Organizer Information
MUST – Museo Storico della Città di Lecce is a municipal history museum established in 2015, housed in the former Convent of Santa Chiara, which for over four centuries served as the cloistered residence of the Poor Clares, an order founded within the Franciscan tradition. The museum operates as a civic institution offering a cultural service to citizens, tourists, and visitors, focused on promoting the art and cultural identity of Lecce in its many forms and reinforcing awareness of the city's richness and complexity. Its permanent exhibition route moves through three key periods of the city's history — the Messapian era, Roman imperial times, and the Medieval period — alongside rotating temporary exhibitions. The museum also houses the Must Off Gallery, a free-entry space dedicated to experimentation and the promotion of emerging local and international talent. The open call for STORIES OF IDENTITY is presented by an independent organizer (art historian Carmela Loiacono, per the contact address given) in partnership with the museum as exhibition venue.
Title & Description
STORIES OF IDENTITY – The 3rd Edition 2026
This is an international group exhibition taking place at MUST in Lecce, bringing together selected artists working in photography, painting, installation, sculpture, and performance. The exhibition sets out to observe, analyze, and share the personal stories behind artworks, building a visual narrative in continuous dialogue with the visitor. Participating artists are invited to explore their own identity from psychological, social, and cultural angles, drawing on personal experience while engaging with the wider changes of the contemporary world. The organizers frame Lecce as a crossroads for testing new models of artistic, cultural, and social dialogue between stories, communities, and territories.
Theme
Stories of Identity — artists are asked to explore their own identity from psychological, social, and cultural perspectives, drawing from personal experience and everyday life.
Categories
- Visual Arts
- Photography
- Painting
- Sculpture
- Installation
- Performance
- Curatorial
- Multiple Disciplines
Eligibility
- Open to artists and collectives, both Italian and international
- Open to those working in painting, photography, sculpture, installation, or performance
- No age, career-stage, or identity-based restrictions stated in the source
- Artists may be sponsored or supported by institutions, organizations, governments, or representatives; sponsor logos will then be included in all exhibition communication (digital and print)
Program Benefits & Awards
- Inclusion in an international group exhibition at MUST – Museo Storico di Lecce
- Logistics management of the exhibition handled by the curator
- Mounting and dismounting of all artworks arranged for selected artists
- Assistance with customs formalities, international shipping, and local transport
- Assistance in finding accommodation and/or city experiences
- Design and printing of posters, flyers, and labels
- Certificate of participation issued in PDF format for each selected artist
- Dedicated post/article for each selected artist, with interview and artworks published on the website and social media
- Global and local press office coverage, plus advertising on local and national art websites and social media
- A dedicated exhibition page and press office
- An exhibition opening ceremony
- No cash prize stated in the source
Application Fee
The submission proposal itself is free. A participation fee applies only to artists selected for the exhibition; its amount depends on the size of the selected works and will be communicated privately after selection, with payment due only once selected. Participation in the performance art program is free during the exhibition opening, with further details to be discussed after selection. No specific figures are given in the source.
How to Apply?
Submissions must be sent by email to: carmelaloiacono.arthistorian@gmail.com
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 21 September 2026
- Exhibition dates: October 16–25, 2026
Location
Lecce, Italy
Additional Details
- Selection is based on how well proposals reflect the exhibition's central theme; no further details on jury composition or selection criteria is given in the source.
- Artists are responsible for shipping their own works to and from the exhibition venue, though the organizer states it will assist with customs formalities, international shipping, and local transport as part of the participation fee.
- Payment details for the participation fee will be shared privately with selected artists only, and only after selection is confirmed.
- Further information or inquiries can be directed to the organizer by email or by Instagram message.