Open Call: Rotary Upcycling Art Festival Guatemala 2026

The fourth edition of the Rotary Upcycling Art Festival Guatemala 2026 has opened its call to professional and emerging artists interested in transforming waste into works that carry a message of social and environmental awareness. The call is open to artists in Guatemala and residents, with a submission deadline of July 14, 2026.

This year’s festival unfolds under the theme "Lo que desechamos" (What we discard), an invitation to reflect on what society loses or stops valuing, beyond material objects. The organizers seek works that generate dialogue and new perspectives on memory, traditions, nature and human relationships. As Guillermo Monroy, president of the Rotary Club Guatemala La Reforma, explained, the festival has long invited artists to discover the creative potential of materials often considered waste, and this year it aims to go a step further by prompting reflection on what is being lost as a society.

Participants may present two- or three-dimensional pieces made principally from paper, cardboard, plastic, textiles, glass, metal, electronic components and other reusable inorganic waste. Organic materials are not accepted, and proposals undergo a curatorial process before final selection. The chosen works will form part of an exhibition and sale held at the Alianza Francesa de Guatemala from August 21 to September 9, with part of the proceeds going to social projects run by the Rotary and Rotaract clubs of Guatemala La Reforma.

The call remains open until July 14, 2026. Selected works will be received on August 17, and the festival officially opens on August 20. The jury will recognize the most outstanding proposals for their originality, visual impact, technical execution and conceptual strength.