WAFDF Papyrus and Light: Worldwide Open Call

The World Art Forum for Development Foundation (WAFDF) has announced the second edition of its open call programme, inviting artists across disciplines worldwide to create original works using papyrus as their primary material. The Cairo-based foundation, recognized across Egypt and the wider Middle East for its work at the intersection of art and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, has built the initiative around a commitment to repositioning papyrus as a living creative medium rather than a historical curiosity.

This edition centers on the theme of Aten, the ancient Egyptian concept representing the eternal sun and the life-giving energy of the universe. Artists are asked to explore how light moves, transforms and is received. The foundation draws on the Egyptian tradition of 'Coming Forth by Day,' the ancient understanding of rebirth through light, as a conceptual anchor.

The call welcomes interpretations across disciplines and invites artists to push papyrus beyond its traditional associations, connecting ancient material and contemporary practice. Full guidelines and submission details are available from the foundation.