One mountain.
Thousands of stories.
What is your Ararat?
ARARAT invites artists from around the world to reinterpret Mount Ararat — not as a landmark to copy, but as a memory, a border, a myth, a beginning — through contemporary painting and video art.
- First exhibition
- 50 artists selected
- Media
- Painting + Video Art
- Deadline
- Nov 1, 2026
A mountain held between reality and myth.
Mount Ararat is more than a geographical landmark. For centuries it has stood between fact and legend — bound to the biblical story of Noah’s Ark, and to ideas of survival, renewal and a new beginning.
For Armenians, Ararat holds a profound place in cultural memory and identity. Visible from Armenia while standing beyond its present borders, the mountain exists at once as a landscape, a symbol, a memory and an imagined place. ARARAT is a year-long project, running October 2026 to October 2027, that asks artists to sit with that complexity — and to create their own Ararat, rather than simply reproduce the peak.
The Invitation
ARARAT invites artists from around the world to create their own version of the mountain. Not simply to reproduce its silhouette, but to question it, transform it, and give it a new story through contemporary art.
Your Ararat can be real or imagined. It can be a place, a memory, a border, a symbol, a myth, a loss, a beginning, or something entirely personal.
We are looking for works that reveal how one mountain can become many different worlds.
One mountain. Thousands of stories.
What is your ARARAT?
“Visible from Armenia, standing beyond its borders.”
First Exhibition — now accepting applications.
The inaugural ARARAT open call is accepting submissions from artists worldwide. Approach the mountain freely — figuratively, conceptually, symbolically or abstractly. Selected works will form the first international exhibition chapter of the project; further open calls, exhibitions and disciplines will follow through October 2027.
Frequently asked questions.
Who can apply?
Artists worldwide, working in painting or video art. There are no restrictions on nationality, age or career stage — anyone reinterpreting Ararat through these two media is welcome to submit.
What media are accepted for this first exhibition?
Painting and video art only, for this inaugural stage. Additional artistic media and disciplines will be introduced in later stages of the project, which runs through October 2027.
How many artists will be selected?
50 artists will be selected to form the first international exhibition chapter of ARARAT.
Does my work need to show the mountain literally?
No. Artists are encouraged to approach Ararat freely — figuratively, conceptually, symbolically or abstractly. There is no single interpretation; every artist creates a different Ararat.
What's the application deadline?
November 1, 2026. Applications are open now.
How do I apply?
Through the official ARARAT application form — select Apply Now anywhere on this page to open it.
What happens after I submit?
Selected works join the first international exhibition chapter of ARARAT. The project continues through October 2027 with further open calls, exhibitions, collaborations and new artistic disciplines.
Who is behind ARARAT?
The project was initiated by artist Arman Nur and is presented by Armenian Art Corps, an artist-led cultural platform connecting artists and international cultural initiatives.
What can your Ararat be?
Your work doesn’t need to be a traditional view of the mountain. Every artist arrives at a different Ararat — these are only starting points.
Arman Nur
Arman Nur is an Armenian contemporary artist, designer and cultural figure whose practice explores identity, symbolism, memory, material and transformation. Through his artistic work and international cultural activity, he has developed a distinctive visual language connecting Armenian cultural heritage with contemporary thought and experimentation.
As initiator of the ARARAT International Art Project, Nur invites artists from different cultures and artistic backgrounds to engage with one of the most powerful symbols connected to Armenia. The project is conceived not simply as an exhibition, but as an international artistic dialogue built around the mountain — its mythology, history and continuously evolving meaning.
Armenian Art Corps
Armenian Art Corps is an artist-led cultural platform and community connecting artists, ideas and international cultural initiatives. Its mission is to support contemporary artistic practice, create opportunities for collaboration and exhibition, and build connections between Armenian artists and the wider international art community — through exhibitions, open calls and interdisciplinary collaborations.
ARARAT is one of the international projects developed within Armenian Art Corps. Rather than fixing a single image of the mountain, the goal is an evolving international archive of perspectives, stories and artistic interpretations — built one artist at a time.
What is your Ararat?
Applications close November 1, 2026 · First exhibition, 50 artists · Painting + Video Art