Paper
  • €1.000 Chianciano Biennale Award for Best Digital/Photographic works
  • Ten artists will be automatically approved/selected to participate in the London Art Biennale 2027
  • Five artists will be selected for a critique by the International Confederation of Art Critics

Entry Fee

There is a submission fee of €40 Euros for each artwork submitted, and there are no subsequent participation fees.

Location

Italy

Timeline

  • Application Deadline: 31 May 2026
  • Exhibition Date: 15 to 29 August 2026

Website Link: https://biennalechianciano.org/en/

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