Subterranean Myths

The 1st International Arts & Letters Contest | 2026

This contest is a creative call to all cavers, speleologists, and karst explorers at heart who see the underground world not only as a place of exploration but as a source of artistic inspiration. Whether you are a scientist documenting the depths or an explorer shaped by the silence of the cave, we invite you to share your unique perspective.

Theme: “Subterranean Myths” – Artistic Reflections of the Karst World

Tagline: Below the Surface, Beyond Imagination

The Arts and Letters Committee is proud to announce its first international call for entries. This contest is an invitation to explore the world beneath our feet through the lens of creativity.

Concept: What are “Subterranean Myths”?

This theme goes beyond ancient folklore. We invite you to reflect on the deep human connection to the underground environment, blending scientific reality with poetic intuition.

This includes:

• Geological Time & Silence: Reflecting on the profound stillness and absolute darkness of the deep.
• Nature’s Artistry: Geochemical processes and karst structures (stalactites, crystals) as living sculptures.
• Psychological Journeys: Reflections of fear, discovery, and the thrill of adventure in the depths.
• Subterranean Echoes: The haunting dialogue between sound, void, and the “breath” of the cave.
• Ancestral Memory: The stories stored within rock layers and the living memory of the stone.
• The Cave as a Metaphor: A portal to the subconscious or a sanctuary for the “unseen” self.
• Liquid Architecture: The slow, poetic dance of water and minerals sculpting time itself.
• Modern Myths: New legends born at the intersection of scientific exploration and creative imagination.

Categories & Constraints:

• Visual Arts: Painting, drawing, digital art, and illustration. (Note: Photography and photomontage are not accepted in this category).
• Writing: Poetry, short stories, essays, and literary articles (Max. 1,000 words).
• Music & Performance: Audio tracks or recorded performances (Max. 3 minutes).
• Other Creative Forms: Including Sketchbooks, Art books, conceptual designs, installations, and media art.

Recognition and Awards

Blind Judging: All entries will be evaluated by an international jury in a blind judging process to ensure complete impartiality.

International Exposure: Winning entries will be featured on official UIS social media channels.

Permanent Archive: Winners will be showcased in a dedicated gallery on the Committee’s website.

Official Certification: Winners will receive a certificate signed by the UIS President and the Committee Chair.

Official Announcement: Results will be announced during the annual UIS meetings, and certificates will be presented in person at the next International Congress.

Submission Rules & Guidelines

• Method: Entries must be submitted via the official Google Form.
• Naming Convention: Files must be named as: LastName_Country_Category_Title.
• Limit: Maximum of 1 entry per submission.
• Format: High-quality JPG or PNG (Max 50MB).
• Note: No watermarks or signatures are allowed on the image.
• Bio & Statement: Include a brief biography (max 100 words) and a short artist statement (3-4 sentences).
• IP Rights: Artists retain full ownership and grant the Committee a non-exclusive license for promotional use with artist credit.
• Technical Details: Please refer to the registration form for detailed specifications regarding file formats and entry requirements.

Key Dates

Submission Deadline: 15 July, 2026.

Announcement of Results: First half of August 2026.

How to Submit:

For full details and to submit your work, please visit our official portal:

https://forms.gle/tFdY22bogdHUTDmi9

Note: If you encounter any technical issues with the portal or do not wish to use a Google account, please contact us at speleo.artsandletters@gmail.com for an alternative PDF submission form.

Announcement: Call for Entries

The 2nd UIS International Speleological and Karst Photography Contest

Theme: “Invisible Life, Visible Impact: Guardians of the Dark”

Categories:

• Cave Biology: Life and ecosystems underground.   
• Cave Protection & Conservation: Human impacts and preservation efforts.   
• Aesthetics and Creative Perspectives: Artistic visions of the dark. 
• General Speleology: Exploration, research, and people in caves. 

Judging & Awards:

Key Dates

• Submission Deadline: 30 June 2026
• Final Selection & Review: July – August 2026

Submission Rules:

• • Naming Convention: Files must be named as: LastName_Country_Category_Title. 
  • Limit: Maximum of 1 entry per submission.
  • Format: High-quality JPG or PNG (Max 50MB).
  • Quality: Min 300 dpi and 2000px on the long edge.
  • Note: No watermarks or signatures are allowed on the image.

Ethics & AI Policy:

• Eligibility: Open to members of the global speleological and caving community.  
• Cave Conservation: Entries must reflect strict respect for the cave environment. Any violation of safety or ethical protocols will result in disqualification.  
• AI Policy: Purely AI-generated images or the use of “generative fill” to add/remove key elements are strictly prohibited.

How to Submit:

Through your lens, give a voice to the silent guardians and illuminate the hidden soul of the karst.

Dear colleagues, dear friends,

We are glad to inform you that the first Call for speleological events support in 2026 is open! Granted can be international expeditions or other events focused on the exploration, study, or protection of caves and karst, with an emphasis on educational, technical, and/or scientific cooperation.

UIS Bureau especially encourages young cavers and scientists to submit proposals for their projects, and the Bureau will take these submissions into preference consideration.

All requests should contain a description of the proposed event as detailed as you think is important for understanding the aims of your project, the purpose for which the funds will be used, and show explicitly that the proposed event is in line with the Statutes, Internal Regulations, and Code of Ethics of the UIS. Requests that do not meet these requirements will not be accepted.

For speleological expeditions, participants must be from at least 3 different countries, one of which is recommended to be the host country where the project will be conducted.

Detailed conditions and more details about speleological events support can be found in Speleological Events Support Guidelines on https://uis-speleo.org/wp-
content/uploads/2020/03/Speleological-Events-Support-Guidelines-Version-2-September-2019.pdf or please, do not hesitate to ask UIS Vice-President of Administration Mario Parise at mario.parise@uniba.it

The deadline for this Call is June 12, 2026.

All requests received till the deadline will be evaluated by the UIS Bureau, and the best projects will be supported. For this Call, the UIS Bureau decided to dedicate a maximum amount of 3000 EUR, meaning that this total amount can be split between all supported projects. All requests received after the deadline will not be accepted, but can be submitted for the next call.

Unlike what is reported in the Speleological Event Support Guidelines, please send all requests to the UIS before the deadline to Adjunct Secretary Marc Mentens at marcbingcacao@gmail.com and Adjunct Secretary Allan Calux at ascalux@gmail.com (in CC).

Before submitting, please ensure that:

1) The proposal and all supporting documents are submitted in a single PDF file.
2) The proposal includes a statement from the applicant(s) that the proposed event meets the Statutes, Internal Regulations, and Code of Ethics of the UIS;
3) The proposal states the amount of funding requested and the purpose for which the funds will be used.

Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their proposals in mid-July.

Mario Parise
UIS Vice-President of Administration

Dear colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to participate in the events marking the first celebration of the UNESCO International Day of Caves and Karst, to be held in Postojna, Slovenia, from 10 to 13 September 2026.

These events represent the symbolic and official launch of the global observance of the International Day of Caves and Karst, proclaimed by UNESCO in 2025. Please find attached the invitation and the preliminary programme of events, which will be held under the honorary patronage of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Nataša Pirc Musar, and under the patronage of UNESCO, with the support and cooperation of the Slovenian National Commission for UNESCO, Postojna Cave, Škocjan Caves Park, the Municipality of Postojna, the Municipality of Pivka, and the Speleological Association of Slovenia.

For more information and registration for the scientific conference and the official ceremony in Postojna Cave, please visit:

https://izrkp.zrc-sazu.si/en/dogodki/international-day-of-caves-and-karst-idck

Information on registration for the accompanying events, along with their detailed programs, will follow.

We look forward to your participation and to celebrating the beginning of this important global initiative together.

Kind regards,

Nadja Zupan Hajna

on behalf of the Organizing Committee

Karst Research Institute ZRC SAZU and International Union of Speleology (UIS)