Deadline: April 10, 2026... The competition is international and open to everyone over the age of 18...
Theme of the Competition: 'Invisible Disability'... Maximum 5 cartoons... Cartoons should be in 300 dpi, jpg, RGB format... Submission address: newcartoonizmir@gmail.com
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES DIRECTORATE OF DISABILITY STUDIES
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION INTERNATIONAL CARTOON
CONTEST ON "INVISIBLE DISABILITY"
1. PURPOSE:
As İzmir Metropolitan Municipality the Directorate of Disability Studies, it has been deemed appropriate to organize an international cartoon contest themed “INVISIBLE DISABILITY” in order to raise public awareness in the field of disability, strengthen an equality-based and rights-based approach, and support accessibility in all areas of life. Invisible disability refers to conditions that are not immediately apparent at first glance and are therefore often ignored or misinterpreted.
Conditions such as epilepsy, MS (Multiple Sclerosis), chronic pain, autism spectrum differences, mental health conditions, and similar situations may affect an individual’s daily life, learning, working, communication, and sensory or physical
endurance.
However, since these conditions do not carry “visible” signs, individuals may face prejudices such as being labeled as “exaggerating,” “making excuses,” “lazy,” or “disrespectful” in public transportation, public service points, education, and working life. As a result, their requests for support and reasonable accommodations may be deemed unnecessary, leading to exclusion.
The aim of this contest is to make visible—through the language of cartoons—the misunderstandings, stigmatization, prejudices, and systemic barriers that invisible disabilities create in everyday life; to enhance empathy and social awareness; and to contribute to a more inclusive urban life.
We believe that participating cartoonists will address the theme of “invisible disability” in their works, making the issue visible and increasing both public awareness and social sensitivity.
2. THEME:
The theme of the contest is “INVISIBLE DISABILITY”
2.1 The prejudice of “If it’s not visible, it doesn’t exist / there is no problem,” and the devaluation of invisible disabilities (e.g., attitudes such as “exaggerating,” “faking,” “making excuses,” “you’re young, what could be wrong with you?”)
CartoonsTurkiye (PencereMizah)
2.2 Situations caused by misunderstandings in daily life (conflicts experienced in areas such as public transportation, queues/waiting areas, schools, workplaces, healthcare services, and public service processes)
2.3 The misconception that accessibility consists solely of physical arrangements, while invisible barriers persist due to communication, process design, environmental factors such as noise/light/crowds, and staff attitudes
2.4 Stigmatizing language, discrimination, and exclusionary discourse toward mental health conditions, autism, epilepsy, MS, chronic pain, and similar conditions
2.5 Appropriate approaches, understanding, and solidarity: how life can be made easier through small accommodations (respectful communication, privacy, flexibility, proper guidance, calming attitudes) and the strengthening of a rights-based perspective
3. TYPE AND FORMAT OF THE CONTEST:
This contest is organized as a free, international, single-stage fine arts competition, based on the provisions of the Regulation on Architectural, Landscape Architecture, Urban and Regional
Planning, and Fine Arts Competitions, prepared in accordance with the relevant articles of Public Procurement Law No. 4734.
4. PARTICIPATION:
The contest is international and open to everyone aged 18 and over. Each participant may submit up to five (5) cartoons. Submitted cartoons may have been previously published; however, they must not have received awards in any other national or international competitions. Entries found to violate this condition will be disqualified, and any awarded prize will be reclaimed.
5. METHOD OF PARTICIPATION:
5.1 Cartoons must be submitted exclusively online via the following email address:
newcartoonizmir@gmail.com
5.2 Online Submission: Cartoons must be sent in 300 dpi, JPG, RGB format, without using any compression software, to newcartoonizmir@gmail.com Our institution shall not be held responsible if submissions fail to reach the specified email address for any reason.
6. GENERAL CONDITIONS:
6.1. Cartoons generated using artificial intelligence will not be accepted and will be excluded from the competition. If a cartoon is later determined to be AI-generated, any award it may have received shall be deemed invalid.
6.2. Participants must submit the Participation Form (Annex-1), including their curriculum vitae and contact information, together with their cartoons as an email attachment. Incomplete submissions will not be included in the competition.
6.3. By submitting works to the competition, participants declare and undertake that the submitted works are entirely their own, are original, and do not infringe upon the intellectual or industrial property rights of any third party. In the event of any violation, the work shall be excluded from the competition; if an award has been granted, it shall be reclaimed. Any and all claims, damages, and liabilities arising therefrom shall be borne by the author. İzmir Metropolitan Municipality shall not accept any liability in this regard.
6.4. Participants agree that, within the scope of the Turkish Law on Intellectual and Artistic Works No. 5846, they irrevocably transfer their economic rights over the work (including adaptation, reproduction, distribution, public performance, and communication to the public by means of signs, sounds, and/or images) to İzmir Metropolitan Municipality on an exclusive basis, without limitation as to time or place. The Municipality shall have the right to use, reproduce, publish, adapt, distribute, and transfer/license the works in unlimited numbers, both domestically and internationally, across all printed and digital media and in all types of promotional materials (including brochures, catalogs, albums, exhibitions, posters, billboards, bus stop panels, social media, websites, videos, etc.). Without prejudice to the author's moral rights, the author consents to these uses and agrees that no additional copyright or royalty fees shall be claimed under any circumstances.
6.5. Award-winning participants are obliged to submit, in full and duly signed form, all information and documents requested for prize payment (Participation Form, identification/tax information, IBAN/SWIFT details, etc.). Participants who fail to submit the required documents within six (6) months from the date of announcement of the results, or who do not provide the necessary banking details for payment, shall forfeit their right to claim the prize. In such cases, no claims for prizes, copyrights, or any other entitlements may be made. In the event of disputes, the Courts and Enforcement Offices of İzmir shall have jurisdiction.
6.6. Cartoons deemed suitable for exhibition by the Selection Committee shall be exhibited. In the event that an album is produced, copies of the album shall be sent only to the authors of the cartoons included therein.
6.7. If it is determined that a work does not comply with the participation conditions, its ranking shall be annulled and the work shall be disqualified from the competition.
6.8. Members of the Selection Committee (principal and substitute), their first-degree relatives, official partners, assistants, employees, and employees of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality are not eligible to participate in the competition.
7. SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES
In the period between the announcement of the competition results and the signing of the contract, any disputes that may arise between İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and the participant shall first be referred to the arbitration of the jury. If no resolution is reached, the Courts and Enforcement Offices of İzmir shall have jurisdiction over the settlement of disputes.
8. CARTOON SUBMISSION ADDRESS
Electronic submissions shall be sent to the following email address: newcartoonizmir@gmail.com
9. COMPETITION SCHEDULE
Submission Deadline: 10 / 04 / 2026
Announcement of Shortlisted Cartoons: 17 / 04 / 2026
Announcement of Results: 24 / 04 / 2026
10. AWARDS
The awards to be granted to the winning participants are as follows:
First Prize: 60.000,00 TL
Second Prize: 45.000,00 TL
Third Prize: 30.000,00 TL
Three (3) Honorable Mentions: 20.000,00 TL
Payments to artists abroad will be made by converting their TL prize into USD, taking into account the foreign exchange selling rate on the day the payment is made by the bank. (Applies to foreign participants sending payments from outside Turkey.)
PRINCIPAL JURY MEMBERS
Eray ÖZBEK (Cartoonist)
Cemalettin GÜZELOĞLU (Cartoonist)
Ömer ÇAM (Cartoonist)
Kutay Bilgihan ATABAY (Retired Military Officer / Cartoonist)
Serap DİKMEN (Chair of the Board, Kedi Otizm)
Buse YÜCEL KABA (Sociologist)
SUBSTITUTE JURY MEMBERS
Zeynep Dalmış (Handicrafts Teacher)
COMPETITION RAPPORTER
Tolga UÇAR, Rapporteur (IMM Directorate of Disability Studies)
We wish all participants success.
Türkçe sürümü:
Uluslararası “Görünmeyen Engellilik” Karikatür Yarışması 2026 İzmir, Türkiye
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