Can art help us imagine a more hopeful and sustainable future?
In a time of profound ecological and social change, hope is not simply about waiting for a better future. It can be a starting point for imagination, dialogue and action. This is the idea behind The Art of Hoping, an international open call inviting artists to explore what hope means and how creative expression can help us envision alternative futures.
Through photography, painting, illustration, poetry, video, animation and other artistic forms, participants are invited to share their visions of a world that is more regenerative, just and resilient. The initiative encourages both personal reflections and broader perspectives on the transformations needed to reconnect people, communities and the planet.
For the environmental education community, this invitation offers an inspiring opportunity to look beyond knowledge and awareness and consider the role of creativity and imagination in shaping change. Education for sustainability is also about helping people imagine what is possible — and giving them the confidence and agency to contribute to making it happen.
Selected works will be presented in an online exhibition and during the Club of Rome conference “No Limits to Hope: Sense-making for Alternative Futures”, taking place in Bucharest and online from 4–6 November 2026.
The deadline for submissions is 30 September 2026.
What future do you hope for? And what could you create to help others imagine it too?