art moves 2026 billboard art competition

Artists are invited to prepare an artwork in response to this year’s competition theme: Fear or courage? How can we stop fearing tomorrow and start creating it together?

This competition slogan can be treated as a metaphor of all the processes taking place in the world today. One of the most influential emotions shaping the contemporary world is fear. It has become an essential tool of social impact, present in politics, economics, the media, and the digital space. Continuously inundated with information and visions of upcoming crises, dangers, and catastrophes, we begin to paint a gloomy picture of reality. We stop trusting ourselves and others, and feel alienated and frightened. We live under constant tension, overstimulation, and uncertainty.

Fear paralyses individuals and entire societies. It hinders decision-making and reduces a sense of agency and responsibility. Instead of growing up and deciding about our own lives, we step back into passivity and dependency, hoping someone else will decide for us. More people fear the future, relationships, and a world that is becoming unpredictable and unstable.

Are we really living in the most dangerous times? Maybe it is not the reality that is terrifying, but the story we hear about it? Maybe it is time to stop fearing, face the difficulties we encounter, and open up to others? Courage does not mean a lack of fear. It is the decision to act despite fear, the ability to think independently, take responsibility, build relationships, reach out to others, and consciously participate in this reality here and now. Without our participation, there will be no present or future where we want to live together. So, it is worth thinking about what we can choose and do to stop fearing tomorrow and start creating it together.