Open Call for Narrative Space, Encounter. An International Juried Contemporary Jewelry Exhibition and Competition

Theme: Narrative Space, Encounter

Artists are invited to choose one of the two poetic excerpts below and immerse themselves in its atmosphere and ideas.

Poetic excerpt no 1.
Mihály Babits: The Epilogue of the Lyric Poet

“Compelled to be the hero of my verse,
the first and last in every song I write,
I long to shape in them the universe,
but nought beyond myself comes in my sight. …..”
translated by István Tótfalusi


Poetic excerpt no 2.
Rainer Maria Rilke: Letters to a Young Poet

“Love consists in this:
that two solitudes
protect, and border,
and greet each other.”


The submitted works should convey the impressions and inner reflections evoked by the text through each artist’s individual interpretation, rather than through a direct or literal translation of the excerpt into form.
 
Participants should explore the transformative power of narrative through the making of wearable objects and how they interface with a wider audience - the viewer.
/Dr Jack Cunningham, member of the Jury

In what ways does the poem you have selected inspire your approach to jewelry design, and how might it guide your creative exploration and innovation, creating a narrative space that subtly intertwines maker, wearer, and viewer?

The application is free and will be accepted until the 29th of April 2026, click here for full details, conditions, schedule, criteria...

         
Dates and Places:

- 28th August  -  20th September, Ferenczy Museum Centre ArtMill, Szentendre, Hungary, and Budapest ICR, Institute of Culture, Hungary

- 26th September – 1st November, “The Best 6” will be exhibited at Design Without Borders, Budapest, Museum Kiscelli.

The Inflow 2026 exhibition will take place simultaneously at two venues—the ArtMill of the Ferenczy Museum Centre and the Romanian Cultural Institute—accompanied by a conference, designer workshops with jury members, the Charon Kransen seminar, and the opening ceremonies and Awarding Night, offering a vibrant insight into contemporary jewelry.
 
Enjoy a short video, Inflow 2025.  Over three weeks, Inflow showcased more than 260 contemporary narrative jewelry pieces from 29 countries simultaneously at two unique locations.


The annual InFlow exhibition and conference enters its third year this summer. This highly successful event has rapidly established itself as an exciting and important opportunity for contemporary jewellers to participate in a group exhibition showcasing makers from around the world. Allowing designer-makers the scope to explore personal narratives such as ; relationships, conflict, politics, social commentary, environment, pieces are selected by an international jury for inclusion in the themed exhibition, mounted in the beautiful setting of Szentendre, the ‘cultural capital’ of Hungary.

Dr Jack Cunningham – Emeritus Professor


Selection Process:
The artists selected for the exhibition will be chosen by an independent professional jury through an anonymous selection process, based on the concept of the artworks, their relevance to the theme, and overall social impact, as well as the quality of craftsmanship and innovative approaches. 


Members of the Jury:
 

• Dr. Jack Cunningham, Emeritus Professor. (jackcunningham.co.uk).
• Charon Kransen – former professor, curator, and collector, Charon Kransen Arts, New York. (https://www.charonkransenarts.com/)
• Niki Stylianou, contemporary jewelry designer, Co-Founder of Athen Jewelry Week, Founder and Co-organiser of the JELO6 Project. (nikistylianoujewelry.com)
• Magdalena Vélez Salinas, President, Co-Founder AdOC Contemporary Goldsmith and Jewelers Association, Madrid. (instagram.com/mvelezsalinas).
• Katalin Jermakov, Noémi Ferenczy award winner jewelry designer, Mana Design Studio.
• István Simonyi, art historian, writer, jewellery collector. (facebook.com/istvan.simonyi).
• Anna Borbély-Tardy, museum director of Ferenczy Museum Centre. (https://femuz.hu/en/)

Awarding Categories:

The Best Narrative Award: the winner will be invited to participate in a well-known international jewelry exhibition, + artistic commemorative object.
The Best Innovative Award: the winner will be invited to participate in an exhibition with international jewelry artists this or next year, curated by Charon Kransen Arts, New York. + artistic commemorative object.
The "Top 6" Award: the winners will exhibit at the Design Without Borders Exhibition, Museum Kiscelli, 2026.+ artistic trophy
Collector’s Award: Acquisition of the selected work, + artistic commemorative object.
The Young Talent Award: the winner will exhibit at the XI. Contemporary Goldsmithing Exhibition Madrid, 2027.+artistic commemorative object.
 
How to participate?
 

• Compliance with the call’s criteria, strict observance of deadlines, and accurate completion of the application form are required online.
• Only self-designed, completed works may be submitted.
• The year of creation must not be earlier than 2023.
• Number of works that may be submitted: 1–5 pieces.
• Maximum dimensions: 35 × 35 × 10 cm.
• Delivery on time of the selected works and payment of the required fees.
• Acceptance of the conditions of the call via the application form.

>> Click Here for Complete Information

We invite you to embrace this path of meaningful encounters, where each piece of jewelry tells a unique story, transcending time and connecting us through its silent yet powerful narrative.

Inflow – Association for Contemporary Arts & Gallery Frangipani.