Join the WCA Art Prize and win €250
- Post 18 March 2021
On 18 March 2021, WCA invited creative minds and artists to contribute to the WCA Art Prize 2021 and win €250! This initiative was taken to remember and honor the kidnapped Archbishop of Aleppo, Syria, Mor Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim. For more background on this underreported issue, see here.
WCA ART PRIZE
MOR GREGORIOS YOHANNA IBRAHIM
22 APRIL 2021
IMPRESS WITH YOUR SKILLS AND WIN €250
The World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) invites creative minds and artists to contribute to the WCA Art Prize! It marks three occasions related to the kidnapped Metropolitan of Aleppo, H.E. Mor Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim:
- 73 years birthday (18-08-1948);
- 42 episcopal ordination anniversaries (04-03-1979);
- 8 years kidnapping commemoration (22-04-2013).
Deadline for entries is 14 April 2021
Announcement of the 1st and 2nd Winners is 22 April 2021
Submit your art work to mark this occasion by either:
1. Painting a portrait of Mor Gregorios.
2. Writing a calligraphy quote reflecting on Mor Gregorios.
Art Prize:
• €250 if you receive the 1st prize or €150 for the 2nd prize.
• Even if you don’t become #1 or #2, your art may still be exhibited and published on the WCA website, newsletters and social media channels.
Full terms and conditions for entry in the 2021 WCA Art Prize
Mor Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim - Eight years have lapsed since the kidnapping of H.E. Mor Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim and H.E. Boulos Yazigi of Aleppo on 22 April 2013. The Syriac Orthodox and Melkite Orthodox Archbishops, respectively, were taken by unidentified armed men in the outskirts of Aleppo. This puzzling case has been at a standstill ever since. Since their abduction, we are still no closer to knowing what really happened to these prelates. Neither are we closer to confirming the identity and motives of the kidnappers. There has been no progress on this case and many people around the world, notably the Arameans (Syriacs), continue to question the whereabouts of their religious leaders. In light of the ongoing victimization and decline of the Middle Eastern Christians, it is remarkable that this case has hardly received the necessary attention of governments and mainstream media alike.
The unresolved kidnapping case remains important because it sends out a twofold message. On the one hand, the Aramean Christians feel abandoned by the world and interpret this case as a politically motivated act of terror, aimed at driving Syria’s native people out of their homeland. On the other hand, it signals to the fundamentalists that the threats, kidnappings and killings of Christians can be perpetrated with complete impunity before the eyes of a silent international community. The WCA Art Prize competition revive and highlight the case of the abduction as well as encourage Aramaic calligraphy conforming with the aim of WCA 2021 to promote the Aramean culture and language.
Terms and Conditions:
By entering this competition, you agree to accept and be bound by the terms and conditions listed below and you acknowledge that failure to comply with them may result in disqualification.
1. Entrants - The competition is open to all. WCA accepts three entries per person. There is no fee to enter.
2. Topic - The topic of the competition is Mor Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim. You are invited to contribute your art work to mark this occasion by either (1.) painting a portrait of Mor Gregorios, or (2.) writing a calligraphy quote reflecting on Mor Gregorios.
3. Timeframe - The artwork must have been produced between the date of the kidnapping, 22-03-2013 and
today.
4. Submission - Each entrant is required to submit their respective art work by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by the deadline of 14 April 2021 to be considered for the WCA ART PRIZE competition. The entrant will receive an acknowledgment of receipt to be informed that his/her artwork has been safely received.
5. Prizes - The winning entrant will receive €250 and the runner-up will receive €150. WCA will only contact you again if you belong to one of the two winners. The winning artwork will be exhibited and published on the WCA Website, newsletters and social media channels. Other entries of sufficient quality will also be considered for publication by WCA.
6. Plagiarism - All work submitted for this competition is expected to be the result of the entrant’s art expressed in his/her own work.
7. Publication and Copyright - All candidates who send in their artwork agree on bestowing the copyright of their essays to WCA to be exhibited and published on the WCA Website, newsletters and social media channels.
8. Panel of Judges - The WCA ART PRIZE competition will be judged by independent judges who will (at their sole discretion) apply the criteria of which entries demonstrate emerging talent, creativity, innovation and inspiration. WCA and all entrants shall respect the decisions of the judges as final.
