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Participants
Ages 6–24 · Worldwide
Four age groups: 6–9, 10–13, 14–17 and 18–24. Participation is free; minors must be registered by a legal guardian.
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Youth · Art · Exchange
Xu Beihong Cup
Annual Sino-European Youth & Children's Art Exchange Competition.
Featured · Call for Entries
Let Flowers Bloom Beyond Form
The Xu Beihong Art Museum proudly joins Polymind Youth Art 2026, an international platform carrying Xu Beihong’s spirit of openness, observation and East–West dialogue into a new generation.
The Xu Beihong Overseas Youth Art Exhibition dedicates each year to a community deserving closer attention and deeper understanding. Last year’s programme focused on animals; in 2026, our focus turns to extraordinary children and to the dignity, imagination and singular potential within every young life.
Under the honorary patronage of Dr. Michael Ludwig, Mayor of Vienna, young artists worldwide are invited to respond to the theme “Let Flowers Bloom Beyond Form — Perfection Through Imperfection.”
A Curatorial Reflection
“How we treat vulnerable groups reveals who we are. When kindness sees them, it reflects kindness. When cruelty sees them, it reveals cruelty. When love sees them, it makes love visible. When insecurity sees them, it exposes insecurity.”
“When we notice difference in others, if all we see is ‘being different,’ perhaps it is because we believe we are better. Once we let go of that sense of superiority, what remains is pure appreciation.”
Sarah
Deputy Director, Xu Beihong Art Museum
Polymind Youth Art 2026 · Official Call
At a Glance
Who, What & When
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Deadline
30 November 2026
Submit one original, previously unpublished work digitally through the official Polymind registration page.
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International Stage
35 Traveling Works
Selected works open in Vienna in January 2027 and travel to China from spring 2027, with Beijing and Shanghai among the planned museum venues.
Creative Categories
Many Ways to Tell a Story
Painting & Graphic Art
A4–A3 · flat and unframed
Photography & Digital Art
Single image or series of up to three
AI-Animated Short Video
MP4 · up to 30 seconds
3D & Crafts
Up to 40 cm per side · 2 kg
Museum Perspective
From Heritage to the Future
Xu Beihong’s artistic journey connected Chinese traditions with Western realism. This initiative extends that legacy by giving young people space to observe the living world, develop an authentic voice and encounter other cultures through art.
The 2026 focus asks audiences to move beyond labels. Extraordinary children are not defined by difference; they invite us to replace superiority with appreciation and to recognise vulnerability with empathy, respect and love.
All eligible works appear online. Selected physical works also support charitable causes including WWF Austria, Schönbrunn Zoo, Yi Mi Hua Yuan and pro mente Autismus.
Read Full Rules on the Official Website →