International Cartoon Contest “Invisible Disability” , Izmir/Turkey 2026

Theme:Invisible Disability

Deadline: 10 April 2026

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES DIRECTORATE OF DISABILITY STUDIES

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION

INTERNATIONAL CARTOON CONTEST ON

"INVISIBLE DISABILITY"

1. PURPOSE:

As İzmir Metropolitan Municipality the Directorate of Disability Studies, it has been deemed appropriate to organize an international cartoon contest themed

“INVISIBLE DISABILITY” in order to raise public awareness in the field of disability, strengthen an equality-based and rights-based approach, and support accessibility

in all areas of life.

Invisible disability refers to conditions that are not immediately apparent at first glance and are therefore often ignored or misinterpreted. Conditions such as epilepsy,

MS (Multiple Sclerosis), chronic pain, autism spectrum differences, mental health conditions, and similar situations may affect an individual’s daily life, learning,

working, communication, and sensory or physical endurance. However, since these conditions do not carry “visible” signs, individuals may face prejudices such as

being labeled as “exaggerating,” “making excuses,” “lazy,” or “disrespectful” in public transportation, public service points, education, and working life. As a result, their

requests for support and reasonable accommodations may be deemed unnecessary, leading to exclusion.

The aim of this contest is to make visible—through the language of cartoons—the misunderstandings, stigmatization, prejudices, and systemic barriers that invisible

disabilities create in everyday life; to enhance empathy and social awareness; and to contribute to a more inclusive urban life.

We believe that participating cartoonists will address the theme of “invisible disability” in their works, making the issue visible and increasing both public awareness

and social sensitivity.

2. THEME:

The theme of the contest is “INVISIBLE DISABILITY.”

2.1 The prejudice of “If it’s not visible, it doesn’t exist / there is no problem,” and the devaluation of invisible disabilities (e.g., attitudes such as “exaggerating,”

“faking,” “making excuses,” “you’re young, what could be wrong with you?”)

2.2 Situations caused by misunderstandings in daily life (conflicts experienced in areas such as public transportation, queues/waiting areas, schools, workplaces,

healthcare services, and public service processes)

2.3 The misconception that accessibility consists solely of physical arrangements, while invisible barriers persist due to communication, process design, environmental

factors such as noise/light/crowds, and staff attitudes

2.4 Stigmatizing language, discrimination, and exclusionary discourse toward mental health conditions, autism, epilepsy, MS, chronic pain, and similar conditions

2.5 Appropriate approaches, understanding, and solidarity: how life can be made easier through small accommodations (respectful communication, privacy, flexibility,

proper guidance, calming attitudes) and the strengthening of a rights-based perspective

3. TYPE AND FORMAT OF THE CONTEST:

This contest is organized as a free, international, single-stage fine arts competition, based on the provisions of the Regulation on Architectural, Landscape Architecture,

Urban and Regional Planning, and Fine Arts Competitions, prepared in accordance with the relevant articles of Public Procurement Law No. 4734.

4. PARTICIPATION:

The contest is international and open to everyone aged 18 and over. Each participant may submit up to five (5) cartoons. Submitted cartoons may have been

previously published; however, they must not have received awards in any other national or international competitions. Entries found to violate this condition will be

disqualified, and any awarded prize will be reclaimed.

5. METHOD OF PARTICIPATION:

5.1 Cartoons must be submitted exclusively online via the following email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

5.2 Online Submission: Cartoons must be sent in 300 dpi, JPG, RGB format, without using any compression software, to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Our institution

shall not be held responsible if submissions fail to reach the specified email address for any reason.

6. GENERAL CONDITIONS:

6.1. Cartoons generated using artificial intelligence will not be accepted and will be excluded from the competition. If a cartoon is later determined to be AI-generated,

any award it may have received shall be deemed invalid.

6.2. Participants must submit the Participation Form (Annex-1), including their curriculum vitae and contact information, together with their cartoons as an email

attachment. Incomplete submissions will not be included in the competition.

6.3. By submitting works to the competition, participants declare and undertake that the submitted works are entirely their own, are original, and do not infringe upon

the intellectual or industrial property rights of any third party. In the event of any violation, the work shall be excluded from the competition; if an award has been

granted, it shall be reclaimed. Any and all claims, damages, and liabilities arising therefrom shall be borne by the author. İzmir Metropolitan Municipality shall not

accept any liability in this regard.

6.4. Participants agree that, within the scope of the Turkish Law on Intellectual and Artistic Works No. 5846, they irrevocably transfer their economic rights over the

work (including adaptation, reproduction, distribution, public performance, and communication to the public by means of signs, sounds, and/or images) to İzmir

Metropolitan Municipality on an exclusive basis, without limitation as to time or place. The Municipality shall have the right to use, reproduce, publish, adapt, distribute,

and transfer/license the works in unlimited numbers, both domestically and internationally, across all printed and digital media and in all types of promotional materials

(including brochures, catalogs, albums, exhibitions, posters, billboards, bus stop panels, social media, websites, videos, etc.). Without prejudice to the author's moral

rights, the author consents to these uses and agrees that no additional copyright or royalty fees shall be claimed under any circumstances.

6.5. Award-winning participants are obliged to submit, in full and duly signed form, all information and documents requested for prize payment (Participation Form,

identification/tax information, IBAN/SWIFT details, etc.). Participants who fail to submit the required documents within six (6) months from the date of announcement

of the results, or who do not provide the necessary banking details for payment, shall forfeit their right to claim the prize. In such cases, no claims for prizes,

copyrights, or any other entitlements may be made. In the event of disputes, the Courts and Enforcement Offices of İzmir shall have jurisdiction.

6.6. Cartoons deemed suitable for exhibition by the Selection Committee shall be exhibited. In the event that an album is produced, copies of the album shall be sent

only to the authors of the cartoons included therein.

6.7. If it is determined that a work does not comply with the participation conditions, its ranking shall be annulled and the work shall be disqualified from the

competition.

6.8. Members of the Selection Committee (principal and substitute), their first-degree relatives, official partners, assistants, employees, and employees of İzmir

Metropolitan Municipality are not eligible to participate in the competition.

7. SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES

In the period between the announcement of the competition results and the signing of the contract, any disputes that may arise between İzmir Metropolitan

Municipality and the participant shall first be referred to the arbitration of the jury. If no resolution is reached, the Courts and Enforcement Offices of İzmir shall have

jurisdiction over the settlement of disputes.

8. CARTOON SUBMISSION ADDRESS

Electronic submissions shall be sent to the following email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.;

9. COMPETITION SCHEDULE

Submission Deadline: 10 / 04 / 2026

Announcement of Shortlisted Cartoons: 17 / 04 / 2026

Announcement of Results: 24 / 04 / 2026 10.

10.AWARDS

The awards to be granted to the winning participants are as follows:

First Prize: 60.000,00 TL

Second Prize: 45.000,00 TL

Third Prize: 30.000,00 TL

Three (3) Honorable Mentions: 20.000,00 TL

Payments to artists abroad will be made by converting their TL prize into USD, taking into account the foreign exchange selling rate on the day the payment is made

by the bank. (Applies to foreign participants sending payments from outside Turkey.)

11. PRINCIPAL JURY MEMBERS

Eray ÖZBEK (Cartoonist)

Cemalettin Güzeloğlu (Cartoonist)

Ömer ÇAM (Cartoonist)

Kutay Bilgihan Atabay (Retired Military Officer / Cartoonist)

Serap DİKMEN (Chair of the Board, Kedi Otizm)

Buse YÜCEL KABA (Sociologist)

12. SUBSTITUTE JURY MEMBERS

Zeynep Dalmış (Handicrafts Teacher)

13. COMPETITION RAPPORTER

Tolga UÇAR, Rapporteur (IMM Directorate of Disability Studies).

PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION INFORMATION NOTICE (KVKK)

Data Controller: İzmir Metropolitan Municipality (Department of Social Services / Directorate of Disability Studies)

Processed Personal Data: Name and surname, contact information (telephone, e-mail, address), date of birth, curriculum vitae information, bank details (IBAN/SWIFT

for award winners), and other information related to the competition process.

Purposes of Processing:

Receiving and evaluating competition applications; conducting competition processes; jury evaluation; announcing results; making prize payments;

exhibiting/publishing the works; carrying out institutional communication activities; and communicating with participants.

Legal Basis:

Pursuant to Article 5 of the Law on the Protection of Personal Data (KVKK); processing is necessary for the establishment or performance of a contract, for the data

controller to fulfill its legal obligations, and for the legitimate interests of the data controller, provided that fundamental rights and freedoms are not harmed.

Data Transfer:

Personal data may be shared, within the scope of conducting the competition processes, with selection committee members, contracted printing houses/agencies,

technical service providers, and, where necessary, authorized public institutions and organizations.

Retention Period:

Personal data shall be retained for the period stipulated in the relevant legislation and required by the purpose of processing; upon expiry of this period, data shall be

deleted, destroyed, or anonymized.

Your rights:

You may exercise your rights under Article 11 of the KVKK by submitting a written request to İzmir Metropolitan Municipality or via registered electronic mail (KEP) or e-mail.

EXPLICIT CONSENT AND TRANSFER OF WORK RIGHTS DECLARATION

I give permission for my work to be published and used by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, within the scope of the competition, both domestically and internationally,

across all printed and digital media (brochures, catalogs, albums, posters, billboards, bus stop panels, exhibitions, websites, social media, videos, etc.).

Within the scope of Law No. 5846 on Intellectual and Artistic Works, I hereby declare and accept that I transfer my economic rights over the work (including

adaptation, reproduction, distribution, public performance, and communication to the public by means of signs, sounds, and/or images) to İzmir Metropolitan

Municipality on an exclusive basis, without limitation as to time or place, and that I shall not claim any additional copyright or royalty fees other than the prize

awarded.

I give my explicit consent to the processing of my personal data for the purposes specified in the Personal Data Protection Information Notice and to the necessary

data sharing within the scope of the competition processes (jury members, service providers, etc.).

Name and Surname: ……………………………… Date: …./…./…… Signature:

ENTRY FORM: