6th "CIK Damadian" Festival of Caricatures & Epigrams 2026 Botosani Romania

Deadline: August 15, 2026...The theme of the 2025 edition is: "Yerevan Radio and Armenian Figures"...

The competition is divided into three sections: 1) Cartoon section, 2) Epigram section, 3) Humorous Poetry section...

(August 15, 2026) Remaining Time for Participation:

Regulation for participation in the epigrams and cartoons competition „CIK DAMADIAN” –Sixth edition, Botosani, 2026

Organizer

Armenian Union of Romania - Botosani Branch „PRO Urban” Association - Botosani

Partners

Local media publishing

TVR Iasi

County Council of Botosani

City Hall of Botosani

”Mihai Eminescu” Theater of Botoşani

Memorialul Ipoteşti- ”Mihai Eminescu”National Study Centre

County Museum of Botoşani

Date: 01.06- 15.08.2026, BOTOSANI, Romania

Objectives

To promote the Armenian community in Romania, on a national and international scale, through symbolic forms of identity and, at the same time, a tribute to a great Romanian graphic artist and caricaturist of Armenian origin, Cik(Hacik) Damadian.

Theme of the 2025 edition: "Radio Yerevan and Armenian figures”

Registration for the competition

The competition is open to individuals with Romanian citizenship or foreign citizens, regardless of nationality, race, sex or religion, over 18 years of age on the date of application.

The competition is divided into three sections:

1) cartoons section:

Creating 3 cartoons with the theme “Radio Yerevan” or figures from the Armenian community in Romania

2) epigrams section

Writing 3 epigrams with the theme "Radio Yerevan and Armenian figures”and 2 epigrams with a theme of your choice.The words “Radio Erevan” do not necessarily have to appear in the epigrams. The theme is considered fulfilled if the epigram addresses either the subject of Radio Erevan or Armenian figures.

3) humorous poetry section

Writing a minimum of 2 (two) humorous poemswith the theme "Radio Yerevan and Armenian figures”and 2 epigrams with a theme of your choice. The words “Radio Erevan” do not necessarily have to appear in the epigrams. The theme is considered fulfilled if the epigram addresses either the subject of Radio Erevan or Armenian figures.

All creations submitted for the competition must be original, unpublished and must not have been awarded prizes in other similar competitions. The competition is open to all genre creators everywhere, professional and non-professional.

The works must meet the following characteristics:

1) the cartoons section is divided into two typologies

- portrait cartoon - cartoons of some personalities of Armenian origin from

Romania

- cartoons on the theme of the contest ”Radio Yerevan”

You can submit a maximum of 3 works of each participant regardless of the

type chosen.

Works should be in A4 format and should be sent electronically (by email) to uarbotosani@yahoo.ro and in original form (valid for competitors from Romania) by post to:

Armenian Union of Romania - Botosani Branch,

Str. Armeana no 20, Botosani.

The dead line for submissions is 15.08.2026.

2) epigrams section

- be in line with the competition theme;

- to submit 3 epigrams with the required topic "Radio Yerevan and Armenian figures” and 2 epigrams of your choice.

- The words "Radio Yerevan" do not necessarily have to appear in the epigrams. The theme is considered fulfilled if the epigram addresses the subject of Radio Yerevan or Armenian figures.

Epigram writers from Botoșani County may participate, but they will not be entered into the contest!

Works must be sent in electronic format (email and in ”word” format) to uarbotosani@yahoo.ro, with the other required documents, typed in 14 point Times New Roman font, 1 line spacing. The deadline for submissions is 15.08.2026.

3) humorous poetry section

- to submit 2 poems on the theme ” Radio Yerevan and Armenian figures”

- The poems must have a minimum of 4 stanzas and have the theme ‘Radio Yerevan and Armenian figures’.

- The words "Radio Yerevan" do not necessarily have to appear in the epigrams. The theme is considered fulfilled if the epigram addresses the subject of Radio Yerevan or Armenian figures.

Humorous poems writers from Botoșani County may participate, but they will not be entered into the contest!

Works must be sent in electronic format (email and in ”word” format) to uarbotosani@yahoo.ro, signed with a motto, with the other required documents, typed in 14 point Times New Roman font, 1 line spacing. The deadline for submissions is 15.08.2026.

For the validation of the competitor (cartoons, epigrams and humorous poetry

section) the works must be accompanied by:

- Registration form (Annex 1 to the Regulation).

- copy of identity card

- Personal Data Protection Declaration (Annex 2 to the Regulation).

-a short curriculum vitae, in Romanian (or in English for participants from other

countries) containing: name and surname, address, contact telephone numbers, e-mail.

Authors interested in the competition should send their works by:

- Post/ Courier:

Uniunea Armenilor din Romania- sucursala Botosani,

strada Armeana nr 20, Botosani,

until 15.08.2026 (post date),

- in electronic format (e-mail) uarbotosani@yahoo.ro.

The works will be presented to the public in an exhibition to be announced before the artwork is handed over. In the event that a situation of force majeure (e.g. Coronavirus pandemic) prevents the organization of the exhibition in a normal framework, the organizer - the Union of Armenians of Romania will make every effort to create a virtual exhibition on the website or on social networks.

Cartoons will be submitted in PDF/ JPG / JPEG format and epigrams in (editable) WORD (DOC/DOCX) format.

Registration to the competition implies the competitor's acceptance of the

Competition Regulations.

Selection of participation offers

All works in the competition (cartoons, epigrams, humorous poems) will be judged by a jury appointed from among the established persons in each section of the competition and which will be announced up to 15.08.2026. Following the assessment of the works, the jury will select the first four (4) works according to the average obtained from the jurors for each section, the First Prize, the Second Prize, the Third Prize and the Honorable Mention.The prizes consist of diplomas and money.

The prizes will be as follows:

a) Cartoons section

First Prize for Best Portrait—1,000 lei (approximately 200 euros)

First Prize for Best Work on the Theme—1,000 lei (approximately 200 euros)

Second Prize—750 lei (approximately 150 euros)

Third Prize – 500 lei (approximately 100 euros)

Honorable Mention – 250 lei (approximately 50 euros)

b) Epigrams section:

First Prize- 1,000 lei (approx. 200 euro)

Second Prize- 750 lei (approx. 150 euro)

ThirdPrize-500 lei (approx. 100 euro)

Honorable Mention- 250 lei (approx. 50 euro)

c) Humorous poetry section:

First Prize- 800 lei (approx. 160 euro)

Second Prize- 600 lei (approx. 120 euro)

Third Prize-400 lei (approx. 80 euro)

Honorable Mention- 250 lei (approx. 50 euro)

d) ”Ion Pribeagul” Prize

- awarded to the participant with the best epigram in the

competition

e) The “CIK DAMADIAN” Award to the participant for their debut and for the

best work in the competition.

Judging will take place between: 15-31.08.2026.

The awards ceremony will take place on 05.09. 2026, at a location to be announced after 15.08. 2026. Award-winning participants who attend the awards gala will be provided with meals and accommodations for the duration of their stay.

Obligations of participants

To comply with the clauses set out in the Regulations of the "CIK

DAMADIAN" Epigrams and Cartoons Competition, 6 th edition, Botosani, 2026.

To present their work in the exhibition (period 01.09-15.09.2026);

Candidates who do not complete their work by the deadline or who do not

follow the theme/topic required at the time of registration will not be entered in the

competition.

Obligations of the organizers

Provide the organization of the exhibition and the presentation of the works.

Provide information support to participants.

Special clauses

After completion, works in the competition (cartoons, epigrams, humour