Espacio Anna Frank opens entries for the 10th National Coexistence Salon

It is a significant opportunity for young people to develop their talent and creativity. The 10th National Coexistence Salon is a competition promoted by the non profit organisation Espacio Anna Frank, which this year celebrates reaching its tenth uninterrupted edition, with a space open to students and professionals in graphic design, photography, illustration and narrative. It is aimed at Venezuelans over 18, whether or not they live in the country, who take part with a proposal reflecting the concept of coexistence. The prize in each of the four categories is 500 dollars, and other selected entrants will receive surprise prizes. The call is for work that encourages reflection and awareness and spreads human values centred on respect for others.

"I am motivated by the other, by the different, and it inspires me to work as a team for Venezuela, building the path of coexistence through responsibility, solidarity, moral courage, recognition of the other and respect," says Ilana Beker, vice president of Espacio Anna Frank. "Our aim is that coexistence is recognised as a way of life, that we talk about coexistence in our homes and our neighbourhoods, and that the deep meaning of the word is taught in classrooms. In that way coexistence will appear in our society, geared into how we think, and there will be no room for further discrimination, othering and, ultimately, injustice."

Entries opened on Monday 25 February and run until Monday 17 June 2019, so that a qualified jury in each category can announce its verdict on 26 July. The programme of activities linked to the salon, after the period of receiving and selecting the pieces, peaks in September, the month of coexistence, during which the prize ceremony takes place along with exhibitions of the selected posters in various places in Caracas and other cities, entirely free.

The four categories carry strong visual appeal and an emotional force that seeks to promote reflection and action. The exhibitions are accompanied by talks and screenings of documentaries and films, resources that strengthen and give fluency to the transmission of values.

The National Coexistence Salon has as its fundamental goal to serve as a space for promoting respect for difference, coexistence and social responsibility. Its specific objectives are to promote solidarity and respect among our fellow citizens, drawing on the potential of image and word as means of artistic and social expression; and to make participants aware of the importance of developing work that calls for reflection and action, exploring the social and human side of their craft.

The jury for graphic design is made up of Carolina Arnal, Kathiana Cardona, Héctor Do Nascimento, Rubén Moreno and Yessica Silvio. For photography it comprises Ricardo Jiménez, Leo Álvarez, Ricardo Gómez, Sara Maneiro and María Teresa Boulton. For illustration, Yonel Hernández, Eddymir Briceño and Humberto Valdivieso. For narrative, the jury is Héctor Torres, Ricardo Ramírez and Diajanida Hernández.

Across nine consecutive editions of the salon, more than 982 entries have come in from 15 Venezuelan states as well as the United States, Chile, Argentina and France, among them pieces of genuine significance for the values and principles the programme pursues.

Espacio Anna Frank invites young people and professionals to take part in this call, which encourages them to recover and spread human values through civic awareness and free expression. Entrants may take part in more than one category if they wish. Their work must be previously unpublished and must fully meet the competition rules, available for each category at www.espacioannafrank.org. The competition's official social media accounts will also provide information throughout the campaign: Espacio Anna Frank on Facebook, @EspacioAF on Twitter and @espacioannafrank on Instagram.