OPEN CALL

The 8th edition of Art-Thessaloniki International Contemporary Fair (May 15-18/ 2025) and the Cultural Society of Entrepreneurs of Northern Greece (PEEBE) are calling for young artists, up to 33 years of age, to participate in the MATAROA AWARDS.

Aiming to promote new creators and emerge the artistic potential of the country, MATAROA AWARDS are organized as a competition with thematic exhibition of top 10 artist’s artworks. After this open call process and *portfolio submissions, all the candidates will be evaluated by a special 5-member committee. From all the applicants, only 10 young artists will have the opportunity to exhibit their artwork in a special designed space, for free during 8th Art-Thessaloniki Fair.

Committee and public will vote among the selected 10 artists to select the best participation. First winner is awarded with a cash prize of 1,500 euros and 750 euros for the second and third nominees. Also, the remaining seven selected artists, will receive 500 euros each. Additionally, the 10 selected artists will be presented on the websites of Art Thessaloniki International Contemporary Fair, www.art-thessaloniki.gr and the Cultural Society www.peebe.gr| www.culturalsociety.gr, while the thematic edition MATAROA will host a special tribute for the first prize winner in the printed and electronic format www.mataroa.gr.

ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS / PARTICIPATION TERMS:

• young visual artists (up to 33 years old), graduates of the School of Fine Arts.
• non-graduates with at least one individual or group exhibition of a named gallery.
• the 10 selected in MATAROA 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024 are eligible to participate, except the top 3 participants of each year.

SUBMISSION NEEDS

send a *portfolio with:

• with 5 to 7 photos of your artworks that will be exhibited (painting, sculpture, mixed media, installation), 300-500KB.
  Each photo should be sent as a separate file in jpg form (no pdf) and have description including:
• artist name
• artwork dimension, material
• A short CV with a recent photograph of the participant will be sent as attachments to the email.

Material should be sent to info@art-thessaloniki.gr (T: +302310 291117, +30 6946 907708). 

DEADLINE: December 20, 2024.

EVALUATION COMMITTEE

Giorgos Skabardonis, MATAROA Publishing Consultant.
Yannis Fokas, Visual Artist, Emeritus Professor of AUTH.
Dimitris Xonoglou, Visual Artist.
Sania Papa, Dr. Art Historian, Lecturer Dept. Visual & Applied of Arts of AUTH.
George Mylonas, Dr. Art Historian.

INFORMATION

The MATAROA project is a platform for young artists and contemporary culture in Greece. An initiative undertaken by Art-thessaloniki Fair with the support of the Cultural Society of Entrepreneurs of Northern Greece that aims to promote contemporary Greek artistic creation and cultural activity. The MATAROA project has three main pillars: the printed edition, the website and the eponymous awards for young artists.		Art-Thessaloniki International Contemporary Fair has established itself as the most important artistic event in the South-Eastern part of Europe, which apart from its commercial dimension, with the presentation of important galleries from Greece and abroad, a large part of it is dedicated to culture with prestigious exhibitions and projects. It is implemented by Pantelis Tsatsis Founder and Art Director in collaboration with TIF-HELEXPO at stands 10-9 8.

Pantelis Tsatsis
Art Director