Organizer Information
AICA Georgia, in cooperation with AICA Germany, is launching Rvuli, a bilingual Georgian/English online publication dedicated to critical exchange between Georgian and German art critics. The project responds to the lack of dedicated contemporary art publications in Georgia and concerns about increasing political pressure, censorship, and limitations on critical cultural discourse. The collaboration is supported by AICA International.
Title & Description
Rvuli: Independent Art Spaces and the Critique of “Art Criticism” in Georgia
Rvuli: Independent Art Spaces and the Critique of “Art Criticism” in Georgia is an open call for critical writing examining independent art spaces, artistic initiatives, and the role of art criticism in Georgia.
The organizers welcome contributions addressing artist-run spaces, informal art education, community initiatives, art activism, social space and place-making, and other independent or temporary cultural institutions. Submissions may take the form of case studies, reviews, journalistic reports, essays, interviews, dialogues, or theoretical texts.
Selected contributions will be published in Rvuli, a bilingual online publication intended to document Georgia's independent art ecosystem and encourage sustained discussion around art criticism and freedom of expression.
Categories
- Writing
- Art Criticism
- Cultural Journalism
- Contemporary Art
- Curatorial Writing
- Research / Theory
Eligibility
The call is particularly open to art critics, curators, writers, and anyone interested in critical writing. Authors and institutions from Georgia and Germany are specifically invited to participate, with eight articles to be selected from authors from the two countries.
Contributions should be at least 1,800 characters, and each submission must include a short author biography of no more than 200 words.
Program Benefits & Awards
- 8 articles will be selected for publication.
- Each selected author receives an honorarium of €120.
- Selected texts will appear in Rvuli, providing international visibility through AICA's networks.
- Participants can also join two free online webinars addressing censorship, freedom of expression, state influence, contemporary Georgian culture, and international reception.
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
The source announcement does not provide a dedicated online submission form. Interested authors should contact the organizers for submission instructions:
- AICA Georgia: info@aicageorgia.org
- AICA Germany: vorstand@aica.de
Key Dates
- Submission Deadline: 15 October 2026
- Webinar 1: September 14, 2026, 7:00–8:30 PM — Censorship, Art Criticism, and Freedom of Expression
- Webinar 2: September 23, 2026, 7:00–8:30 PM — Official Representation of Contemporary Georgian Culture, State Influence, and International Reception
Location
Georgia & Germany
Additional Details
Rvuli is named after an old Georgian word meaning “notebook,” also associated with the number eight, reflecting the project's selection of eight contributions. The publication seeks to preserve and document independent artistic activity that is often temporary, overlooked, or insufficiently archived.
Contributions should engage meaningfully with independent cultural practices in Georgia rather than simply describe them. The project places particular emphasis on critical discourse, freedom of expression, and the relationship between independent cultural spaces and changing political conditions.