Gift Shop

How do you welcome an alien?

This edition takes an intergalactic approach with a universal message: how do you introduce someone to planet Earth? Do you go for a personal story, introduce them to an important person, serve them a traditional dish, or reach for an ingenious earthly invention? And what does that gift say about you, about us as humans, and about this planet?

Following the first edition of PLAYGROUND in C-mine, designed by Walter Van Beirendonck, we are turning our attention to extraterrestrial life with the project ‘Gift Shop’. The brand-new installation ‘Welcome little stranger’ forms the starting point for this open call. We invite visual artists to create an artistic welcome gift for extraterrestrial life. Together, we will build one big, fictional welcome party that will be on display throughout the summer in the spaces of C-mine. 

Expo without selection

For this exhibition, we have made the radical decision to display all submitted works. But please note: first come, first served! Registrations are open until the 12th of April 2026, or will close earlier if the walls of C-mine are filled as if it were a 19th-century Salon. An artistic welcome gift for aliens can take any form, from 2D to 3D, but must fit within specific dimensions and have an artistic approach.

What's allowed, and what's not?

• With ‘Gift Shop’, we want to exhibit visual art that fits within the theme of ‘welcome gifts for aliens’. All kinds of works are permitted, but they must have a clear link to the theme. If the theme cannot be clearly identified from the accompanying text, the organizations are free to decide not to include the work in the exhibition.
• Each participant may submit one recent work (maximum 3 years old, 2023-2026).
• Video work and performance are not permitted.
• Works cannot be provided with electricity.
• Maximum dimensions are imposed
  • for 2D work
    Maximum size (if framed, including frame): 100 cm x 100 cm 
  • for 3D work, capable of being displayed on a wall
    
    If the dimensions of the work at the time of handing in the work differ from the dimensions previously entered, the organizers are free to decide not to include the work in the exhibition.
• The work may weigh a maximum of 5 kg. 
• The hand of the creator is clearly visible in the work you submit. 
• The work is delivered ready to hang, framed or unframed, with a sturdy hanging system. Do you have specific requirements for how your work should be hung? Please indicate this on the registration form and bring the necessary materials with you on the day of submission. The technical staff at C-mine will do what is necessary to hang your work as requested.
• A series or multiple works (a work consisting of several parts) are not permitted. Would you like to participate with one work from a series that you have already added to your artist profile on our website? Please indicate this clearly in the description.
• Your work is well packaged for storage. 
• The organization reserves the right to refuse submissions that it deems to contain offensive, discriminatory, or exclusionary content, including (but not limited to) racist, sexist, or otherwise offensive statements toward individuals or target groups.