ART CIRCLE International is dedicated to professional artists and curators. Artists for specific events are selected several times a year by an international jury on the basis of an open call. The artworks created during the residency remain in the ART CIRCLE collection. After the residency, these works are exhibited to the public in Slovenia and in subsequent exhibitions abroad. In this way, ART CIRCLE contributes to the transfer of contemporary art to other regions, including rural ones.

A unique feature of the Slovenian festival is the Art Embassy of a particular country. Each location hosting artists is dedicated to a country that has a diplomatic embassy in Slovenia, and the artists they host come primarily from that country. The official diplomatic embassies are honorary patrons of art embassies. In this way, ART CIRCLE connects the cultures of many nations with the local region and the diplomatic world.

In addition to residencies for professional artists, ART CIRCLE International also organises a youth festival for students and graduates of art academies at the beginning of their careers. Through our programmes, international mentors and selected young artists work together in a new environment, gaining professional experience and networking opportunities.

The festival’s organising team is made up of experienced professional artists, art teachers, curators, entrepreneurs, tourism providers and professional external collaborators.