NOVE is a contemporary art collective exhibition co-presented by SPIRA9 ART and A4U, to be held at Centro Culturale di Milano, also known as Cultural Center in Milan (CMC), in Milan, Italy. As one of the most ambitious and largest group exhibitions at CMC in 2026, NOVE fosters dialogue around perception, structure, and cultural translation within contemporary artistic practice.

The exhibition title NOVE, the Italian word for “nine”, refers to a critical threshold within a numerical and conceptual system.

As the final single digit, nine represents a point of culmination, while simultaneously marking a transition toward a new sequence.

In this context, NOVE frames the exhibition as an exploration of liminality: a space between completion and emergence, where established structures reach their limits and new possibilities begin to take shape.

Rather than signifying an endpoint, NOVE proposes the threshold itself as a site of inquiry and redefinition.

KEY DETAILS:

• Exhibition Dates: May 2026
• Physical Venue: Centro Culturale di Milano (CMC), Milan, Italy
• Submission Deadlines:
• First-round deadline*: 9 March 2026, 23:59 GMT
• Second-round deadline: 9 April 2026, 23:59 GMT 
  *Please note: We strongly encourage early submissions, as space is limited and proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis. 

ABOUT CENTRO CULTURALE DI MILANO (CMC):

Founded in the 20th century, the Centro Culturale di Milano (CMC) is one of Italy’s most established cultural institutions, dedicated to fostering dialogue between art, thought, and public life.

Located in the heart of Milan, CMC operates as an interdisciplinary cultural platform presenting contemporary exhibitions, research-based programmes, and public events.

Over the years, CMC has presented exhibitions featuring renowned figures in photography and contemporary art.

Notably, the Centre hosted a major exhibition dedicated to the work of André Kertész, a master of modern photography whose work spans Europe and the Americas.

In addition, CMC’s exhibition programme has included international collaborative projects such as Terra Senza Confini and Sinergie Multidimensionali, bringing together artists from diverse contexts in thematic group shows.

CMC has collaborated with artists, curators, and institutions from across the world, addressing social, cultural, and philosophical questions through contemporary artistic practices.

With a strong emphasis on both critical inquiry and public engagement, CMC plays a significant role in connecting international contemporary art with the local and European cultural context.

WE ARE SEEKING WORKS THAT:

We seek works that articulate a clear artistic position and demonstrate a rigorous engagement with material, form, and concept. Submissions may emerge from contemporary social or cultural contexts, personal or research-based inquiry, or experimental methodologies, and should reflect a strong sense of intention, authorship, and critical awareness.

All media and formats are welcome, including painting, sculpture, photography, moving image, sound, installation, performance, site-specific practices, text-based and archival projects, as well as digital and new media, generative and algorithmic art, interactive works, AR/VR/XR, AI-assisted practices, network-based and game-based works, and interdisciplinary or research-driven approaches.

Artists are encouraged to consider how their work can meaningfully inhabit, activate, or respond to the architectural and conceptual conditions of the exhibition space.

In resonance with the conceptual framework of NOVE, we are particularly interested in practices that engage with ideas of thresholds, transition, structure, and transformation, whether formally, conceptually, or spatially.

Works that operate within states of in-betweenness, between disciplines, cultures, systems, or modes of perception, are especially encouraged.

To support participating artists, local printing and production assistance will be provided where necessary, enabling works to be realised on site.

This support aims to reduce logistical barriers while allowing greater flexibility in scale, materiality, and presentation.

WHAT SELECTED ARTISTS WILL RECEIVE：

Official Invitation Letters

Selected artists will receive official invitation letters issued by SPIRA9 ART, suitable for institutional, professional, academic, and visa-related purposes.

On-Site Exhibition at Centro Culturale di Milano (CMC)

Selected artists will participate in a professionally curated physical exhibition hosted at the prestigious Centro Culturale di Milano (CMC), engaging directly with Milan’s vibrant cultural and artistic landscape.

Permanent Online Exhibition

All selected works will be permanently showcased on the official websites of Centro Culturale di Milano (CMC) and SPIRA9 ART, ensuring long-term visibility and international accessibility.

Professional & International Visibility

Artists will gain significant exposure through SPIRA9 ART’s curatorial network, reaching a diverse audience across contemporary art, design, architecture, and interdisciplinary research.

Press & Media Exposure

Selected works may receive coverage through international and Italian media outlets, including Juliet Art Magazine, 1883 Magazine, New Exhibitions, Artribune, Fyinpaper, Fanpage.it, Il Mattino, Corriere del Mezzogiorno, and Metropolisweb, among others, subject to editorial selection.

Curatorial & Technical Support

Artists will benefit from dedicated curatorial guidance and technical assistance, with particular support for hybrid, digital, experimental, and interdisciplinary practices.

Produced by SPIRA9 ART