Submissions open for the Starving Artist Program

Deadline: 31-Mar-2026

The Starving Artist invites artists worldwide to submit works for the Where Do We Roam exhibition and publication, exploring migration, mobility, sustainability, technology, biodiversity, and society. The call focuses on themes of liminality, identity, borders, and Roma, Gypsy, and Traveller experiences. Submissions are open to artists aged 18+, across multiple mediums, with a deadline of March 31, 2026, and no participation fee.

Overview of the Project

Where Do We Roam is a global art initiative examining the intersections of human mobility, agriculture, sustainability, technology, biodiversity, and society. The project encourages artists to challenge dominant narratives of migration, highlighting dignity, complexity, and autonomy rather than fear, emergency, or extraction.

The exhibition and publication aim to:

• Showcase diverse artistic interpretations of migration and mobility

• Critique borders, bureaucracies, and dominant migration discourses

• Explore the emotional, relational, and embodied aspects of movement

• Highlight Roma, Gypsy, and Traveller experiences, addressing stereotypes and discrimination

• Situate migration within contemporary globalisation, travel networks, and interconnected systems

Key Themes and Focus Areas

• Liminality and In-Betweenness: Explore the transitional spaces and experiences of mobility

• Borders and Bureaucracy: Challenge the political, social, and administrative systems shaping movement

• Climate and Displacement: Investigate the links between climate change, migration, and identity

• Identity and Belonging: Examine how mobility reshapes self-perception, community, and social relationships

• Roma, Gypsy, and Traveller Experiences: Highlight forced settlement, anti-Roma discrimination, and the criminalisation of mobility

• Art as Reclamation: Use artistic practice to make visible nuanced migration stories often flattened in statistics

Submission Guidelines

• Eligibility: Artists aged 18 and above

• Mediums Accepted: Painting, drawing, illustration, sculpture, installation (images), photography, digital art, mixed media, collage, performance, interactive art, video art, animation (must be presentable in a 2D gallery space)

• Number of Works: Up to 10 per artist

• AI-Generated Work: Not accepted

• Deadline: March 31, 2026

• Fees: No submission or participation fee

How to Apply

1. Prepare up to 10 works that explore the themes outlined above

2. Ensure all submissions adhere to the medium and presentation requirements

3. Compile images or documentation of work, including titles, descriptions, and artist statements as required

4. Submit entries through the official Starving Artist submission platform by the deadline

5. Confirm eligibility (18+) and adherence to guidelines regarding AI-generated content

Common Mistakes & Tips

• Submitting AI-generated work or content that violates the thematic focus

• Ignoring medium restrictions or gallery display constraints

• Exceeding the maximum of 10 submissions per artist

• Omitting descriptions, artist statements, or other required documentation

• Failing to highlight connections to mobility, migration, or the specific focus on Roma, Gypsy, and Traveller experiences where relevant

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Who can submit? Artists aged 18+ from anywhere in the world.

2. Is there a fee? No, submissions are free.

3. What mediums are accepted? Painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, digital art, installation (images), mixed media, collage, performance, video art, animation, interactive art.

4. How many works can each artist submit? Up to 10 works per artist.

5. Can AI-generated works be submitted? No, AI-generated content is disqualified.

6. Are there thematic requirements? Yes, works must explore migration, mobility, liminality, identity, borders, sustainability, or Roma, Gypsy, and Traveller experiences.

7. When is the deadline? March 31, 2026.

Conclusion

Where Do We Roam provides a global platform for artists to explore migration, mobility, sustainability, and societal issues through innovative and reflective artistic practice. By submitting work, artists contribute to critical dialogue on identity, movement, and social justice while engaging audiences through both exhibition and publication.

For more information, visit The Starving Artist.