Description

Unframed is a cross-disciplinary exhibition project that intertwines contemporary art with augmented reality (AR). Set across five European countries—Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Italy, and Romania—and potentially reaching farther, the project challenges conventional modes of interaction between audiences and societal processes, using AR to transform static artworks into dynamic portals of dialogue and discovery.

At its core, Unframed invites emerging artists to interpret topics like climate action, digital rights, food security, deforestation, coastal vegetation, queer culture, and others that are covered by European politics. These interpretations take the form of ten unique exisitng artworks (we are not commissioning you to make new work), that will be displayed through AR, enabling audiences to interact with the works using their smartphones or tablets. This immersive experience is designed to make policy tangible, offering new ways for viewers—especially younger generations—to engage with ongoing societal processes.

The addition of a physical installation that will support the digital experience–Reality Array modules–aims to improve the project’s accessibility and further our environmental efforts. This modular exhibition system, made from recycled plastic, replaces single-use AR markers with adaptable, transportable structures. This approach opens the exhibition to diverse spatial configurations, ranging from gallery settings to public spaces. Reality Array is inspired by modules designed by Luca Bilbo Rasmussen and Selma Lindhardt Blomberg for the Juxtapose Art Fair.

PARTNERS
De Structura, BASIS, Club Silencio, TIcAS, Subtopia, Artlink
Supported by the European Cultural Foundation and co-funded by the European Union.
Applicants: European artists 21 to 40 years of age may choose up to three topics from the 15 provided and submit relevant artworks.
If you are a visual or performance artist in the mentioned age group with work addressing any of the topics listed below, this call is for you. We think Europe is full of engaging diverse perspectives, and we invite all artists, who see themselves as in some way European—no matter their race, gender, religion, origin, language, cultural background—to join in. Honestly, this call is for everyone, who works with any of the topics below.
Themes: Each topic is derived from European Parliament legislative documents from the last three terms (2014–2024).
De Structura highlighted 15 European Parliament documents addressing a wide range of issues—15 topics for you to explore. We believe these questions often serve as a starting point for artists who aim to spark dialogue, discussion, or exploration through their work.
Mediums: Accepted formats include 2D artworks (e.g., high-quality images of paintings, short series of paintings or drawings), 3D works (e.g., sculptures, installations), other forms of digital artworks, and video documentation for performance art.
Locations: The exhibition will be displayed in at least five locations across Estonia, Italy, Sweden, and Finland between March and November 2025.
Fee: Each selected artist will receive a one-time fee of €200. There is no application fee. In short, we try to give and not take.
Q&A: A live Q&A session will be held on Instagram in January, with the exact date announced on De Structura’s social media channels.
Timeline: The open call runs from December 27 to February 1, with feedback provided to applicants in March.