The journey
A breakdown of how Dear Cities, unfolds, from submission to exhibition.
Sep 23 – Jan 31, 2027
Phase 1
Call for Submissions
Submit the idea for your project.
Phase 2
Top 10
After the top 10 make a pitch, the jury selects the top 5. The panel of jury and mentors will be revealed soon.
Phase 3
Top 5
The top 5 will receive mentorship to develop their projects and prepare for a final pitch, where the jury will choose the 3 winners.
Phase 4
3 Final Winners
Each winning project will receive €15,000 in funding.
Phase 5
Exhibition by the 3 Final Winners
The 3 winning projects will be exhibited in Portugal in the second quarter of 2027, kickstarting a bigger conversation about the future of our cities.
Apply
Creative Output: What we're asking for
Think about every city you've lived in, visited, and loved. The places that inspired you, the things that frustrated you, and the details that made you feel at home. Now imagine you had the opportunity to bring all those learnings together and create the city you believe we should live in.
To apply, you don't need a finished project. We just want to understand the core concept, your vision, and where you want to take it.
Three steps to apply:
Write a letter
Start with Dear Cities, and share your vision of the perfect city (maximum 1,500 characters). All letters will be exhibited as part of the challenge and shared with OPO City and the decision-makers shaping its future.
Tell us what you want to create
How are you turning your letter into art? Any form of creative expression is valid: film, installation, object, piece of writing, interactive experience, performance, immersive storytelling, hybrid and mixed media projects…
Attach a moodboard or draft
Provide a moodboard or a draft of your concept so we can understand what you are doing and how you are doing it: What’s your vision? How are you bringing it to life?