'La Grande Bellezza 2026' Award, 2nd Edition: Call for Artists
- karen lojelo
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
“THE GREAT BEAUTY” AWARD 2nd EDITION
– GROUP EXHIBITION FEBRUARY 2026 – VOLTERRA
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CONCEPT
What is beauty?
It is not an empty surface, nor a shiny artifice.
Beauty is what touches, shocks, and illuminates. It is nostalgia that grips, sadness that reveals, pain that in art transforms into form, gesture, and light.
But beauty is also what strikes the eye: a proportion, a color, a line that captures.
Aesthetic beauty, when it is not artificial, is also a living force.
In our showcase it says:
“Beauty will save the world.”
We mean it in a broad sense: as a seed that digs, as a call, as something that changes the perspective of those who encounter it.
The “La Grande Bellezza” Award was born from this:
to bring attention to an inner or outer beauty, harmonious or broken, intimate or evident, but always authentic.
For this second edition we do not impose a closed theme.
We invite you to submit a work that is beautiful to you—whatever form it takes.
You can tell us about it with a painting, a drawing, a photograph, a sculpture, a digital graphic, an AI work, a collage or a mixed media.
All participating works will be included in the group exhibition in February 2026 in Volterra, where the city will become the backdrop and resonance for this chorus of gazes.
The competition is open to anyone who feels like an artist.
Some works will reach the podium, but all will be seen, welcomed, and included in our online catalog.
If there is a fragment of beauty in what you do, this is your home.
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COMPETITION NOTICE
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1 · THEME
The theme is “The Great Beauty” in a broad sense:
– inner, emotional, symbolic beauty
– aesthetic and formal beauty
– harmonious or imperfect beauty
Completely free interpretation.
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2 · RECIPIENTS
The competition is open to:
* emerging artists
* established artists
* anyone who feels like an artist
No resume required.
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3 · PERMITTED TECHNIQUES
* paintings
* drawings
* collage
* artistic photography
* digital graphics
* works created with AI
* sculptures (small size)
* mixed media and experiments
The work must be original.
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4 · EXHIBITION AND SELECTION
* All regularly registered works will be exhibited in Volterra in February 2026.
* A qualified Jury will decide the winners of the official Award.
* There will be a Social Award section, based on online voting.
The opening and award ceremony dates will be announced later.
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5 · PRIZES
Official Award – Quality Jury
The top three will receive:
– recognition in alabaster
– contract with the gallery for the following season
– exhibition of the winning works at our gallery for the current season
– organization of a personal exhibition in 2027
The Jury may award Special Critics' Prizes.
Social Award:
* Voting on Instagram via images submitted by artists.
* The winner will receive a dedicated certificate.
* Award completely independent from the official one.
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6 · REGISTRATION
Send an email to:
Subject: Registration for the 2026 La Grande Bellezza Award
Attach:
* payment receipt
* association membership form (downloadable at the bottom of the page) “La Grande Bellezza ETS” completed and signed
* work details (title, technique, measurements, year, price or wording “not for sale”)
Limited places available:
Registration is open until all places are filled and in any case by January 30, 2026.
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7 · QUOTE
* €30 for each work submitted
* €30 mandatory annual membership fee - to be renewed for everyone given the start of the new social year 2026 - (insurance coverage)
Payment details
IBAN: IT57R0637071221000010084423
Payable to: La Grande Bellezza ETS
Reason: competition participation fee + membership fee + artist name
Registration valid only with receipt + signed form.
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8 · SENDING IMAGES
At least 1 month before the exhibition, send by email:
* high resolution photo of the work
* card with title, technique, measurements, year, price, concept
The images will be used for communication, catalog and Social Award.
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9 · DELIVERY OF WORKS
* The work must arrive at least 36 hours before the start of the exhibition.
* Must arrive ready for installation (hooks or suitable system).
* Shipping and collection at the artist's expense.
* Delivery/pickup possible by appointment.
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10 · SALES AND CATALOGUE
All works will be:
* exhibited during the exhibition
* available for sale (unless otherwise specified)
* included in the gallery's online catalogue
Anyone who does not wish to sell the work must communicate this when registering.
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11 · ACCEPTANCE
Participation implies acceptance of these rules.
The artist authorizes the use of images of the works for promotional purposes related to the Award and the gallery's activities.
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