OFFICIAL REGULATIONS
“UNBOXING BRÂNCUȘI” Program
Artistic and Literary Production Fees
I. Program Organizer
Art. 1. The “UNBOXING BRÂNCUȘI” Program (the “Program”) is organized by the MAReFoundation – Museum of Recent Art (the “Organizer”), co-financed by the National Cultural Fund Administration (AFCN), within session I/2026.
Art. 2. The Organizer reserves the right to engage external partners and supporters, who will be acknowledged in official communication materials.
II. Purpose of the Program
Art. 3. The Program aims to support the production of original artistic and literary works (Sculpture / Installation, Photo-video, Poetry) (the “Works”) through the awarding of fees (the “Fees”).
III. Program Timeline
Art. 4. The Program is carried out through two Open Call sessions (the “Sessions”) organized in 2026 and 2027, according to the schedule published on the official Program website. Application, selection, production, and presentation periods will be publicly communicated via:
• the official website: https://unboxing.mare.ro/
• social media channels and other means chosen by the Organizer
Art. 5. The calendar for the first project year is as follows:
• Mentorship registration: April 14 – 26, 2026
• Mentorship sessions: April 27, 28, 29, 2026
• Open Call applications: April 30 – May 24, 2026
• Evaluation period: May 25 – June 21, 2026
• Announcement of winners: June 22, 2026
Production period:
(i) Sculpture / Installation: June 22 – August 17, 2026
(ii) Photo-video: June 22 – September 24, 2026
(iii) Poetry: June 22 – July 22, 2026
Presentation period:
(i) Sculpture / Installation: June 22 – August 17, 2026. The 5 selected works will be exhibited on the MARe balcony and in the garden between August 2026 and May 2027. The exhibition space will be assigned depending on the characteristics of each work. All works will benefit from equal display time.
(ii) Photo-video: opening on October 2, 2026. The works will be exhibited for two months on level -1 of MARe.
(iii) Poetry: July 24 and July 31, 2026, during poetry evenings held on the MARe terrace.
The works selected in the 2026 Open Call will also be presented in a group exhibition in Timișoara in 2027.
IV. Value and Structure of Fees
Art. 6. Across both Sessions, a total of 30 winning projects will receive Fees amounting to 160,000 RON (gross).
Each annual Session awards 80,000 RON (gross) for 15 projects, distributed as follows:
• 5 Sculpture / Installation projects – 8,000 RON gross/project
• 5 Photo-video projects – 4,500 RON gross/project
• 5 Poetry projects – 3,500 RON gross/project
Art. 7. The Fees are intended to cover the production of the Works, including associated costs. They are awarded through a project-based competition. Applicants must submit their proposals via the Program portal: https://unboxing.mare.ro/, completing all required fields.
Art. 8. Any costs exceeding the allocated Fees shall be fully covered by the creator.
V. Eligibility
Art. 9. Romanian creators or residents in Romania may apply, regardless of age.
Art. 10. Employees of the MARe Foundation, project team members, and their relatives up to the second degree are not eligible to participate.
Art. 11. Each creator may apply to only one category per Session. If multiple applications are submitted, only the first submitted project (in chronological order) will be considered. Winners of the 2026 Open Call are not eligible to apply in 2027.
Art. 12. Proposals must comply with the Organizer’s requirements regarding the presentation of Works within the spaces provided by MARe, as follows:
(i) Sculpture / Installation: displayed outdoors, on the balcony and in the garden near the cafeteria.
• Balcony: 80 cm width × 250 cm length (visible from 115 cm height), maximum weight 50 kg
• Garden: 80 cm width × 275 cm length × 400 cm height
(ii) Photo-video: must be suitable for exhibition on level -1 of MARe
(iii) Poetry: must be performable (in whole or in part) during one of the poetry evenings on July 24 or 31, 2026
VI. Application Procedure
Art. 13. Applications must be submitted exclusively online via the official Program website. By applying, each creator (the “Participant”) confirms they have read and accepted these Regulations without reservation and agrees that, if selected as a Winner, their name, image, and excerpts from their project/Work may be used by the Organizer and/or AFCN for promotional purposes and archival inclusion within “UNBOXING BRÂNCUȘI.”
Art. 14. Applications must include:
• Name
• Phone number
• Project title
• Concept (max. 500 words)
• Previous projects
For Poetry:
• Seven previously written poems (Romanian language only)
For Sculpture / Installation and Photo-video:
• Two images of previous projects
Project proposal:
Poetry:
• Five poetry samples (single PDF), created specifically for this Open Call
Sculpture / Installation & Photo-video:
• Three images (single PDF) of the proposed project (photos, drawings, sketches, renderings, references, etc.)
Art. 15. Late or incomplete applications will be automatically rejected without prior notification.
VII. Selection Procedure
Art. 16. Evaluation is conducted anonymously. Applicants must not include names or personal data in submitted materials.
Art. 17. Projects are selected by an independent jury composed of an odd number of members, including mentors, lecturers, and a representative of the Organizer.
Art. 18. Only feasible proposals (as per Art. 12) will be evaluated.
Evaluation criteria:
Poetry:
• Quality and coherence
• Relevance to the Program theme
• Originality and expressive strength
• Textual rigor and stylistic control
• Relevance within contemporary literary contexts
Sculpture / Installation & Photo-video:
• Conceptual quality and coherence
• Relevance to the Program theme
• Originality and creative strength
• Quality of execution
• Relevance within contemporary art contexts
Art. 19. The Organizer is not obliged to provide feedback.
Art. 20. The jury establishes the list of winners and a reserve list. Winners are notified privately 48 hours before public announcement.
VIII. Winners’ Obligations
Art. 21. Winners are required to:
• complete the Work within the established timeframe
• participate in Program activities and events
• present their Work at the Museum of Recent Art
• present their Work in the 2027 group exhibition in Timișoara
• contribute to Program promotion
• maintain communication with the Organizer
They are also encouraged to hold workshops presenting their work.
Art. 22. Preparation and presentation must follow the official timeline.
IX. Copyright and Use
Art. 23. Copyright remains with the creators. The first public presentation will take place within the Program at MARe.
Art. 24. Winners grant the Organizer a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide right to use, reproduce, exhibit, and publicly communicate the Works for cultural, educational, and promotional purposes.
X. Limitation of Liability
Art. 25. The Organizer is not liable for damage, loss, or destruction of Works, nor for any resulting damages.
Art. 26. Works exhibited at Organizer-selected venues will be insured. Compensation will not exceed the insurer’s limits. For other venues, responsibility lies with the Winners.
XI. Payments and Contracting
Art. 27. Each Winner will sign a contract regulating fees and obligations.
Art. 28. Payments are made within 7 working days from invoice receipt via RO e-Factura, in RON, to the Winner’s IBAN account.
XII. Personal Data Protection
Art. 29. Personal data will be processed in accordance with GDPR (EU Regulation 2016/679). Participants have rights of access, rectification, erasure, restriction, objection, and complaint.
Contact: unboxing.call@mare.ro
XIII. Final Provisions
Art. 30. The Organizer may take measures in cases of fraud or abuse.
Art. 31. The Organizer is not responsible for incorrect personal data submitted.
Art. 32. Participation implies full acceptance of these Regulations.
Art. 33. The Organizer’s decisions are final.
Art. 34. Force majeure exempts the Organizer from liability under applicable law. Participants will be notified within 5 working days.
Art. 35. The Organizer reserves the right to amend these Regulations, with changes published on its website.