CASABLANCA EDITION
Open Portfolio launches its call for participation in the Casablanca edition
INTERNATIONAL MEETING OF EMERGING PRINTMAKING
Casablanca, Morocco
Established eleven years ago, the Open Portfolio program was created to support and give visibility to the work of new graphic talents, helping to launch their professional careers. It serves as a platform for the promotion, dissemination, and professionalization of emerging creators. Over the years, more than 250 artists from across the globe have taken part.
Following an international selection process through a public call, two meetings will take place in 2025 — in Casablanca and Bilbao — supporting the artistic activity of emerging creators by offering a space for dissemination and a meeting point where experimentation and knowledge intersect.
This is made possible through an exhibition program that brings together artists who might otherwise not have the opportunity to showcase their work in a professional context.
The call for the twelfth edition is now open, with the firm goal of promoting, supporting, and strengthening emerging artistic practices in the field of printmaking. The mission and philosophy of Open Portfolio position it as a platform for the promotion, dissemination, and professional development of emerging creators and contemporary artistic expressions in printmaking and editioned work. It is conceived as a tool to build a vital bridge between education and the professional art world.
IN-PERSON CALL – Casablanca Edition
A maximum of 16 artists will be selected to participate in the Open day in July. From these, six will be chosen to take part in the Open Portfolio Fair at FIG 2025, which will be held in November at the Euskalduna Palace.
The event will consist of an exhibition with the presence of the artists, each provided with a rear panel and a table for display.
- Where?:
The special edition of Open Portfolio Casablanca will take place at a landmark venue: the Sacré-Cœur Cultural Center, one of the most dynamic and iconic art spaces in the city.
- Schedule:
Day 11:
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Exhibition setup
5:30 PM: Opening to the public
Day 12:
Open Portfolio FIG day – morning and afternoon sessions
Day 13:
Open Portfolio day – morning session
FINAL PHASE – NOVEMBER
Four finalist artists will exhibit their work at FIG Bilbao Fair from November 27 to 30.
- Venue: Euskalduna Palace.
ARTISTS’ PRESENCE IS MANDATORY AT BOTH THE OPEN PORTFOLIO SESSIONS AND THE FIG BILBAO FAIR.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
Open Portfolio is open to all emerging artists whose practice focuses on the field of printmaking (etching, woodcut, screen printing, lithography, and digital printing).
Artists who have been selected in previous editions may apply again, provided they present a new project.
OPEN PORTFOLIO AWARD
The awards will include:
- An exhibition space at the next edition of FIG Bilbao 2025,
- A residency at the CIEC Foundation, International Center for Contemporary Printmaking in Betanzos, A Coruña, and
- A residency at the Basque Biodesign Center, a center specialized in bioart.
The awards may be declared void if the jury considers it appropriate. The jury’s decision is final and not subject to appeal.
Winners will donate a representative artwork from their portfolio to Open Portfolio, which the organization will use for exhibition and dissemination purposes.
SELECTION COMMITTEE
The committee will be made up of professionals specialized in printmaking and contemporary artistic practices.
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS OPEN UNTIL JUNE 15, 2025
openportfoliocasablanca@gmail.com
Send your application!
BENEFITS
Open Portfolio will provide each participant, free of charge, with a linear horizontal space (table) for presenting their work, as well as a rear display support.
This is a professional presentation of the work, so the Open Portfolio organization will promote it as deemed appropriate, reflected in the official catalog, official website, and other media, as well as through press releases, showcasing the work of the participating artists. The artworks will be transported, installed, and removed by the participants on the dates set by the organization.
It is advisable that the presented artworks are covered by insurance; otherwise, the artist assumes full responsibility for any damage caused by reasons beyond the control of FIG Bilbao and Open Portfolio. The works must be in a professional presentation condition, duly signed and with numbered editions, as well as accompanied by a technical sheet available to visitors and professionals who request information.
The selected artist will be provided with accommodation and meals during the event.
Prices must be clearly indicated, and there must be at least 5 pieces priced at a maximum of 200 euros (+10% VAT) available for sale to the public.
CONDITIONS
1. The organization will ensure the general security of the exhibition venue during the event. Under no circumstances will the organization be responsible for the individual security of the pieces displayed during public opening hours, which will be the responsibility of the artists. Exhibition materials, folders, covers, mounting materials, etc., will be provided by the artist.
2. Commercial relations are permitted, limited exclusively to the artist and the client, without any involvement from the organization. It is mandatory to have at least 5 works for sale with a price not exceeding €200 (+10% VAT).
3. All artists must set up and dismantle their presentations, as well as be physically present during the event. They must also be collaborative and participative in the various dissemination and communication activities held during FIG Bilbao 2025.
4. Participation in the XII Open Portfolio implies full acceptance of its terms and conditions. Open Portfolio/FIG Bilbao 2025 may disseminate, through any means it deems appropriate (media, virtual spaces, social networks, etc.) and on relevant platforms (texts, photographs, videos, etc.), the works of the participants in this program.
5. Punctuality is essential. Selected artists must be present at least one hour before the start of Open Portfolio.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE
From the moment these guidelines are published until June 15, 2025. Proposals must be sent by email to the following address:
openportfoliocasablanca@gmail.com
The jury’s decision will be published on the website and social media, and communicated by email to the artists.
DOCUMENTATION TO SUBMIT
To participate in the XII Open Portfolio, a single digital dossier (PDF format, maximum 10MB) must be submitted including the following information in the order described:
DIGITAL DOSSIER (PDF)
-
- Artist’s full name
- Phone number and email address
- Portfolio / Website
- Artist statement/CV (maximum 1 page)
- Between 5 and 8 high-quality photographs of the works
- Technical sheet of the works: title, year, dimensions, and technique
Any dossier that does not comply with the deadline or requirements, or that does not include all the requested documentation, will not be considered by the jury. The organization reserves the right to request additional information from the participants.