The URJC Cultural Promotion Competitions are back

Written by Daniel Blazquez

Once again this year, the Rey Juan Carlos University presents its Cultural Promotion Competitions. This time, the general theme of the submitted works is primarily based on the phenomenon of climate change, with the aim of "strengthening the bond between the university community and its institution, encouraging active participation through artistic creation," according to Javier Otero, Academic Director of Culture. The competition, open to all members of the URJC university community, is divided into five distinct areas, although the prizes will be of identical value in each: a prize of 500 euros for the winner, a prize of 300 euros for the runner-up, and a prize of 200 euros for the third-place finisher.

This year, the Photography and Short Story competitions reach their 19th edition. The first, entitled "The Trace of Change," seeks to capture, through their photographic gaze, the imprint of climate change on our environment. The Short Story competition, under the theme "Stories of a Changing World," seeks to invite authors to write a text, whether fictional or inspired by real events, that addresses the multiple dimensions of this global climate crisis.

Meanwhile, the Culture Unit has launched, for the sixth time, the Visual Arts competition, in which the submitted work must capture "The Future of the Planet," capturing, from a creative and personal perspective, the visible effects of climate change, the emotions it evokes, and possible solutions and paths toward a sustainable future.

Finally, it's also worth noting the launch of two more competitions: the Essay Competition and the Audiovisual Pieces Competition, which will be held this year for the second consecutive year. The Essay Competition, entitled "AI and Climate Change: Challenges and Opportunities," seeks to engage contestants in reflection on the intersection between these two phenomena. The Audiovisual Pieces Competition, meanwhile, aims to have participants transform one of their written stories into an audiovisual piece, "From Story to Screen," which could also serve as inspiration for a short film. Regarding this competition, Javier Otero emphasized that "the theme revolves around one of last year's winning short stories, thus promoting a dialogue between disciplines."

Generally, the deadline for submitting works will be June 12, 2025, until 23:59 p.m. The exception is the Audiovisual Pieces Competition, whose submission of short films will be available until 23:59 p.m. on July 14, 2025. The request for all proposals will be carried out through the Electronic Office of the URJC.