• Free Competition | No entry fee
• Deadline: 14 September 2025
• Result Date Announcement: 12 December 2025

 

“Faust/Vizual” – a visual dialogue with Goethe’s masterpiece

“Faust/Vizual” is an international graphic competition for posters, animated forms or other visual realizations inspired by one of the greatest works of European culture – J. W. Goethe’s “Faust”. That multidimensional drama about human struggle with their own limits, full of timeless motifs and contrasts – from rationalism to spirituality, from light to darkness – inspires not only with its subject matter, but also with universal values. A particularly important motif here is the fight between good and evil, presented in the context of spiritual and existential anxiety.

We invite young artists to creatively interpret that classic text – not only through posters, but also through animation or experimental graphic forms. The Competition is an integral part of the “CLASSICS 3.0” project, the aim of which is to reinterpret the canon and confront the classics with modern means of expression.

The graphics do not have to literally represent the content of Faust. They can focus on the conflict of good and evil and be the artist’s interpretation.

Faust/Vizual is organized by the Wanda Siemaszkowa Theatre in Rzeszów and the Chair of Graphic Design of the University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszów. Selected works will be presented at an exhibition accompanying the theatrical premiere of “Faust”, directed by Jan Nowara.

 1.General provisions

1. The Regulations specify the principles of conducting a competition for artistic works, hereinafter referred to as the “Competition”, and the conditions of participation in it.
2. The aim of the Competition is to promote the artistic work of young artists who are under 30 years of age.
3. The Competition is organized by the Wanda Siemaszkowa Theatre in Rzeszów and the Chair of Graphic Design of the University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszów, hereinafter referred to as the “Organizers”. All matters related to the organization of the Competition should be addressed to: w.ciesla@teatr-rzeszow.pl.
4. Competition duration:

• 12.05.2025 to 14.09.2025 – submission of Competition works,
• 09.2025 to 30.09.2025 – pre-selection of works by the Competition Committee,
• 09.2025 – announcement of works chosen in the pre-selection for the final exhibition,
• 10.2025 to 30.11.2025 – receipt of original works for the final exhibition,
• 12.2025 to 12.12.2025 – meeting of the Competition Committee and decision on awarding prizes,
• 12.2025 – announcement of results and awarding of prizes during the exhibition opening at the Wanda Siemaszkowa Theatre.

5. The Organizer reserves the right to change the provisions of these Regulations in the event of a change in applicable legal regulations or for other reasons beyond the control of the Organizer.
6. The Competition is open and international.
7. The Competition is divided into two stages. In the first stage, artists send in their Graphic Works in accordance with § 3 item 6. In the second stage, artists qualified for the exhibition are required to send the original copy to the theatre’s seat.
8. By submitting works to the Competition, authors accept the Regulations.

 2.  Definitions

The terms and definitions used in these Regulations mean the following:

1. Competition – a competition for graphic works, posters and animations referring to the theme of the Competition.
2. Organizer – Chair of Graphic Design of the University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszów and the Wanda Siemaszkowa Theatre in Rzeszów.
3. Participant – student or graduate of art and design faculties or young artist who is under 30 years of age.
4. Number of entries for 1 Participant – A Participant in the Competition may submit a total of 3 different works in the above-mentioned categories. Works in the form of a diptych, triptych, etc., which are a coherent series of works constituting an independent work composed of many elements, will not be accepted.
5. Graphic Work – in the Competition, it is allowed to submit works which fit into the theme of the Competition, made in the years 2023-2025. The following forms are allowed:

• Poster 100 × 70 cm
• Artistic graphics – In this category, one can submit works in two types:

1. Printmaking (traditional graphic techniques such as linocut, woodcut, copperplate engraving, mezzotint, drypoint, lithography, algraphy or digital printing techniques will be accepted). In this category, the permitted size of the work is 100 × 70 cm or 70 × 70 cm.
2. Animated posters of 3200 × 2240 pixels, 100 dpi. The animation time should not exceed 20 seconds. Also, animations should not contain sound.

In all cases, the Graphic Works should be vertical (the exception is the category of artistic graphics, in which square dimensions are allowed in the printmaking subcategory). It is not possible to submit a horizontal work in the Competition; such works will be rejected. 

6. Competition Committee – The Committee consists of 7 members. Individual members of the Competition Committee will be announced after the pre-selection.
7. Laureates – the winners of the Competition selected by the Competition Committee during the sessions.

 3. Conditions and rules of participation in the Competition

1. The Competition is open. Participants may include students, graduates of design and art schools, and artists who are under 30 years of age.
2. The condition for participation is submission by a Participant of any Graphic Work reflecting the main theme.
3. The work must meet the following criteria:

• be unique and original,
• refer to the main motto of the 1st edition of the Faust/Vizual Competition,
• the work may be made in any graphic technique; in this respect, there are no requirements as to the shape, colours, or type of artistic technique,

4. Graphic Works for the Faust/Vizual Competition must meet the formal and technical requirements for participation, as described in these Regulations.
5. Series of works are not accepted for the Competition. Each work from the series will be treated as an individual entry.
6. To enter the Faust/Vizual Competition, one must submit the work(s) no later than 14.09.2025 in the form of digital files via the online form: https://forms.gle/eBuX3ANh9S5DLPq39.
7. In all cases, the volume of submitted files containing the works may not exceed 25 megabytes.
8. Entries submitted via the online form are final and cannot be edited.
9. Works created using AI tools will not be accepted.

 4.  Evaluation of Competition entries

1. The entries will be evaluated by the Competition Committee.
2. The entries will be evaluated in terms of their content, artistic merits and originality of the idea.
3. The Competition Committee will select the entries for the exhibition and choose the Laureates.
4. The Competition Organizer reserves the right to end the Competition without awarding a prize.
5. The Committee’s decision is final and may not be appealed.
6. A record of the Competition’s decision will be made and signed by the members of the Competition Committee participating in the meeting.
7. The list of works qualified by the jury for the final stage of the Competition will be published by 30.09.2025 on the websites of UITM and the Wanda Siemaszkowa Theatre in Rzeszów.
8. The Organizer issues certificates of participation in the Competition only for people who have been qualified for the final stage and the post-competition exhibition.
9. By completing the Application Card and sending works via the application form, the Authors also declare that:

• they have read and accept the Faust/Vizual Competition Regulations,
• they have created the Graphic Work personally and independently; in the case of a co-authored work – that the indicated authors created it personally and jointly,
• they have the property rights to the Graphic Work, and any claims for infringement of this type will not be directed to the Organizers, but directly to the author of the work,
• their personal and property copyrights to the Graphic Work and to all elements used in the work are not in any way limited or encumbered by the rights of third parties and that the Graphic Work does not violate the rights of third parties, and declare that they have not used the image of a third party in their work without the third party’s consent,
• they have not granted any person an exclusive license to use the Graphic Work,
• they have the exclusive right to grant permissions to dispose of and use the Graphic Work,
• the rights and permissions referred to further herein include all rights and permissions necessary for the use of the Graphic Work in the scopes specified below.

10. The Participant bears full responsibility towards the Organizer and third parties if the Graphic Work violates the rights (in particular copyrights) of third parties.
11. If a third party files a claim against the Organizers concerning violation of their rights, the person filing the claim is obliged to:

• participate in the proceedings (in the event of a court proceeding) and take all steps to release the Organizer from involvement in the case for full satisfaction of the claims and thus release the Organizer from the obligation to provide benefits in that respect.

12. The Organizers are not responsible for any loss or damage to the work during transport to the place indicated for sending the works by the Organizers.
13. Works that offend anyone’s feelings will not be accepted.
14. Works qualified for the post-competition exhibition will be included in the post-exhibition catalogue. Each author qualified for the exhibition is entitled to one free copy of the above-mentioned catalogue. The costs of delivering the catalogue will be borne by the Organizers of the Competition.

 5.  Prizes

1. The Competition Committee will award:
   • a financial prize of 4,000PLN for the author awarded the 1st Prize, 3,000PLN for the author awarded the 2nd Prize, 2,000PLN for the author awarded the 3rd Prize and 1,000PLN for the author who receives an honorary distinction in the poster category.
   • a financial prize of 4,000PLN for the author awarded the 1st Prize, 3,000 PLN for the author awarded the 2nd Prize, 2,000PLN for the author awarded the 3rd Prize and 1,000PLN for the author who receives an honorary distinction in the artistic graphics category.
   • The Jury reserves the right not to award a prize and/or to divide them differently, or award prizes of a different value.
2. In addition to the financial prizes referred to in paragraph 1, each Laureate will receive a commemorative Competition diploma signed by the Competition jury.

6. Ownership rights and consent to use the Competition works

1. Submitting a work to the “Faust/Vizual” Competition is tantamount to granting the Organizer a free license for an indefinite period to use the work for publication and promotion purposes carried out by the Organizer.
2. The Competition Laureates will conclude a written agreement with the Organizer regarding the granting of a free license, which will be tantamount to the possibility of the Organizer using the Graphic Work for the needs of the Organizer and the University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszów in all fields of exploitation indicated in the agreement and for indefinite use and disposal in the country and abroad, including, among others:

• using the Competition work in any promotional, advertising and informational activities;
• recording and reproducing the Competition work using any graphic techniques,
• reproducing the Competition work by making a record thereof on electronic media;
• public exhibition and display of the Competition work at any open and closed events;
• broadcasting by means of wired and/or wireless vision and via satellite,
• introduction to circulation, publication and dissemination of any promotional, informational, publishing and other materials using the Competition work,
• saving the Competition work to computer memory and placing it on the Internet,
• public exhibition of the Competition work, renting, leasing and free lending of the Competition work.

3. The Organizer has the right to publish selected Competition works in “Intro Media”, on the UITM portal, in social media of UITM or of the Wanda Siemaszkowa Theatre in Rzeszów, and in all fields of exploitation of entities cooperating with the Organizer.

7.   Personal data protection

1. The administrator of personal data collected from Participants and the winner is the University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszów, the Competition Organizer.
2. Personal data will be processed in accordance with the principles set out in Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation).
3. Personal data of Participants will be processed:

• for the purpose of organizing and conducting the Competition,
• for marketing purposes concerning Participants and the Competition Organizer, including signing the submitted works with the author’s name.

4. Providing personal data is voluntary, but necessary in order to participate in the Competition.
5. Competition Participants who provide personal data have the right to access their data and, subject to the provisions of law, have the right to:
   • rectify data,
   • delete data,
   • limit data processing,
   • transfer data,
   • object,
   • withdraw consent at any time.
6. The Organizer will collect the following data from Participants:
   • full name,
   • e-mail address,
   • telephone number.
7. Competition Participants have the right to lodge a complaint with the President of the Personal Data Protection Office.
8. A Competition Participant allows their name and surname to be used to inform (also in the media) about the results of the Competition.
9. The Organizer declares that the data of Competition Participants will not be processed in an automated manner and will not be subject to profiling.
10. The data of Competition Participants will not be made available to external entities.
11. The data of Competition Participants will be stored for the period necessary to achieve the above-mentioned purposes.
12. The Organizer applies technical and organizational measures aimed at securing the entrusted personal data in a satisfactory manner, appropriate to the threats and categories of data subject to protection. The Organizer has implemented appropriate measures to ensure a level of security corresponding to the risk, taking into account the state of technical knowledge, the cost of implementation and the nature, scope, purpose and context of processing, as well as the risk of violating the rights and freedoms of natural persons with varying probability of occurrence and severity of the threat. In particular, the Organizer takes into account the risks associated with data processing resulting from:
    • accidental or unlawful destruction,
    • loss, modification, unauthorized disclosure of data,
    • unauthorized access to personal data transmitted, stored or otherwise processed.

 8.                   Final provisions

1. Submitting a work to the Competition is tantamount to expressing consent to free use of the submitted materials, including for their presentation on the Organizer’s website or in the form of a temporary exhibition and for the Organizer’s promotional purposes.
2. These Regulations are subject to announcement on the notice board located by the Organizer’s office (Kielnarowa 386A, 36-020 Tyczyn, rooms KM302 and KM 302A).
3. The Organizer may exclude a Participant from participation in the Competition if the Participant violates provisions of these Regulations.
4. Each Participant has the right to ask the Competition Organizer for an explanation of the content of these Regulations.
5. The Organizer is not responsible for any problems related to the inability to contact the winner of the Competition.
6. A Laureate of the Competition retains the right to use the information about winning the Competition.
7. The Competition Organizer reserves the right to cancel the Competition if the number of Participants is lower than would allow the Competition to be held (a minimum of 4 Participants is required).
8. In matters not regulated by these Regulations, the relevant provisions of the applicable law, in particular the Civil Code, apply.
9. The Organizer reserves the right to make changes to these Regulations.
10. The Regulations enter into force on the date of signing.