Dingen Die Niet Verkopen verkopen u dingen

What’s the Point if We Can’t Have Fun? Dingen Die Niet Verkopen is an artists’ initiative founded by Alec De Bruyn, Amber De Saeger and Lodewijk Heylen. We organise new exhibitions and performances every month, whilst also leaving room for spontaneous events and collaborations. Our space is situated right in the centre of Antwerp, surrounded by shopping streets, and therefore offers plenty of visibility. This is an open call for our annual group exhibition, which runs from 10 to 20 December 2026.

For the latest edition of this group exhibition, Dingen Die Niet Verkopen verkopen u dingen, we are looking for playful works: from indestructible toys to fragile playing cards, from immersive role-playing games to abstract sets of rules; puzzles, Bop-Its, mind games, hacked Game Boys, Twister-Monopolies and Cluedo golf balls.

What works have you designed to play with? Did you invent a game yourself, or do you think your design could function as a play object? Submit it to be part of our pop-up shop full of playful art. We’re calling on all artists, designers and makers to get their work under the Christmas tree.

Both three-dimensional works and objects, as well as zines and alternative publications, are eligible. We’ll primarily be selecting works that can be displayed on a flat surface, shelf, carousel or table. Works intended for hanging on the wall, such as paintings or drawings, are therefore not eligible for this open call.
 

Important:

• Your work must fit within the theme of games and play.
• We are looking for small works: you should be able to hold them in one hand.
• The work must cost no more than €100 (incl. VAT). The work remains your property until it is sold, and you will receive the full amount we have agreed upon. An additional 20% on top of your price will go to Dingen Die Niet Verkopen, to cover the costs of producing and promoting this exhibition.
• To help us select works efficiently, please provide us with the title, dimensions, year of production, price (including VAT) and a brief description for each work. If there are multiple copies or versions of the work available, please also let us know how many. A tip: do not attach files to the email; instead, upload images to a drive or website that is guaranteed to remain accessible until the selection process is complete.
• Please provide a link or handle to your social media profiles, so we can tag you when we announce the participating artists.
• Submit a maximum of three artworks by 23:59 on 22 November, along with a brief explanation and relevant links. We will select the works during the week of 23 November and reply personally to every submission.
• Incomplete and late submissions will not be accepted.
• If you are selected, you must ensure that your work for Dingen Die Niet Verkopen arrives at Oude Beurs 62, 2000 Antwerp, during the first week of December. We will provide some specific suggestions for these dates following the selection process. After the exhibition, you will also need to collect the works yourself if they have not been sold.

For more information about ‘Dingen Die Niet Verkopen’, please visit the rest of our website.

Please send your email by 23h59 on 22 November to info@ddnv.be with the subject line “What’s the Point?”