Public space in Linz is becoming increasingly regulated. A new city ordinance has put an end to the long-practised and tolerated practice of wild postering, a shift that especially affects cultural, and artistic actors. Posters from independent art and cultural institutions, once an integral part of the cityscape and an indicator of cultural activities, are now restricted to a few selected legal spots on the sidelines. What remains visible are commercial and political ads - those that can afford to be seen. Our response to the growing restrictions on accessible, informal cultural expression in public space is an open call: together, we want to bring art back to the streets.

PLAKATropolis is a city-wide poster festival reclaiming public space for artistic expression and cultural initiatives. For two weeks, we will occupy overlooked, forgotten, or tightly regulated corners of Linz and transform them into temporary zones for visibility, critique, and collective imagination.

As part of this open call, we invite artists, designers, and collectives to contribute their own poster to become part of PLAKATropolis.

Application and more info

We welcome applications from individuals and groups working with the medium of the poster – exploring its meaning, presence, and political dimensions. The content of the poster is entirely up to you. To spark ideas, we’ve framed three thematic areas as questions your poster might respond to:

DOES THE CORNER FEEL LEFT OUT?
Reflect on who is included and who is excluded – and who is allowed to leave their mark on the city.

WHAT DOES THE WALL WANT?
Explore how urban surfaces act as collaborators or or agents of censorship, shaping and being shaped by the messages they carry.

DO POSTERS DREAM OF PERMANENCE?
Consider the tension between ephemerality and the resistance to disappearance; think about the politics of visibility.

qujOchÖ explicitly supports the core values outlined in the Fairness Code: respect, appreciation, diversity, sustainability, and transparency. Submissions containing racist, sexist, homophobic, or otherwise discriminatory or intolerant content will be excluded without exception.

PLAKATropolis – Open Call

Submission period: July 4 – August 15, 2025

Jury meeting & announcement of selected works: September 8, 2025

PLAKATropolis Festival: October 20 – November 2, 2025

Required submission materials

/// Poster design for A0 format (84.1 cm x 118.9 cm; as PDF, 300 dpi recommended)

/// Title of the work

/// Short description of the concept/poster (approx. 1200 characters incl. spaces)

/// Short bio/CV (approx. 1200 characters incl. spaces)

/// Links to websites/social media/etc.

Please name your files as follows

Firstname_Lastname(or GroupName)_Title.pdf

Firstname_Lastname(or GroupName)_Description.pdf

Firstname_Lastname(or GroupName)_Bio+Links.pdf

!!! Upload your submission no later than August 15 at the following link

https://cloud.servus.at/s/rWgBxa7nxPftGoa

If your poster is selected, it will be presented in public space across Linz as part of the PLAKATropolis festival. We’ll get in touch with you after September 8 to coordinate the details.qujOchÖ will cover the production and presentation of the 40 selected posters. Participating artists will receive a printed copy of their poster, a copy of the festival publication, and a symbolic honorarium of €100.

For any questions, feel free to contact us: projects@qujochoe.org