Deadline: September 10, 2026... Theme: The main theme is "the universe" . This year, Amnesty International is offering the best comic strip under the theme "Right to Freedom of Expression"... Artwork should be submitted in JPEG format with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi (2480 x 3543 pixels)... Dimensions including all passe-partout 21 x 30 cm (A4)... A maximum of five (5) works per subject...
1. Participation
All candidates will be admitted regardless of nationality or age. There are two categories:
• Youth category up to and including 15 years old;
• Adult category: 16 years and over.
Both professional and non-professional artists are allowed to participate in this competition.
2. Theme
The main theme is "The Universe" . This year, Amnesty International is offering the best comic strip under the theme "Right to Freedom of Expression".
3. Participations
• Submissions must be digital works. They should not contain an explanation of the drawing.
• Digital works must be submitted in JPEG format with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi (2480 x 3543 pixels).
• Dimensions including all passe-partout 21 x 30 cm (A4).
• Number of entries per candidate: maximum five for each theme.
• You must register your details via www.olensekartoenale.be.
• You can register to participate from July 1, 2026.
• Award winners must be able to provide a curriculum vitae and a photo of themselves within two (2) days of the organization's request.
4. Property Rights
The winning entries will become the property of the organizer or the theme sponsor. All selected entries may be used by the organizers to promote the competition and the village of Olen.
5. Evaluation
The jury is composed of artists, illustrators, and laypeople. The decisions made by the jury cannot be appealed.
6. Comic Book Catalogue/Book
Selected works will be considered for inclusion in a catalogue. The authors of these works will receive a free copy of the catalogue at the awards ceremony or it will be mailed to them afterward.
7. Deadline: September 10, 2026
The deadline is September 10, 2026, at midnight. The registration form can be found at www.olensekartoenale.be, where you can also upload your artwork. Do not send your artwork to kartoenale@olen.be.
8. Price
For the adult category:
First prize: 1500 euros
2nd prize: 700 euros
3rd prize: 400 euros
4th prize: 300 euros
Bialogard City Prize (reserved for Polish participants): 200 euros
Amnesty International special price: 500 euros.
For the youth category:
Prize for best international work: 250 euros
Prize for the best Belgian work: 250 euros.
If no Belgian application qualifies in the youth category, the prize will be awarded to the second-highest-ranked international application in the youth category.
9. Awards Ceremony and Exhibition
The awards ceremony will take place on Friday, November 13, 2026, at approximately 8:00 PM in the council chamber of Olen Town Hall, 'De Meent', 2250 Olen. All participating artists are welcome. Only the winners will receive personal invitations.
A selection of cartoons will also be on display at the same address and can be visited every working day until the end of December 2026 during the town hall's opening hours:
o Monday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
o Tuesday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Wednesday 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM and 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
o Thursday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
o Friday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Main theme: "The Universe"
The cosmos began with an enormous crash coming from an unimaginable void.
Or perhaps from a single primordial atom, or initiated by an unknown entity that we conveniently call God.
In the end, it matters little, because astronomy, mathematics, physics, chemistry and philosophy provide no answer to the question of what existed before time and matter.
What is this nothingness from which something is born? It is beyond our imagination.
In this immeasurable universe, billions of stars dance and sway across countless galaxies, in clusters
They are cloud-like and spiral nebulae. They float among clouds of gas and black holes in an ocean of dark matter where planetary systems patiently revolve around their sun. Sometimes pregnant with life, in some form or another.
Amnesty International's theme: "The right to freedom of expression"
Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right. It means that everyone has the right to form and express their opinions freely, without interference, and across borders. This includes the right to seek, receive, and share information and ideas through any form of communication, including speech, the media, the internet, and art. It covers all kinds of expression, from political opinions and satire to artistic works and personal viewpoints.
In democratic societies governed by the rule of law, freedom of expression is broadly protected. Critical, difficult, or controversial opinions—and forms of artistic expression, including drawings—are an integral part of this protection, fostering open debate and encouraging reflection within society.
However, this right is not unlimited. Speech that incites hatred, discrimination, or violence, or that could cause serious harm or panic, can be legally restricted. Freedom of expression therefore comes with responsibilities. At the same time, a key principle is that opinions should generally be expressed freely, with restrictions usually being applied afterward rather than through prior censorship. Thus, freedom of expression remains a vital foundation for pluralism, critical debate, and creative freedom.
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