In honor of Slava Raškaj, Vrapče announces competition linking painting and mental health

The Vrapče Psychiatric Clinic in Croatia has launched a public competition for young female painters, titled "Slava Raškaj," in commemoration of the 120th anniversary of the renowned Croatian artist's death. The initiative seeks to affirm and promote a new generation of female artists, offering them professional visibility.

The competition is named after Slava Raškaj, one of Croatia's most significant painters, who spent a portion of her life at the Vrapče Psychiatric Clinic. Through this project, the clinic aims to honor her artistic legacy, support the development of young female talents, and create a space for dialogue connecting art, mental health, and the community.

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Through this project, we want to pay tribute to her artistic legacy, support the development of young authors, and open space for dialogue between art, mental health, and the community.

Eligible participants are female painters aged 18 to 29 as of September 6, 2026, residing in Croatia. Each artist can submit one original, completed painting in any technique, with maximum dimensions of 90x80 cm. Applications are open until September 6, 2026. Selected works, up to 20, will be exhibited at the "Slava Raškaj" Gallery within the clinic. A single purchase award of 1,000 EUR gross will be granted, with the winning piece joining the clinic's collection.

The exhibition is scheduled from October 12 to November 20, 2026. The clinic encourages young female painters to participate, contributing their work to an exhibition that bridges art, Raškaj's heritage, and a vital social message about inclusivity, creativity, and the destigmatization of mental health.

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The clinic invites young female painters to apply and become part of the exhibition with their works, which combines art, the legacy of Slava Raškaj, and an important social message about inclusivity, creativity, and the destigmatization of mental health.