Radical Joy foregrounds the resilience of the human spirit, shifting attention from suffering to the transformative and often underestimated power of joy. This open call positions joy as a core force in contemporary artistic practice, not a decorative or secondary idea, but one that sustains resilience, creativity, and endurance in challenging times.
The open call welcomes work across all media that engages with joy, fulfilment, and emotional complexity, challenging the notion of joy as secondary or decorative. As Sensity founder Dina Mostovaya states: “finding joy is not indulgence but an essential force for strength, innovation, and survival.”
One selected artist will receive three months of PR support, direct access to the international art market with a focus on the UK and Europe, and inclusion in a group exhibition in Europe in 2026. Three finalists will receive portfolio reviews with curators and industry experts, offering valuable entry points into the contemporary art ecosystem.
The jury for our 2026 Open Call, Radical Joy, brings together an inspiring group of internationally recognised curators, cultural leaders and art professionals shaping today’s contemporary art landscape.
• Carmen Ballesta, a Madrid-based digital art curator, founder of CBO Art Agency, and co-founder of TAIRA Studio
• Betty Bigas, a Barcelona-based art curator and cultural promoter, with international experience
• Alisa Lisovskaia, a London-based art curator & digital art producer, Art&culture program manager of Lifestyle hotels PPHE Hotel Group
• Laura Rositani, a Padova-based art writer and independent curator
• Auronda Scalera, a Doha and London-based artistic Director, curator, and lecturer, working at the intersection of contemporary art and new technology
• Elena Shchukina, a London-based art dealer, philanthropist, and founder of Women in Art Fair
The open call is free to enter.
Applications are open from 27 May to 17 June 2026, with a deadline at 23:59 UK time.
Submission form by the link.
