ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

• Predominant use of paper and cardboard;
• Entering one or more original projects;
• Paying the entry fee;
• Being at least 18 years old;
• It is possible to participate as a single artist or as a group of maximum 2 people.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

To participate in the call, please follow these steps:

1. Fill out the registration form (next pages).
2. Submit the technical sheet, including a description of the concept and the work (minimum 50, maximum 500 characters), along with the upload of photographic material,  with this application.
3. Sign for acceptance.
4. Pay the participation fee, which amounts to € 36 (+ VAT).
   ATTENTION: payment is made through the PayPal service. In case of payment by bank transfer, please contact us at info@luccabiennale.com

At the end of the submission process, you can download the documentation in PDF format with a summary. If you experience any issues with the payment or filling out the online form, you can contact us via email or phone.

For the submission of additional materials and the model required in Phase 2, please send them to the following address: 9 Muse srl, Via di Tiglio 370 - 55100 Lucca, Italy.

COMPETITION PHASES
The competition consists of 3 PHASES:

PHASE 1: DEADLINE FOR THE CALL / PROJECT IDEA

Project concepts must be submitted by and no later than September 18, 2025 at 11.59 pm (GMT +1). No restrictions apply to the submission format of project ideas (.pdf, drawings, photographs, video etc.), as long as the following details are provided:

• Volume size (length x width x height). We recommend to not go beyond 6x6x6 meters, although larger projects will still be taken into consideration;
• Project concepts must be in line with LUBICA’s theme;  
• Proposed installation location* of the artwork to be included in the artwork description.

*Location: at present, the final list of sites for the 2026 edition is not yet available, as it is agreed upon with the municipal administration based on permits, public safety, and the technical characteristics of the selected works. Historically, the areas used for outdoor installations have included:

• Piazza San Michele
• Loggiato Pretorio
• Piazza Anfiteatro
• Piazza San Francesco
• Piazza Guidiccioni
• Porta dei Borghi
• Porta San Gervasio
• Garden or loggia of Palazzo Guinigi

The matching of artwork and location is evaluated on a case-by-case basis during the later stages of the competition, also taking into account dimensions, structure, and safety requirements.

Semi-finalists will be announced by October 24, 2025.

PHASE 2: DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF THE FEASIBILITY PROJECT

The pre-finalist is required to engage in a discussion with the technical committee for the development of the feasibility project (to be sent via email) and to submit a scale model (minimum 1:20), which must be delivered by December 2, 2025, to the following address: 9 Muse srl, Via di Tiglio 370 - 55100 Lucca, Italy. The models will not be returned. Shipping costs are the responsibility of the participant.

Important: Clearly label the package with the phrase “for cultural purpose.”

The feasibility project must be drafted, specifying the following information:

• Construction timeline
• List of materials
• Cost estimate
• Assembly process.

The scale model must be made of paper, respecting the minimum scale of 1:20.
Among the pre-finalists, a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 10 artists will be selected.

The selection of the finalists will be announced by January 23, 2026.

PHASE 3: DEADLINE: SUBMISSION OF THE EXECUTIVE PROJECT

Finalists must submit the final executive project by March 31, 2026, following the specifications outlined in the next section. The organizing committee will host the artists in the city of Lucca for the creation of their works between June 15 and July 19, 2026.
 

WHAT THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES for partecipation:

• Accommodation for the time required to complete the artwork*
• Round-trip travel expenses covered*
• Meal discounts and agreements
• A prize of €1,000, awarded at the end of the event, provided the artist fully participates in the creation and completion of the work
• Promotion and dissemination of the artwork and the artist.

*In the case of collective participation, two team leaders responsible for executing the project in residence must be indicated in the registration form. LUBICA commits to covering the costs for these two team leaders, subject to a feasibility study and overall evaluation. The committee reserves the right to confirm cost coverage based on the analysis of the feasibility study. Any additional collective members will need to cover their own travel and accommodation expenses.

Artists should be ready to support LUBICA in case it takes part in European or international exchange programmes promoting artist mobility.

WHAT THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES for the creation of the recidency:

• Assistance from the technical committee during project planning.
• On-site technical support, assessed during the executive project phase and subject to confirmation in the case of team participation. The organization will evaluate the actual feasibility after the feasibility project submission.
• Up to three transport trips, one of which is for dismantling – using an Iveco Daily van*.
• Hardware and wood materials up to a maximum value of €400*.
• Tools and spare parts up to a maximum value of €200*.
• Unlimited paper and cardboard supply.

*Artists are encouraged to provide for any needs exceeding these limits with their own means. If the spending limits are exceeded, the organization reserves the right to adjust the monetary prize accordingly. Any materials purchased with LUBICA's contribution remain the property of LUBICA. Finalists are considered the primary creators of their work and are required to ensure their presence and collaboration throughout the production and installation process.

The organization reserves the right to make the final decision regarding the installation location.

FINAL EXECUTIVE PROJECT
The Final Executive Project is the official document for the programming and coordination of the work. It must be submitted by March 31, 2026, and must include:

• Technical drawing of the artwork and its physical placement*
• List of final materials required for the creation of the artwork
• Final cost list
• Timeline for the creation of the artwork
• Assembly process (including required tools, assembly complexity)
• Protection and waterproofing process, fire resistance, stability, and safety of the artwork.
  
  

TIMELINE  

Applicants should complete registration before the deadline to avoid technical issues that may cause delays.

*Official dates may be subject to changes due to institutional reasons, up to 15 days before the event starts.

Due to force majeure, the Artistic Direction may decide that none of the proposals received meet the required criteria or standards, and therefore, no proposal will be accepted.

PROMOTION & COMMUNITY

Selected artists will benefit from:

• Promotion on the website www.luccabiennalecartasia.com, exclusive interviews on social media, and a dedicated section in the official catalogue.
• A digital excerpt from the LUBICA 2026 catalogue featuring their section (with a discount for the purchase of a printed copy).
• An invitation to the inauguration for the selected artist plus five guests.
• Discounted entry tickets for the exhibition (specific terms will be communicated upon selection).
• Membership in the Paper Art Community, a network for artists working with paper and its derivatives.
  
  

RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT

Communications will be made via email and/or published on www.luccabiennalecartasia.com.

OTHER PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES

On the Biennale's website, you can find all the details on how to participate in the 2026 edition of Lucca Biennale Cartasia. Below is a summary:

• Residency Call (Indoor and Outdoor) – starting from 01/03/2025
• Indoor Call (Art & Video Art, Fashion, Design) – starting from 01/03/2025
• Call for Papers (Architecture) – starting from 01/10/2025
• Performance – starting from 01/10/2025
• Workshops – starting from 01/10/2025

To stay updated, we invite you to subscribe to our newsletter.

QUESTIONS

For inquiries or clarifications, contact:

• Email: info@luccabiennale.com
• Phone: +39 0583 928354 / +39 349 7123926

Participants are encouraged to stay updated via the website and social media, as the call may undergo changes before the deadline.

For registration purposes it is necessary to fill out THIS FORM to the end.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

While intellectual property rights remain with the artists, submitted proposals will be exhibited, photographed, and filmed for the purpose of event execution and promotion through LUBICA’s official communication channels. Participants guarantee that their proposals and exhibitions do not infringe any patents or intellectual property rights belonging to third parties. Should a legal claim arise alleging that a project partially or fully violates patents or other intellectual property rights, the organizer reserves the right to seek compensation from the participant for damages. The organizer may use submitted projects for promotional purposes related to the competition, including exhibitions, events, websites, fairs, etc.

The completed artworks will become the property of LUBICA.

DATA PROTECTION

Personal data and artistic materials provided during registration are processed by 9 Muse Impresa Sociale, the organizing entity of LUBICA, for project evaluation and archival purposes. According to Italian privacy laws (Law 675/96), explicit consent is required to process and disseminate personal data through LUBICA’s official channels. This consent is mandatory for participation. By registering, applicants fully accept the competition regulations.