Organizer Information

SYNO is a contemporary cultural organization and art initiative dedicated to supporting, documenting, and archiving innovative contemporary artistic practices connected to Cyprus. By launching structured platforms like its annual open call and specialized publishing arms, the platform fosters deeper integration between locally based practitioners, regional institutions, and the global Cypriot diaspora. Through strategic editorial curation, international panel reviews, and print archives, SYNO amplifies regional narratives and connects lens-based, conceptual, and multi-disciplinary creators with international audiences and art institutions.

Title & Description

SYNO Annual Open Call 2026: Supporting Contemporary Practices Connected to Cyprus

SYNO has officially announced its 2026 Annual Open Call, a dedicated developmental platform designed to provide visibility and financial security to contemporary creators whose work dialogues with the cultural fabric of Cyprus. Rather than evaluating project blueprints for future work, this award targets the strength and continuity of an artist's existing practice. Three selected finalists in each category will receive substantial, unrestricted cash grants to sustain their studio operations. Furthermore, a curated group of up to 10 shortlisted artists will be awarded permanent digital profiles, professional interview coverage with international curators, and official inclusion in the physical SYNO Yearbook to safeguard their participation in contemporary art history.

Categories

The initiative values cross-disciplinary and material experimentation, welcoming creators across all contemporary media including:

  • Painting,
  • Sculpture,
  • Installation,
  • Photography,
  • Video,
  • Performance,
  • Sound, Digital Practices,
  • Research-Based Work, and Interdisciplinary Forms.

Eligibility

  • Identity & Scope: Open to all Cypriot and Cypriot diaspora artists, regardless of their current country of residence.
  • Connection Alternative: Artists who are not natively Cypriot or part of the diaspora are fully welcome to apply, provided they indicate and demonstrate a meaningful connection to Cyprus through their active practice, research, or personal experience within their statement.
  • Student Status: Creative professionals currently enrolled in BA, BFA, MA, or MFA degree programs are eligible to apply, provided they maintain a verified independent artistic practice outside of direct academic coursework.
  • Collaborations: Multi-person collectives and artist duos may apply under a single joint application, designating one primary member as the core contact point.

Program Benefits & Awards

  • Unrestricted Cash Awards: Three selected finalists in each category will each receive an unrestricted cash prize of €3,500 to be utilized freely toward their studio priorities or living expenses.
  • Editorial Spotlights: Up to 10 shortlisted artists will secure dedicated public profiles on the SYNO web platform and be highlighted through curated editorial features, including critical dialogues with internationally recognized critics.
  • Yearbook Publication: All shortlisted creators will be formally documented and published in the printed SYNO Yearbook by the conclusion of 2026.

Application Fee

  • Tuition & Review Cost: Free to apply. There are no processing fees, portfolio evaluation assessments, or hidden registry costs at any stage of the open call.

Application Requirements

Applicants must assemble all portfolio elements into a single PDF document written in English (maximum file size of 10 MB). The document must be structured under the following four clear partitions:

  1. Artist Statement (Max 500 Words): A summary detailing your active artistic practice, core research interests, current directional steps, and explicit relationship or connection to Cyprus.
  2. Curriculum Vitae (CV): A concise professional resume summarizing relevant group and solo exhibitions, residencies, publications, awards, and formal education history.
  3. Creative Portfolio: Up to 10 high-resolution images of recent works or a singular cohesive project, with each slide displaying metadata (Title, Year, Medium, and Dimensions) and a brief descriptive text of a maximum of 200 words per body of work. Creators utilizing moving images, sound, or performance arts may supplement their portfolio with up to 3 video links (excerpts must not exceed 1 minute in duration; include passwords if files are protected).
  4. Personal Information Page: A dedicated data sheet containing your full name, date of birth, place of birth, current place(s) of residence, email address, telephone contact, and optional links to your official website or social media channels.

How to Apply?

Completed application documents must be sent digitally via email to the centralized evaluation registry. Materials sent over social media channels or external link servers without meeting file guidelines will not be processed by the jury.

  • Application Email Destination: opencall@syno.art
  • Strict File Naming Format: Surname_Name_SYNO2026.pdf
  • Required Email Subject Line: SYNO Open Call 2026 – Name Surname

Key Dates

  • Application Window Opens: May 14, 2026
  • Application Submission Deadline: August 31, 2026
  • Internal Notification Window: Shortlisted artists and finalists will be contacted privately prior to any public announcements.
  • Official Public Results Announcement: October 2026
  • SYNO Yearbook Print Release: Expected by the end of 2026.

Location

The registration intake, portfolio review, and curatorial dialogues happen completely Online. The physical print distribution and international catalog archiving of the SYNO Yearbook operate out of Cyprus and its networked institutional nodes across Europe and the USA.

Additional Details

  • Project Proposals: Artists are explicitly instructed not to submit a new project proposal, as selection relies entirely on evaluating existing, finalized artistic outputs.
  • Jury Board: The independent panel of judges for the 2026 cycle comprises field-leading curators and academics:
    • Elena Stylianou (NiMAC, Nicosia, Cyprus)
    • Ioulita Toumazi (Independent Curator, Cyprus)
    • Elena Ketelsen González (MoMA PS1, New York, USA)
    • Kyle Dancewicz (SculptureCenter, New York, USA)
    • Hicham Khalidi (Jan van Eyck Academie, Maastricht, the Netherlands)
  • Feedback Policy: Due to the high volume of applications received from the international diaspora, individual critical feedback notes cannot be guaranteed to non-selected applicants.
  • Privacy & Rights: Application files remain private and will be reviewed internally by the organization and its jury. Any public-facing profiles, digital interviews, or editorial features will be developed in direct, collaborative conversation with the chosen artists. Submitting misleading, fabricated, or substantially misrepresented materials will result in immediate disqualification.

Website Link: https://syno.art/