1. AIC Description / Main Partner

The Creative Industries Association (AIC), co-organizer of the Classix Festival, is an organization with cultural, social, educational, and humanitarian purposes, dedicated to revitalizing local communities through involvement in projects that promote a proactive and participatory spirit. AIC’s mission is to support and encourage creativity within the local and national community.

The seventh edition of the Classix Festival is supported by a new main partner, BRD Groupe Société Générale, an institution that invests in the new generation of creators, in art, and in music, supporting hundreds of events and programs every year. It is the only bank that has its own cultural foundation — Fundația9, its own cultural center — Rezidența9, and the cultural magazine Scena9, one of the most relevant journalistic publications in contemporary Romania.

2. Context

In a context marked by rapid change, information overload, and an increasingly complex relationship with technology, art remains a privileged space in which we can better understand ourselves. Classix in Art 2026 aims to explore the connection between art and the human mind, and the ways in which inner processes—from perception and memory to emotion, imagination, and reflection—shape our experience.

This call for projects is grounded in the belief that art is not only a form of expression, but also a tool for knowledge, self-exploration, and connection with others. In a world where we are often rushed, fragmented, or distracted, Classix in Art seeks to offer artists a framework that allows them to look more closely inward, to observe what is happening in their mental and emotional space, and to transform these observations into meaningful projects.

The aim of this call is to support and encourage artistic practice, reminding us that art and creativity can express what words sometimes cannot.

3. Eligibility Criteria

The competition is conducted in accordance with this Regulation, which is mandatory for all participants. By submitting an application, applicants declare that they have read, understood, and accepted all its provisions. The Organizer reserves the right to modify the Regulation, and any changes will be made public through the same communication channels used for announcing the call.

Areas of application and available grants:

• Visual Arts (painting, sculpture, photography, installations, ceramics, collage, textile art, architecture, and design) – 1 grant;
• Music (performance, composition) – 1 grant;
• Performing Arts (choreography, performance, playwriting) – 1 grant;

Eligibility: Young independent artists, freelance artists, students, and individuals without a stable income, aged between 18 and 35, who are residents of Romania (Romanian citizenship is not required), are eligible to apply. Participants must have a coherent artistic practice, be able to document their work through a relevant portfolio, and commit to completing the project within the timeframe specified in this Regulation.

4. topic

The theme of the 2026 call is “Art & Mind.”
We aim to encourage artists to explore the ways in which art and the mind influence one another: how ideas are born, how emotions form or transform, what traces affective memory leaves behind, how presence and introspection can be cultivated through artistic gesture, and how connection with others is built through a work, a scene, a sound, or an image.

In recent years, every artist has experienced moments when their artistic practice changed the way they think, feel, or relate to the world. These inner experiences can become working material—starting points for projects that bring to the surface not only aesthetic results, but also mental and emotional processes. The purpose of this grant is to offer artists the opportunity to harness these experiences and observations, transforming them into works that reflect the unique ways in which each person understands the relationship between art and mind.

At the end of the grant period, each artist will present a project created specifically for their field of interest, but also designed to engage in dialogue with the audience and with the Classix community. We are seeking initiatives that not only strengthen the artist’s individual practice, but also have the potential to generate reflection, open conversations, revitalize cultural life, and create meaningful impact—whether subtle and internal, or visible and collective.

We do not impose strict technical requirements regarding the format or final shape of the projects. The evaluation will also consider cost feasibility and the possibility of implementation within the context of the Classix Festival, yet we remain fully open to experimental, interdisciplinary, or unconventional ideas that deeply express the artist’s vision on the “Art & Mind” theme.

5. Application & Call Timeline

Timeline of the artistic project call:

• Call launch: 19 November 2025
• Application deadline: 10 December 2025
• Announcement of grantees: 19 December 2025
• Project completion: 19 February 2026
• Project presentations: Classix Festival 2026

Required Application Documents

1. Letter of intent/motivation (max. 1500 characters) – Please address the following questions:
How have recent transformations influenced your artistic practice? In what ways have they affected your inspiration and creative process? What relevance does your art hold beyond the stage, and how can this grant support you?

2. Portfolio of relevant works – Please include specific examples related to your field:

• • Visual Arts:portfolio with recent works

• • Music: performance (recording of max. 10 minutes) or composition (work recording and score)

• • Performing Arts: video recording of a relevant work

Attach permanently accessible links (Google Drive or other storage platforms) with no expiration restrictions.

3.Description of the proposed project(max. 1500 characters) – Please detail the project you wish to develop with the support of the grant: What are its objectives? Who is the target audience, and through which channels do you intend to disseminate the final result? If you have an ongoing project that was put on hold, describe how the grant would support its completion.

4. Project area of application

□  Visual Arts 

□  Music

□ Performing Arts

Selected grantees will receive the funding in two instalments, following the signing of the contracts, for the completion of their proposed projects. The first instalment, representing 60% of the total amount, will be granted at the beginning of the implementation period, and the second instalment, 40%, will be provided upon submission of the completed projects.

The total value of the grant, equivalent to €1000, will be calculated in RON at the National Bank of Romania (BNR) exchange rate on the date of contract signing.

6. Evaluation of Submitted Projects

The evaluation of the submitted projects will be carried out by a jury composed of experts and professionals active in the fields targeted by the call, with relevant experience in visual arts, music, performing arts, and digital & new media art. The main evaluation criteria will include the artistic coherence of the proposal, the originality and quality of the concept, its relevance to the “Art & Mind” theme, the feasibility of the project in relation to the available resources, and its potential to generate artistic and cultural impact.

The composition of the jury will be announced after the application period has ended, in order to avoid any possible direct communication or influence on the selection process. All submitted works and proposed projects must be original creations of the applicants. The Organizer is committed to promoting the winning projects within Classix in Art and Classix Festival, with clear mention and crediting of the authors. Artists retain the freedom to use the winning project in other professional contexts and to further develop it in accordance with their own artistic path.

7. Copyright

All recordings, performances, portfolios, texts, and presentations submitted for this call must be created entirely by the applicant and must be their full intellectual property. The Organizer will not make these materials public without the applicant’s prior consent, except in cases where the project is selected and explicitly presented within the Classix in Art and Classix Festival programs.

For the selected projects, the Organizer will have the right to use the winning works in private and public contexts associated with the Classix in Art and Classix Festival programs, including promotional, documentation, or archival materials, with clear attribution to the author. The Organizer will make no financial claims regarding any revenue the artist may obtain in the future through the use, development, or presentation of the project in other professional contexts. The artist is free to submit or further develop the winning project in other calls, competitions, or development platforms without any financial obligation to the Organizer, provided that their participation in Classix in Art is acknowledged.

The applicant agrees that their name, image, and project may be associated with the Classix in Art program, its implementer, funder, and involved partners, in all promotional and public communication materials related to this program.

8. Taxes and Fees

Participation in the call is free of charge. No submission fees or administrative costs are required for applying.

The gross amount of each grant is set at the equivalent of €1000, calculated in RON at the National Bank of Romania (BNR) exchange rate on the day the collaboration contract is signed between the grantee and the Organizer. From this amount, the Organizer will withhold income tax in accordance with the fiscal legislation in force, and the resulting net amount will be transferred to the bank account indicated by the grantee.

Payment will be made in two instalments:

• The first instalment, representing 60% of the net amount, will be transferred upon the signing of the contract;
• The second instalment, consisting of 40% of the net amount, will be paid upon completion of the project and submission of the materials, within a maximum of 30 days.

In the event that the banking information provided by the grantee is incorrect or incomplete, any additional costs generated by correcting the payments will be deducted from the net amount due, and the Organizer cannot be held responsible for delays or discrepancies resulting from inaccurate data.

9. Participation in the Project Presentations

The recipients of the four grants are required to present and, where applicable, exhibit their completed projects during a dedicated event organized by AIC as part of the seventh edition of the Classix Festival, which will take place in Iași in February 2026. This participation is essential for showcasing the results, contextualizing the creative process, and facilitating the encounter between the artists, the audience, and the Classix community.

The event will include a presentation session for each project, followed by a discussion with the audience in the form of a Q&A session or a moderated conversation. If a grantee is unable to attend the event in person, they must notify the Organizer at least 7 days in advance and propose an alternative solution, such as a video presentation or a recorded material that can be integrated into the program.

10. Personal Data Protection

Through this Regulation, the Organizer commits to complying with the legislation on the protection of personal data, including, in particular, the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR – General Data Protection Regulation). The data provided by applicants will be used exclusively for the purpose of managing the project call, communicating with participants, concluding contracts with the selected grantees, and promoting the winning projects, within the limits established by law.

Participants have the right to request access to their personal data, its rectification or deletion, the restriction of processing, as well as the right to object to processing, in accordance with the applicable legal provisions. Additional details regarding the processing of personal data will be provided in a separate data protection notice made available by the Organizer.

11. Final Provisions

Works submitted to the Classix in Art call must comply with ethical and legal standards. Projects containing illegal, defamatory, threatening, abusive, obscene materials, or materials that incite hatred, violence, or discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or orientation will not be accepted. Likewise, works that infringe upon the privacy rights of others or that violate human dignity in any way will not be considered.

The Organizer reserves the right to reject works that do not meet these criteria or that do not align with the theme established in this Regulation. Rejection decisions will be based on objective criteria and on the respect of ethical and legal norms.

In addition, the Organizer assumes no responsibility in the following situations:

1. Submission to other addresses: Works sent to contact addresses different from those officially communicated in the call will not be considered eligible.
2. Late submissions: Projects received after the application period has ended will not be taken into consideration, regardless of the reason for the delay.
3. Inability to contact the winners: The winner status may be lost if the applicant cannot be contacted due to the provision of incorrect, incomplete, or outdated contact information.
4. Inaccuracy of the information provided: Any delays or errors in payment processing caused by the submission of incorrect banking information will not be the responsibility of the Organizer.
5. Intellectual property rights infringement: The Organizer is not responsible for any potential violations of copyright or intellectual property rights belonging to third parties. The responsibility for the authenticity, legality, and originality of the submitted materials lies entirely with the participants.

By submitting an application to this call, Participants confirm that they have read, understood, and agree to comply with all the provisions, terms, and conditions of this Regulation. The document is freely available to all applicants on the official website of the Creative Industries Association and on the official channels of the Classix Festival, ensuring transparency in the selection process and in the participation requirements.