Democracy Under Pressure is a week-long Young European Federalists campaign highlighting democratic values and youth activism through workshops, talks, and artistic expression. We aim to spark conversations on how individual and collective action can strengthen democracy and hold institutions accountable.
We’re looking for artists & creatives to submit proposals for Art as Witness to Democracy, a collective exhibition organised by JEF Malta, in collaboration with Studenti Graffitti.
Curatorial Brief
Art as Witness to Democracy frames artistic practice as an active and necessary voice through which young people can respond to the pressures that the democratic system faces today. The exhibition positions art as a form that bears the marks of democratic fracture while leaving space for repair, not through negation of the past, but by looking toward a future in which these fractures, in their many forms, serve as points of reference for growth.
The works presented do not seek to offer solutions or restore a false illusion of wholeness; instead, they insist on visibility, confronting the realities of current affairs as a means of moving beyond them and imagining sustainable systems for the community. In this way, democracy is understood not as a static entity, but as a living social process, one that can be questioned, held accountable, and reshaped again and again, while the marks of renewal endure.
Submission of Work
Artists are not only invited to look at the existing fractures of democracy, but also to provide a different perspective on how youth activism through art has the ability to influence policy and society as a whole. Topics may vary widely, and treat any relevant subject, including but not limited to youth activism, public policy, individualism and minorities, construction and the environment, right to protest, domestic violence, reproductive rights, animal rights, and any other relevant subject that fits the theme and is interpreted through an activist lens.
Submitted works may be realised in a range of media, including but not limited to visual art, mixed media, sound art, performance, literature, photography, video, textile practices, and other creative forms.
The selection board will treat every proposal equally, but has the right to refuse proposals that do not address the theme respectfully or that are not appropriate for younger audiences who may visit the exhibition space. Thus, content of a highly violent and graphic nature should be avoided.
Application and Additional Requirements
The deadline for submissions is Friday 30th January 2026, extended to Sunday 1st March 2026.
Applicants are required to submit a brief project description, supporting images, and detailed technical requirements (including, where applicable, plinths, hanging mechanisms, installation needs, and a technical rider).
Artists should note that the exhibition will be open for one day on the 23rd of March 2026 at the Quadrangle on the University of Malta campus. Selected participants will be expected to be available for technical set-up in the days leading up to the opening, as well as for dismantling following the exhibition’s closure. This may require a degree of flexibility with working hours.
All artworks remain the responsibility of the artist. Artists are responsible for the delivery and collection of their works within the timeframes communicated by the curatorial team prior to and following the exhibition. The curatorial team does not assume responsibility for artworks that are not collected from the exhibition space within the specified timeframe.
Apply through this form: https://forms.gle/8tQKihKF8VkmWnh68
Who is JEF?
JEF Malta (Young European Federalists Malta) is a non-partisan youth NGO and political movement as well as a student organisation within the University of Malta. Internationally, it forms part of JEF Europe, which also is a non-partisan federalist movement. In total, JEF has over 13,000 members from national and local sections in over 30 countries. Through JEF Europe, we are a part of a massive international network of youths all working towards a more united and democratic Europe.
Who are Studenti Graffitti?
Studenti Graffitti is the student wing of Moviment Graffitti, a left-wing Maltese organisation set up in 1994 that is active against the oppression and exploitation of people, environment and animals; with a vision of freedom and radical democracy. Focusing more on student and youth related issues this organisation follows a transparent non-hierarchical structure where the equal share of responsibilities is emphasised. They are autonomous from any economic power or political party, but regularly collaborate with other organisations that share their beliefs on specific issues. As a left-wing organisation, their aim is to ensure that all students have the best possible environment to foster their studies, get their voices heard, and are able to find community through activism.