62nd Exhibition “Castrum Vallis” in Bale: Call for Artists
Submission deadline: 9 July 2026
Theme: Traces
Submission deadline: 9 July 2026
Venue: Ulika Gallery, Bale
Exhibition period: 25 July – 15 August 2026
The exhibition Castrum Vallis, organized in cooperation between the Municipality of Bale and the Bale Tourist Board, will take place for the 62nd time this year.
All artists working in painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, and photography are invited to participate. The exhibition will be presented at MMC “Ulika” from 25 July to 15 August 2026.
Each artist may submit up to two works. Works must be delivered in person to the Gallery during opening hours (weekdays from 08:00 to 16:00) or sent by post to MMC “Ulika”, Rovinjska 1, 52211 Bale, no later than 9 July 2026.
Each work must be labeled with the artist’s full name, telephone number, technique, and dimensions.
Works may be collected after the exhibition until 29 August during Gallery opening hours. Works not collected within the given deadline will be considered a donation to the Gallery’s permanent collection.
Theme: Traces
Theme description:
In a time of (over)rapid change, everyday encounters, and fleeting moments, traces remain behind every person, space, and event. These may be records of time, memory, emotion, presence, or change left behind—visible or hidden, personal or collective. Traces emerge in the spaces we shape, in the objects we use, in the relationships we build, in the nature and architecture around us, as well as in personal experiences that shape us and the reality we inhabit.
The theme “Traces” opens a space for reflection on what remains after people, time, nature, and everyday experiences. A trace can be physical, emotional, social, or symbolic—an imprint of presence, transience, or transformation. Traces testify to the passing of time, to the identity of individuals and communities, to relationships with space, history, and heritage, as well as to contemporary issues such as ecology, migration, alienation, and accelerated ways of living.
In art, a trace refers not only to what is visible in the final work, but also to the very process of creation: gesture, layer, error, repetition, or erasure. From the earliest visual expressions to contemporary practices, the trace remains an essential part of artistic language, either as a conscious choice or as a spontaneous record of the creative process. Strong gestural marks in abstract painting by Jackson Pollock or visible layers of paint in Mark Rothko’s work demonstrate how the act of painting itself becomes part of the final artwork, with the trace perceived and used as a document of time, event, or personal stance. It may be controlled or accidental, clear or barely visible, but it always carries information about the presence of the artist and the way the work is created. For this reason, the trace in art remains an open and multi-layered concept open to different interpretations.
The theme invites artists to explore, through their own visual expression, the traces left by individuals, communities, and time: from intimate and personal narratives to reflections on collective memory and contemporary society. A trace may be visible and concrete, but also subtle, hidden, or only suggested. Its openness and multiplicity allow a wide range of approaches and interpretations, giving artists freedom across different media and artistic poetics, and inviting personal reflection on the traces we leave behind.
The selection committee, consisting of art historians Maja Zidarić Pilat, Fulvio Juričić, and Breza Žižović, will select the works for the exhibition. The best works will be included in a printed catalogue, and all selected works will be presented on www.castrum-vallis.org.
The exhibition opening will take place on 25 July 2026 at 20:00 at MMC “Ulika”.
For further information: info@bale-valle.hr
