FUTURE ONLINE EXHIBITION

Reimagining Fairy Tales

CALL FOR ARTISTS

We invite artists, writers, illustrators, photographers, painters, sculptors, mixed-media creators, and practitioners from across all disciplines to reimagine the world of fairy tales.

This open call seeks works that engage with traditional narratives—both familiar and obscure—and transform them into contemporary expressions that address today’s complexities.

Fairy tales continue to shape cultural imagination, and through reinterpretation, they can spark dialogue, empathy, and wonder. Whether you choose to reinvent a beloved character, spotlight an overlooked story, or craft an entirely original piece inspired by fairy tale themes, we encourage bold experimentation and fresh perspectives.

GET INSPIRED

Paula Rego

Snow White And Her Stepmother (1995)

Paula Rego’s Snow White and Her Stepmother (1995) reimagines a familiar fairy tale scene, stripping it of its storybook glamor and plunging it into the unsettling terrain of domestic life. Instead of staging a clear battle between good and evil, Rego presents a psychologically fraught dynamic rooted in body language and subtle gestures. Snow White is neither the passive, angelic victim nor the carefree heroine, and her stepmother’s presence feels tense, conflicted, and all too human. By shifting the narrative from overt supernatural conflict to an intimate, uneasy human relationship, Rego compels us to reconsider the moral binaries of fairy tales. In this painting, the emotional complexities beneath the old story’s surface come into view, prompting us to see the fairy tale’s familiar characters—and perhaps our own human relationships—in a harsher, more nuanced light.

Submission Guidelines

ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF WORK

Literary: Short stories, poems, hybrid texts (up to 2,500 words
Visual: Painting, drawing, photography, collage, sculpture (submit up to 5 high-resolution images of the work
Illustration & Comics: Provide 1–5 pages or images (JPEG or PNG, 300 DPI)
Multimedia & Moving Image: Animation, short films, video art (up to 5 minutes, MP4 format; submit a viewing link)
Mixed Media & Installations: Submit clear documentation (images, sketches, explanatory text)

FILE FORMATS:

Written texts: PDF or DO
Images: JPEG or PNG, 300 DPI
Video/Audio: MP4 or MP3 links (e.g., Vimeo, YouTube, or SoundCloud)

LANGUAGE:

Submissions are accepted in English. For visual-only works, a brief statement in English is encouraged.

ORIGINALITY:

All submissions must be original creations by the entrant. Previously exhibited or published works are welcome, provided you hold all necessary rights.

KEY DATES:

Open Call Launch: 01.03.25
Deadline for Submissions: 15.04.25

Notification of Results: 01.05.25

Online exhibition: 15.05.25

ELIGIBILITY & SELECTION CRITERIA:

Who Can Apply: Creators at any stage of their careers and from any location are welcome.
Criteria: Our jury will consider creativity, thematic depth, quality of execution, and the ability to engage with or subvert traditional fairy tale elements. Works that bring forward diverse cultural perspectives and lived experiences are highly encouraged.

HOW TO SUBMIT:

Complete our online submission form [provide link] and follow the instructions to upload your files.
Include a short biography in english (100–150 words) and an optional artist statement describing your approach to the theme.

No application fee is required.

If you have accessibility concerns or require alternative submission methods, please reach out at hello@collectif.art

APPLY NOW

GET INSPIRED

Wangechi Mutu

Yo Mama. 2003

In Yo Mama (2006), Wangechi Mutu conjures a powerful, mythic maternal figure who transcends traditional archetypes of nurturing softness. Constructed from collaged magazine cutouts, ink, and mixed media, the work channels both fierceness and fertility, blending human and animal forms to create a hybrid,otherworldly presence. The figure’s stance, layered patterns, and unsettling beauty recall half-remembered folktales and whispered legends—yet Yo Mama is no nostalgic relic. Instead, it challenges and refashions the fairy tale stereotype of women as passive or docile. In this work, the “mother” stands as creator and protector, a force to be reckoned with who claims her own narrative and authority. The result is a complex, contemporary fable: one that reclaims the maternal body as a site of strength, mystery, and transformative possibility.

Outcomes & Opportunities

This is more than just an open call—it’s a chance to become part of a visionary artistic community. At Collectif, we pride ourselves on breaking new ground, championing bold creative voices, and cultivating an environment where emerging and established artists alike can truly thrive. Selected submissions will not only be showcased on our website and social media channels, but also included in a meticulously curated online exhibition designed to spark conversation and broaden your audience.

Where possible, we’ll highlight your work in public readings, exhibitions, and screenings, offering vibrant moments of connection between you and art enthusiasts, curators, and collectors. Additionally, participants may be invited to participate in virtual discussions, artist talks, and studio visits, nurturing meaningful relationships that extend beyond the digital sphere.

By joining us, you’re embracing an innovative model dedicated to artist growth, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the rich, evolving tapestry of contemporary art.

Curated Visibility

Selected works featured on our website, social media, and in a carefully curated online exhibition.

Public Engagement

Opportunities for public readings, exhibitions, and screenings that connect artists directly with audiences, collectors, and curators.

Community & Dialogue

Invitations to virtual discussions, artist talks, and studio visits to foster meaningful relationships and professional growth.

GET INSPIRED

Rose B. Simpson

Duo Installation View, 2019

Rose B. Simpson’s Duo presents two human figures standing in a quiet yet profound relationship. Their connection—whether one of kinship, mutual support, or shared burden—echoes the archetypal dynamics often found in fairy tales, where relationships between characters shape the journey. The figures’ stoic yet tender presence evokes themes of resilience, interdependence, and transformation.

Through Duo, Simpson bridges the mythical and the personal, inviting viewers to imagine the untold stories that bind these figures together. Their grounded forms and quiet strength resonate with the universal narratives of companionship, guidance, and shared humanity. Like the best fairy tales, Duo encourages us to reflect on the connections that sustain us and the transformative power of shared experience.

FAQs

Can I submit multiple works?

Yes, please limit to two submissions total.

Do I retain my rights?

You maintain full copyright. If selected, we request non-exclusive permission to feature your work as part of our public programming.

Will I receive feedback?

Due to the volume of entries, individual feedback isn’t guaranteed, but we may share general insights post-selection.

Can I submit unfinished work?

Yes, but please note that completed works are preferred. If you submit a work-in-progress, indicate that in your description.

Contact Us

For questions, accessibility inquiries, or technical support, contact us at hello@collectif.art or via our contact form.

We look forward to seeing how you reinvent fairy tales and shape new narratives for our collective imagination.

GET INSPIRED

Carol Ann Duffy

brief excerpt from Carol Ann Duffy’s poem “Little Red-Cap”

“At childhood’s end, the houses petered out

into playing fields, the factory, allotments

kept, like mistresses, by kneeling married men,

…

till you came at last to the edge of the woods.”

Though the poem is a contemporary reimagining, these lines evoke the subtle transition from a familiar, everyday world into a liminal, more mysterious space—“the edge of the woods.” In traditional fairy tales, woods often mark a threshold between the known and the unknown, a place where ordinary rules break down and enchantment begins. Here, without overtly mentioning fairy-tale elements like princes or witches, the poem suggests that one step beyond the comfortable boundaries of childhood and common life lies a realm shaped by secrecy, possibility, and transformation. This gentle, suggestive imagery resonates with the fairy-tale theme by alluding to that familiar, enchanted boundary without spelling it out directly.

Submit your work

Collectif’s innovative online exhibition invites you to reimagine the timeless magic of fairy tales—painting, sculpting, composing new narratives that shimmer at the edges of dreams. Guided by our vision of art as a living story, each submission becomes a key to unlock enchanted paths, breathing fresh life into ancient myths. Let your voice guide us through moonlit clearings, down quiet paths, and toward new chapters waiting to be discovered.

APPLY NOW