Some exhibitions offer more than an opportunity to display artwork — they create space for stories that have long remained unseen. Hidden Narratives is dedicated to projects exploring personal memories, family archives, collective experiences, migration, identity, and the stories that rarely become part of public discourse. For many artists, this is a chance to transform lived experience into an artistic statement and present it to an international audience.

What Is This Open Call About
Staromiejski Dom Kultury in Warsaw invites artists of Belarusian origin to take part in the exhibition Hidden Narratives – Схаваныя наратывы – Ukryte Narracje, scheduled to open in September 2026. The project focuses on hidden personal stories as well as individual and collective experiences that often remain outside official narratives.

Who Can Apply
The open call is intended for artists of Belarusian origin. Applicants may submit either new ideas or existing projects that fit the exhibition theme. This allows participation not only from those planning to create a new work specifically for the call, but also from artists who already have completed works or series connected to memory, experience, identity, and personal histories.

What Participants Will Receive
Following the selection process, chosen projects will be presented at Galeria Promocyjna in Warsaw. Selected participants will receive support throughout several stages of project preparation and presentation:
— participation in an international exhibition in Warsaw;
— curatorial guidance and support;
— technical and organizational assistance;
— production support during exhibition preparation;
— promotion and communication support for the project.
For independent artists, this kind of support is often just as valuable as direct funding, helping transform a project into a professional exhibition and present it to a wider audience.

What Matters When Preparing an Application
The organizers evaluate not only the artistic quality of a project but also how convincingly it addresses the exhibition theme. Particular attention is given to hidden personal stories, family memory, migration experiences, lived events, and collective recollections. The project concept should be submitted as a description of up to ten pages, making it important not only to present the work itself but also to explain its connection to the broader idea of the exhibition.

Why It Is Worth Considering
Exhibition opportunities specifically focused on the cultural and lived experiences of Belarusian artists are relatively rare. Hidden Narratives creates a space for conversations about memory, belonging, loss, change, and other themes that remain deeply relevant to many artists today. Participating in the exhibition can become an opportunity to present your work in an international context and connect with audiences for whom these stories resonate on a personal level.

The deadline for applications is 30 June 2026.