Applications close November 19, 2026.

Across the world, people living through conflict are finding ways to protect one another, resist violence, rebuild trust, and imagine a different future.

What if a painting could help us imagine a different response to conflict? What if a poem could make space for hope, or a photograph could tell a story that words cannot?

At Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP), we believe that art can be a form of protection and a powerful tool for connection. Our emerging initiative UCP Through the Arts invites artists and creative voices from around the world to explore what nonviolent responses to conflict can look like.

An event we hosted earlier this year, ‘PoC Week Through the Arts: Artists from Conflict on Protection, Pressure and Survival”, recognised art as a vital non-violent communication tool and offered a model for amplifying and integrating artistic and civil society voices into the protection of civilians and respect for international humanitarian law. 

UCP Through the Arts

Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) is the practice of people protecting people in conflict, without weapons. Rooted in nonviolence, non-partisanship, and the leadership of local communities, UCP offers practical ways to protect civilians and prevent violence.

UCP Through the Arts invites artists to respond to the theme: Nonviolent Responses to Conflict.

We welcome creative work that imagines nonviolent alternatives to conflict and violence, documents lived experiences, amplifies underrepresented voices, and contributes to cultures of peace and protection.

Selected artists will have the opportunity to: 

• Showcase their work globally: Have their artwork and biography featured in NP’s UCP Through the Arts magazine, website, social media channels and related communications. 
• Connect across borders: Meet and exchange with artists, activists, writers and peacebuilding practitioners working across diverse conflict contexts. 
• Join a community of practice: Become part of the wider UCP Community of Practice, a global network of practitioners working to protect civilians and prevent violence through nonviolent approaches. 
• Amplify their voice: Share their creative perspective and lived experience of conflict, resistance, resilience, protection, and peace with an international audience. 
• Receive honorarium: Selected applicants will receive a small compensation for their contribution. 

Eligibility

Creatives from all regions and backgrounds are encouraged to apply.  We are committed to redressing historical and ongoing exclusion in the arts and especially welcome applications from those who are impacted by systemic inequity and face underrepresentation. No formal qualification or trainings are required to be eligible.

Submission Guidelines

• Open to creatives 14 years and older.
• The following media will be considered: painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, digital, poems, short creative writings.
• All submissions must be of original design and personal execution. Works made using generative AI are not eligible.
• There is no fee to submit.
• Each artist may submit up to two entries. Please complete a separate submission form for each entry.
• Required Materials: 1 to 3 images of the artwork or 1 document containing written work, a short artist biography, and an artist statement that describes the intent and story behind the work.

All materials can be submitted in their original language. NP welcomes materials in the language(s) most meaningful to your practice; translations are not required.  

Submit your work and become part of a global creative conversation on nonviolent responses, protecting people and transforming conflict. 

Timeline

The following timeline is subject to change.

• Launch Date: 19 October  
• Submission Deadline: 19 November 2026, 23:59 PM CEST 
• Selected artworks announced: Early January 2027

Questions? Please direct comments and questions to [email protected].

Artwork Submission

About Nonviolent Peaceforce

Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) is a mission driven organisation that seeks to protect civilians in violent conflicts through unarmed strategies, build peace side-by-side with local communities and advocate for the wider adoption of these approaches to safeguard human lives and dignity, guided by the overarching values of nonviolence.