Competition for exhibition projects abroad: Visualise

The Ukrainian Institute announces the sixth cycle of the Art Competition within the framework of the program supporting Ukrainian exhibition projects abroad, known as Visualise. The main goal of this initiative is to popularize Ukraine and Ukrainian culture worldwide, as well as to develop strong international institutional cooperation between Ukraine and other countries in the field of visual arts. The program offers opportunities for co-programming, partial financing, and comprehensive informational support for exhibitions that will facilitate the promotion of contemporary Ukrainian art on the international stage. 

A key feature of the competition is that projects must necessarily be implemented in partnership with foreign specialized institutions, such as museums, galleries, fairs, or festivals, in designated priority countries. Exhibition projects should focus on Ukrainian photography or explore overarching themes important to Ukraine today: Russia's war against Ukraine, recovery processes, decolonization of culture, civil society development, the history of Crimea and Crimean Tatars, as well as key cultural phenomena and figures. It is expected that the supported initiatives will not only present Ukraine but also create platforms for profound international dialogue.

• Applicants can be legal entities of all ownership forms and sole proprietors registered in Ukraine with proven experience in similar projects.
• Foreign companies, organizations, their branches, and representative offices accredited in Ukraine also have the right to apply.
• Participation is strictly prohibited for individuals and organizations associated with the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, or the Islamic Republic of Iran. This applies to citizens of these countries (except those legally residing in Ukraine), legal entities created under their legislation, as well as companies where the specified states or their citizens own a share of 10% or more in the authorized capital.
• Individuals under NSDC sanctions, those who have violated the law regarding occupied territories, as well as winners of the Visualise 2025 program are not allowed.

The maximum amount of funding for one exhibition project is 1,500,000.00 hryvnias, including all taxes.

Eligible costs:  

• Curatorial and research services: writing, translation, and editing of curatorial texts, design, layout, and printing of the exhibition catalog.
• Exhibition space arrangement: development of architectural/curatorial solutions, printing of explications and navigation, production of exhibits and digital content, reimbursement of utility/operational costs, equipment rental, installation, and dismantling.
• Organization of the public program: lectures, workshops, oral translation, pre-opening image events, photo/video recording, subtitling, and production of audio materials.
• Communication services: PR, development of plans, production and distribution of information materials.
• Organizational expenses: administration, booking economy class flights and 2nd class trains, accommodation of participants in single rooms of 3 standard.

Ineligible costs: honorariums, bonuses, author's remunerations, licensing payments, goods and services not related to the project, institutional maintenance (accountant/auditor services), capital expenditures over 20,000 hryvnias, insurance (if not included in the ticket), accreditations, membership fees, alcohol, exchange rate differences, per diems, taxi services, business class and luxury trains, as well as advertising services. For non-residents, software development, property rental, telecommunications, and TV production are additionally not financed.

The program supports the organization of exhibitions and visual art projects in cooperation with foreign museums, galleries, fairs, and festivals in priority countries around the world. The presentation of Ukrainian photography and/or work with the overarching themes of the Ukrainian Institute is mandatory:

• Russia's war against Ukraine.
• Recovery and the future of Ukraine.
• Civil society as the foundation of statehood.
• Crimea and Crimean Tatars.
• Decolonization of culture and reappropriation of cultural heritage.
• Iconic figures, phenomena, and events.

• August 27, 2026: Official announcement of the start of the Art Competition.
• August 27 – November 1, 2026 (23:59): Period for submitting competitive applications.
• Within 5 working days after receipt: The secretary of the commission confirms receipt and checks the application for technical compliance (in case of non-compliance, the applicant is given 2 working days to make corrections).
• Up to December 1, 2026: Evaluation of admitted applications by the competition commission.
• No later than January 20, 2027: Official notification of participants about the results by email and publication of the winners on the resources of the Ukrainian Institute.
• No earlier than March 1, 2027: Allowed start of project implementation (there are no restrictions on the final implementation date).

1. Download the application templates, budget forms, and required certificates/statements from the annexes to the announcement.
2. Fill out the application form and budget in Ukrainian (and English if necessary), adhering to the character limits in each section.
3. Gather all supporting documents (statutory documents, proof of partnership, evidence of experience).
4. Sign the necessary forms, the certificate of no contacts with aggressor states, and the letter of guarantee.
5. Save each document in electronic PDF format so that the size of an individual file does not exceed 1 megabyte.
6. Send the compiled package of files to the email address art@ui.org.ua no later than 23:59 Kyiv time on November 1, 2026.

• Alignment with the mission of the Ukrainian Institute (+/-): evaluates the development of international dialogue, compliance with legislation, and work with relevant themes (in the event of a minus in at least one parameter, the application receives 0 points and is no longer considered).
• Quality of the concept and relevance of themes (up to 5 points): non-superficial elaboration of the theme, representation of contemporary culture or photography, relevant format.
• Level of the institutional partner (up to 5 points): from 5 points for a national institution with a wide network of partnerships to 1 point for a local initiative without a profile.
• Potential for building cooperation (up to 5 points): organic nature of the theme, sufficient agency and conceptual contribution of the Ukrainian and foreign partners (not just providing a location).
• Communication potential (up to 5 points): clarity of the target audience, well-thought-out plan, lack of exploitation of the theme of Ukrainian victimhood.
• Justification of expenses (up to 5 points): alignment of the budget with the goals, rationality of the ratio of expenses to results, maximum detail.

• Completed and signed competitive application form (Annex 1).
• Completed and signed application budget form (Annex 6).
• Copy of the statute/extract (or access code in the Unified State Register) and registration documents of the participant. If signed by someone other than the head — a document confirming authority.
• Proof of international partnership: mandatory — an official letter of intent to cooperate from the foreign partner; additionally — a signed contract, proof of space booking, thematic-exposition plan, licensing agreements.
• Proof of experience in similar projects in free form: links to implemented projects, copies of previous contracts, letters of recommendation.
• Signed certificate on the legal entity's letterhead stating the absence of direct/indirect contacts with the RF, Belarus, or Iran (Annex 3).
• Signed letter of guarantee regarding the ownership of copyright for the use of objects in the exhibition (Annex 7).

• After the competition, the responsible person of the Institute prepares a detailed internal report on the selection results within 20 working days.
• Procurement contracts for services with the winners are concluded exclusively using a standard form in accordance with current public procurement legislation.
• The actual amount of funding and the signing of contracts depend on the approved budget funding of the Ukrainian Institute for the respective year. If the project is implemented in several stages over different years, contracts are concluded separately for each budget period.
• Submission of false information or the discovery of ties with aggressor states at any stage leads to the immediate rejection of the application or the unilateral termination of the concluded contract with compensation for damages to the Institute.

• The Art Competition is held in accordance with the statutory tasks of the Ukrainian Institute and the Regulation on the organization and conduct of the art competition within the Visualise program.
• The organizer reserves the right not to choose any winner, as well as to cancel the competition at any stage due to circumstances beyond their control or a change in circumstances.
• Participation is strictly prohibited for enterprises, organizations, and individuals associated with the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, or the Islamic Republic of Iran (both by registration and by the composition of ultimate beneficiaries).
• Individuals subject to special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions) in accordance with the Law of Ukraine "On Sanctions," as well as those who have violated the regime of temporarily occupied territories, are not allowed to participate.
• In case of detecting false information or hidden ties with aggressor states at any stage, the Ukrainian Institute has the right to reject the application, refuse to recognize the applicant as a winner, or unilaterally terminate the concluded contract.
• Submitting a competitive application automatically implies the applicant's consent to the processing of their personal data in accordance with the Law of Ukraine "On Personal Data Protection."
• The conclusion of a contract with the winners is carried out exclusively using a standard form in accordance with current Ukrainian public procurement legislation.
• The applicant bears full responsibility for the availability of intellectual property rights for the works used in the exhibition and is obligated to compensate for any damages in the event of third-party claims regarding copyright infringement.