Iran, Italy launch first joint children’s painting contest to foster cultural exchange
Iran’s Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults, in cooperation with the cultural attaché of the Iranian embassy in Italy, has issued a call for entries for the first joint Iran-Italy children’s painting competition, aimed at deepening mutual understanding among Iranian and Italian children and adolescents of each other’s cultures and traditions.
The competition is open to children and teenagers aged six to 15 and will be held in three age categories, six to eight, nine to 12, and 13 to 15.
Participants are invited to submit artworks on a wide range of themes, including the customs and traditions of their own country, the natural and cultural beauty of their homeland, the two ancient civilizations of Iran and Italy in human history, an imaginary journey to Iran or Italy, national days, national flags and heroes of the two countries, as well as the preservation of cultural heritage. Paintings may be created using any tools, materials or techniques.
The deadline for submitting works to the inaugural Iran-Italy children’s painting competition has been set for April 21, 2026. Five selected works in each of the three age groups will receive the jury’s medal and certificate of honor, along with valuable Iranian toys. In addition, all works selected for exhibition will be awarded certificates of honor and gifts.
The selected artworks will be displayed in separate exhibitions in Rome and Tehran, with participants from each country invited to attend special ceremonies.
Each participant is allowed to submit only one artwork, and all submitted paintings must be original and unpublished works by the participant. Entries that use copyrighted images, including characters from television programs, films, video games or books, will not be accepted.
Submitted works will not be returned, and all rights to the artworks will belong to the competition organizers. In some cases, the submitted paintings may be loaned for activities and events promoting children’s art education and international cultural exchanges between Iran and Italy.