Mini Print International Cantabria

IX Mini Print International Cantabria

Open Sea. Reality, Imagination and Poetics

Participation Guidelines


This is a quick guide for participating in the International Mini Print Cantabria.

To avoid confusion or misunderstandings, we recommend that you carefully read the Rules. You can find them at the bottom of this page or by downloading the PDF file.

Any communication we need to send you will be via email. We recommend that you add our email addresses (listed in the Rules) to your safe senders list to prevent them from being rejected or sent to your spam folder.

  • Dates

    Call for entries opens: February 16, 2026  

    Registration, payment of the entry fee, and shipping deadline: byJuly 31, 2026  

    Awardees selection: the jury will meet around September 18, 2026.  

    Exhibition: From September 11 to December 8, 2026, 

  • Artworks

    Accepted Techniques: The Award is open to all printmaking disciplines, admitting digital printed artwork and monotype as well.

    Theme: The general theme is “Open Sea. Reality, imagination, and poetics,” but this does not imply that the work must be figurative; all types of aesthetic language are accepted.

    Measures: The image and paper must not exceed 20 x 20 cm (7,8” x 7,8”). There is no minimum image or paper size. 

    Additional Considerations:

    - The artwork(s) must be submitted without a mat, frame or glass.

    - The artwork(s) must be signed on the front or back.

    - All works received that comply with the Rules will be entered into the Competition and may be eligible for an award.

    - If the total number of works received exceeds the maximum capacity of the exhibition space, a preliminary selection of the works to be exhibited will be made.

    Each artist may submit up to 3 works by paying only one participation fee


  • Participation Fee

    The participation fee is:

    • Residents in Spain:

    €55 Return by post included, or

    €35 No return (donation or destruction)


    • Non-residents in Spain:

    €65 Return by post included, or

    €45 No return (donation or destruction)


  • Awards

    Awards:

    The following prizes will be awarded:

    1st Prize: €4,000

    2nd Prize: €1,500

    3rd Prize: €500

    Mar Cantabrico Award: €500

    The jury will also grant Honorary Awards and Mentions.

  • Registration

    When filling out the registration form, please use Spanish or English, especially when providing the postal address for the return of the artworks.

    Name and surname:

    In the form, you must enter your name and surname exactly as they appear on your identity document.

    If you wish to appear under your artistic name in the lists we publish in the catalog and on the website, please let us know by emailing miniprint@smproart.com.

    Address: 

    Please provide your correct and complete address, as this will be the address to which the artworks will be sent upon their return. It is essential that you inform us of any change of address that may occur after your registration and before the artwork return period.

    Cantabrian Sea Document: 

    Applicants must attach a copy of their National Identity Document (DNI), Foreigner's Identity Number (NIE), or other document that proves their identity in the space provided for this purpose on the form.

    Title, technique, and image of the artwork(s): 

    Digital data and photos of the artwork(s) are essential for identification, registration, creation of the digital catalog, and completion of the information required for donation or return.

    Selection of artwork destination: You must specify whether or not you wish to return the artwork(s) and, if so, whether you wish to: Donate the artwork to the Santander Port Authority Art Fund, or request its destruction.


    Registration form

  • Payment of the fee

    You must pay the participation fee in our online store. There you can use PayPal or credit cards (Visa or Mastercard).

    You can also pay via bank transfer; in this case, please remember that any international transfer fees charged by your bank or correspondent bank will be your responsibility.

    Remember that when paying a participation fee, you can submit up to 3 artworks.

    You must make the payment by selecting from the available options. First, according to your place of residence (whether or not you are a resident in Spain), and once you have made this initial selection, you must choose the option that corresponds to your preference regarding the final destination of the artworks (With or Without Return).


    Pay now

  • Shipping of the artworks.

    You must send the same artworks you have included in the registration form by post mail, without waiting for any notification.

    The artworks must be sent by mail, without frame, glass, stretcher bars, or passe-partout, as PRINTED DOCUMENTS indicating “NON-COMMERCIAL VALUE” and declaring NO value (0) on the shipment (*) by July 31, 2026, to:


    IX Mini Print Internacional Cantabria

    Calle San Ganzo, 15

    39360 Tagle / Suances, Cantabria

    Spain


    The postmark date will be valid. This date must not be later than July 31, 2026.


    (*) Note: New regulations for e-commerce in Spain require that ALL shipments entering Spanish territory must pay the corresponding VAT over the declared value. Therefore, we recommend marking your package as PRINTED DOCUMENTS WITH NON-COMMERCIAL VALUE and declaring the shipment value as 0 (zero). If you specify a value, even a very low one, upon arrival in Spain, Customs will automatically calculate 21% (VAT rate) on your shipment, in addition to the customs broker's fees.


    This amount is not covered by the participation fee and must be paid by the participant who declared a value for the shipment.

  • Rules on PDF


    Download

The Port Authority of Santander and SM Pro Art Circle reserve the right to reproduce the received works for cultural, promotional, or dissemination purposes.

 

Although all works will be handled with the utmost care, the Organization is not responsible for losses, delays, or detentions in Customs, or for total or partial damage that may occur during the exhibition or shipping of the works.

The organization reserves the right to unilaterally resolve any unforeseen circumstances that may arise regarding matters not covered by these rules.

Rules of Participation (full version)

IX Mini Print International Cantabria
Open Sea. Reality, Imagination and Poetics

Dates:
We have established the following schedule:
• Opening of the Call for submissions: February 16, 2026
• Online Registration, payment of the participation fee and shipping of the pieces: by July 31, 2026.
The postage stamp must prove that they were sent by July 31, 2026.
• Awards: The jury will meet around September 18, 2026.
• Exhibition: From September 11 to December 8, 2026.

About Works:
  • Accepted techniques: The Award is open to all printmaking disciplines, admitting digital printed artwork and monotype as well.
  • Theme: The general theme is “Open Sea. Reality, imaginary and poetics”, but this does not imply that the artwork must be figurative. All kinds of aesthetic languages are admitted.
  • Measures: The image and paper size must not exceed 20 x 20 cm(7,8” x 7,8”). There is no minimum image or paper size.
  • Each artist can submit up to 3 artworks by paying only one participation fee.
  • Additional requirements:
- Artwork(s) must be sent without a mat, frame or glass.
- The works must be signed on the front or on the back.
- All works received that comply with these rules will participate in the Contest and may be eligible to receive an award.
- If the total number of works received exceeds the maximum capacity of the exhibition space, a preliminary selection of the works to be exhibited will be made.
- Although all works will be handled with the utmost care, the Organization is not responsible for losses, delays, or customs holds, or for any total or partial damage that may occur during the exhibition or shipping.

Participation fee:
The participation fee is:
Residents in Spain:
€ 55.- Return, by post mail included, or
€ 35.- No return (donation or destruction)

Non-residents in Spain:
€ 65.- Return, by post mail included, or
€ 45.- No return (donation or destruction)

Awards:
The following prizes will be awarded:
1st Prize: €4000.-
2nd Prize: €1500.-
3rd Prize: €500.-
Cantabrian Sea Award: €500.- This prize will be awarded to a work created by an artist from Cantabria. Only artists born and/or residing in the current territory of Cantabria will be eligible.
The awarded artworks will become part of the Heritage of the Art Collection of the Port Authority of Santander, maintaining them in deposit for their conservation and exhibition in the Archive of the Port Authority of Santander.
The prizes will be transferred to the artists to a bank account that they indicate in a timely manner.
The jury will also grant Honorary Awards and Mentions.

The registration:
It consists of 3 steps:
1. Complete the online registration form.
2. Pay the participation fee.
3. Send the artworks by mail post.

1- Complete the online registration form
On the website: www.MiniPrintCantabria.es you must complete the registration form by filling in all the required boxes.
You can submit up to 3 works by paying only one participation fee.
When filling in the form, please use Spanish or English, especially when indicating the postal data for the return of the artworks.
Name and surname:
In the registration form you must put your name and surname exactly as they appear on your identity document and on your bank account to which the prize will be transferred in the eventual case of being one of the (four) winners of the contest.
Please note that this will be indicated on the shipping label we will send you for the returned artwork.
If you want to appear with your artistic name in the lists we publish in the catalog and on the website, please let us know this by email to miniprint@smproart.com
Address:
Please provide your correct and complete address, because this will be the address to which the returned artwork will be sent.
For this same reason, it is essential that you inform us of any change of address that may occur after your registration and before the return period of the works.
Cantabrian Sea Award ID:
In order to qualify for the "Mar Cantábrico Award", reserved for artists born and/or currently residing in the Autonomous Community of Cantabria, you must include a copy of your National Identity Document (DNI), Foreigner's Identity Number (NIE), or other document proving your residency and/ or birthing place, in the space reserved for that purpose in the same form. Only those entries in which the requested means of proof have been sent correctly will be considered valid to qualify for the prize.
Title, technique and image of the work(s):
The data and digital photos are essential for the identification and registration of the works and for the creation of the digital catalog and for completing the data for the donation or return of the artworks.
Selection of destination option for the artworks:
You must specify whether or not you want the return the artworks and, in that case, if you wish to: Donate the artwork to the Art Collection of the Port Authority of Santander, or Request its destruction.
Return of the artworks:
Artworks of the artists who have selected the box of ""I WISH THE RETURN OF THE ARTWORKS" and who have paid the participation fee without the deduction will be returned by Mail (Correos de España).
The shipment will be made after 30 days from the closing date of the exhibition.
The shipping included in the Participation Fee will be done only once. The artworks returned to us because their delivery at the destination has not been possible will not be sent again unless the cost of the new shipment was paid again. 
In case we´ll receive the package "returned to the sender", we will notify the participants so they can decide on the destination of their artwork/s. 
Donation of the artworks:
Works by artists who have selected any of the "No Return" boxes allow the interested party to pay their corresponding participation fee, with the special discount applicable to "non-return" fees.
If you have chosen to donate your artwork(s) to the Santander Port Authority Art Fund, we will respect your decision by delivering them, along with the works of those who choose the same destination, to the Santander Port Authority in a single ceremony held after the exhibition has ended and the necessary time for preparation and cataloging has elapsed. You will receive a Donation Certificate signed by a representative of the Port Authority, which will be sent to you by email.
Destruction of the artworks:
Works submitted by those who have requested this option will be destroyed after the exhibition ends. A photographic record of the destroyed piece will be sent to you via email.

Once you submit the form, you will see a message on the screen indicating that it has been sent successfully.
Once we receive and verify it, we will send you an email confirming its receipt. If we have any questions or find any inaccuracies, we will attempt to clarify them via the same method.
All communications will be conducted through our email addresses: miniprint@smproart.com or, for payment-related matters, sm@smproart.com. 
For smooth communication, we recommend adding both addresses to your safe senders list to prevent our messages from being rejected or going to your spam folder.

2- Pay the participation fee.
Once the registration form has been sent, you must pay the participation fee at our online store: www.smproartshop.com. There, you can use Paypal or credit card (Visa or Mastercard). 
You can also do it through a bank transfer, in this case remember that the costs of international transfers that your bank or the correspondent bank charge, must be at your expense.
If you want to make the payment by bank transfer, send us an email to miniprint@smproart.com requesting the data of our bank to make the payment. 
Remember that by paying a participation fee, you can send up to 3 artworks.
You must make the payment, selecting from the available options, according to your place of residence and your choice regarding the final disposition of the artworks at the end of the competition.
Once payment is received and verified, the corresponding invoice will be sent to you by email.

3- Ship the artworks by mail.
You must ship the same artworks you have included in the registration form, without waiting for any notification.
The Jury will evaluate only the artworks that have been received physically through mail and that meet all the requirements.
The jury will deliberate on all artworks received physically by post mail. Artworks must be signed on the front or on the back and sent, without frame, glass or mat, as “PRINTED DOCUMENTS / DOCUMENTOS IMPRESOS” and indicating "NON- COMMERCIAL VALUE / SIN VALOR COMERCIAL", and not declaring any value in the shipment (*) by July 31, 2026 to:

IX International Mini Print Cantabria
Calle San Ganzo, 15
39360 Tagle / Suances, Cantabria
Spain
 
The date of the postage stamp will be valid. This must not be later than July 31, 2026.
Out-of-date shipments will not be able to participate in the event.

(*) Note: Due the new regulations for electronic commerce prevailing in Spain by which EVERY shipment that enters Spanish territory must pay the VAT corresponding to the declared value. Therefore, do not forget to mark your package as PRINTED DOCUMENTS WITHOUT COMMERCIAL VALUE and declare the value of the shipment 0 (zero) because if you specify a value, even if it is very low, upon arrival in Spain, at Customs, the amount of 21 % (VAT Rate) of your shipment in addition to the cost of dispatcher fees. 
This amount is not covered by the participation fee and, therefore, must be covered by the participant artist who has put a declared value on the shipment.

You will be notified by email when the artwork has been received. If there are any issues with its condition, we will inform you in the same email.

The jury and awarding process:
The jury will be formed by three invited jurors.
The decision of the jury will be unappealable and notified to the winner artists by email and published on the website: www.MiniPrintCantabria.es 
The Jury will only consider entries that have been physically received by mail and that meet all the requirements of the Rules.
The jury will meet in person and assess the works received physically and will select, among all those artworks, the three main awards (1st, 2nd, 3rd).
Once this choice has been made, a special prize for the artwork of an artist from the Community of Cantabria will be chosen from among the participants who meet the requirement of being born or being residents of Cantabria. This award aims to support the practice of graphic arts among artists from Cantabria.
Finally, will be selected the Honorary Awards and Mentions.

Exhibition space for the works:
The exhibition of the artworks will be held at the Exhibition Space at the Archive of the Port Authority of Santander, in Santander, Cantabria, Spain from September 11 to December 8, 2026.

Catalogue:
A digital catalogue will be edited with the selected pieces for the exhibition and awarded artworks. This catalogue will be available, in High Res, for free download on our website.
The data and images will be taken from the registration form.


The Port Authority of Santander and SM Pro Art Circle reserve the right to reproduce the artworks for cultural, promotional or press releases purposes.
Although all the artworks will be treated with the utmost care, the Organization is not responsible for losses, delays and retentions in Customs, total or partial damages that may be caused, during the exhibition or shipment of them.
The organization has the power to unilaterally resolve, in case of unforeseen circumstances that may arise, issues not covered by these rules.

The participation in the Award implies the total acceptance of these rules.

February 2026

Organized by:

Cantabrian Sea Award sponsored by:

With the support of: