DEAR CARTOONIST FRIEND, The International Eskişehir Cartoon Festival is a cultural event organized biennially by Aktiffelsefe Culture Association. The festival, which first began in Istanbul and later continued in Eskişehir, brings together cartoonists from many different countries through the universal language of art.
In previous editions, the following themes were explored:
Everyday Life (1997), East – West (2000), Water and Life (2003), Global Warming (2005), Intercultural Tolerance (2007), Energy (2009), Philosophy (2012), Volunteering (2014), World Heritage (2016), Black & White “Reconciliation” (2018), Differences and Similarities (2020), Migration (2022), Human is a Bridge (2024).
Thousands of cartoons by numerous cartoonists from different countries have taken part in our festival throughout the years.
The theme of our 14th International Eskişehir Cartoon Festival will be “SOLIDARITY.”
We warmly invite you, dear cartoonist, to participate in our festival with your original works inspired by the theme of “SOLIDARITY.”
SOLIDARITY
Human beings are not creatures capable of existing entirely on their own. Our lives are possible through the relationships we establish with other people and with nature. We need knowledge, care, support, cooperation, shared production, and sharing. Throughout history, humanity has been able to survive by acting together, supporting one another, and creating a shared life for the benefit of all living beings. Therefore, the fact that we need one another is not a deficiency, but one of the fundamental characteristics of being human.
However, solidarity is not simply about needing one another or acting together for our own interests. Working together and helping one another do not always constitute solidarity. What makes solidarity a virtue is the ability to value the existence and well-being of another person independently of our own interests. It means being able to see another person’s needs, vulnerability, and difficulties; being willing, when necessary, to go beyond our own interests; and considering the common good. In this sense, solidarity is not limited to people who resemble us or who can offer something in return. It is the capacity to care about the lives of others despite our differences. This is not only a relationship between human beings, but also a capacity to establish a responsible relationship with nature.
Solidarity also means being able to take responsibility without expecting anything in return. The relationship of “You help me, and I will help you” is important for social life, but it does not fully explain the meaning of solidarity. Sometimes solidarity means simply being there for another person, even when doing so will bring us no benefit whatsoever.
Solidarity is not the opposite of being an individual. Taking responsibility for our own lives and caring about the well-being of others are not contradictory. A person can stand on their own feet while also taking responsibility for the relationships they establish with others. Being able to stand on one’s own does not mean that one needs no one else.
The virtue of solidarity begins precisely with recognizing this mutual interdependence. We need to recognize that the knowledge, opportunities, and achievements we possess are not solely the result of our own efforts; behind them lie the labor and support of others, as well as the opportunities provided by the shared world in which we live. Therefore, solidarity is not merely helping another person; it is also feeling a sense of responsibility toward the world we share. A strong society is measured not only by how successful its individuals are, but also by how much people can trust one another in difficult times and how effectively they can act together in the face of common problems.
For this reason, solidarity is not an expression of human weakness, but of our nature as relational beings. Accepting that we need one another is the beginning of solidarity; not seeing the well-being of others as entirely separate from our own transforms it into a virtue. Solidarity is not a choice between “I” and “We”; it is the ability of an individual to maintain responsibility for their own life while also taking responsibility for the shared life of which they are a part. It means going beyond accepting that we are dependent on one another and recognizing that we are responsible for one another.
As Aktiffelsefe, we would like to reaffirm, through the theme of “Solidarity,” the idea of “a better human being and a better world” that we have been striving to build for 35 years.
The works exhibited at this festival will subsequently be displayed in different cities throughout Türkiye, including Adana, Ankara, Antalya, Bursa, Eskişehir, İstanbul, İzmir, İzmit, and Mersin, at Aktiffelsefe branches and representative offices, as well as at events organized by organizations with which Aktiffelsefe Culture Association cooperates abroad.
FESTIVAL PROGRAM AND ACTIVITIES
EXHIBITION
An international exhibition consisting of cartoons submitted on the theme of “Solidarity” will be held in November 2026.
PANEL / SYMPOSIUM
A panel / symposium on “Solidarity” will be held with the participation of invited speakers from the fields of art, science, and philosophy.
ACTIVITIES
Various activities related to the theme will be organized in the exhibition area.
PARTICIPATION RULES
THEME
1. The theme of the exhibition is “SOLIDARITY.”
2. Works that are not related to the theme will not be accepted for the festival or exhibition.
3. The final decision regarding whether a work complies with the theme belongs to the Festival Organizing Committee.
4. The Organizing Committee works under the chairmanship of cartoonist Tan Oral.
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
1. The technique is completely free.
2. Works may be black and white or colored.
3. Each participant may submit one or more works.
4. The preferred formats are A4 or A3.
5. Works submitted in formats other than A4 or A3 may be evaluated; however, they will not be eligible for exhibition.
SUBMISSION
Works may be submitted by e-mail.
Digital works must:
• be scanned at 300 dpi resolution,
• be submitted in JPEG format,
• not exceed 2 MB in size.
Each file must be named as follows:
country_artistfullname_worknumber.jpeg
Example:
turkiye_alikorkmaz_1.jpeg
DEADLINE 20 OCTOBER 2026
All works must reach the Festival Organizing Committee no later than 20 October 2026.
RIGHTS OF USE
All rights of use of the submitted works belong to Aktiffelsefe Culture Association, provided that they are not used for commercial purposes.
Aktiffelsefe Culture Association may:
• publish the works in Türkiye and abroad,
• exhibit them,
• use them in books, catalogues, magazines, and similar publications,
• send them to other non-commercial associations or organizations in Türkiye or abroad for exhibition or publication purposes.
The cartoonist retains all publication and financial rights to their work.
The exhibited cartoons may be compiled in a festival catalogue. The catalogue, as well as press coverage related to the festival, may be published on the websites of Aktiffelsefe Culture Association (
www.aktiffelsefe.org) and the Cartoon Festival (
www.cartoonfest.org).
Aktiffelsefe Culture Association is responsible for the content it publishes and shares as an organizing partner.
CONTACT
Aktiffelsefe Culture Association – Eskişehir Branch
Public Relations Department
Aktiffelsefe Culture Association
Vişnelik Mah. Gül Sok. No:18
26020 Odunpazarı – Eskişehir / TÜRKİYE
Tel: +90 222 220 51 66
WhatsApp: +90 553 167 26 93
For your questions, you may contact us by e-mail or by phone on weekdays and weekends between 09:00 and 19:30 (GMT+3).
