BE OPEN Art, the online gallery developed by Elena Baturina’s humanitarian think-tank BE OPEN, announces the next stage of its global initiative — BE OPEN Regional Art — aimed at supporting emerging artists around the world whose work authentically represents their cultural and regional identities. Now in its third year, the competition continues to celebrate creativity that draws from the unique artistic heritage of local communities.
The fourth regional stage of the 2025 competition will take place from October through December and will highlight the vibrant artistic scenes of Western Africa. Participating countries and territories include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, as well as Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha.
Over the course of three months, 20 emerging artists from the region will be showcased each month in the BE OPEN Art online gallery. The public will be invited to vote for the Regional Artist of the Month, and at the end of the stage, one of the monthly winners will be named Artist of the Region, receiving a €500 prize. The winner will be selected through a combination of public votes and the evaluations of the BE OPEN Art expert community.
In addition to the Artist of the Region award, the BE OPEN Founder’s Choice prize will be granted to a participant whose work resonates especially strongly with BE OPEN’s founder, Elena Baturina, based on the artist’s originality and cultural depth.
With each stage, BE OPEN Art reaffirms its commitment to promoting cultural diversity and supporting emerging talent on a global scale, helping local voices gain international recognition.