The Italian Cultural Institute of Zurich, in collaboration with the InnovaComix International Comics Festival and the La Nona Arte cultural association of Lugano, launches the first edition of the “Premio: un fumetto per l'emigrazione italiana” (Prize: a comic for Italian emigration), an international competition dedicated to the graphic narration of the Italian presence in Switzerland.
The initiative was created with the aim of stimulating an artistic and cultural reflection on a complex and multifaceted historical phenomenon, whose roots reach back to the end of the nineteenth century and extend to the present day, also involving the new generations of Italians living in the Confederation. The project intends to promote a structured narrative of the Italian presence in Switzerland and to highlight its contribution to the country's economic and social development.
The competition invites comic artists to narrate, through the language of comics, both the macro dimension of migration and the personal stories that have marked the Italian experience in Switzerland. From the first migratory waves linked to agricultural work and the great infrastructure projects, to the more recent events related to integration and full social participation, the prize aims to build a broad and contemporary narrative.
Participants must submit an original work in colour of at least 40 pages, accompanied by an exhibition project that makes it possible to transform the comic into an exhibition, selecting the most representative scenes and adapting them to an exhibition format.
The competition is open to Italian and Swiss citizens, wherever they reside, active in the comics sector and with a good knowledge of the Italian language. The requirements also include documented experience in the field and research activities consistent with the project.
Applications must be sent by 12:00 CET on 30.04.2026 to the e-mail address iiczurigo@esteri.it, indicating in the subject line the reference to the prize and the name of the candidate. The application must include a synopsis of the work, at least five draft pages, a curriculum vitae, a motivation letter and a copy of an identity document, all collected in a single PDF file.
The full call for entries is available at the following link:
https://iiczurigo.esteri.it/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/10117023Bando-Premio-Innovacomix.pdf
The application form can be downloaded here:
https://iiczurigo.esteri.it/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Allegato-A.pdf
The winner will receive a prize of 3,000 euros, in addition to the coverage of travel and accommodation expenses for the official presentation in Zurich. The work will also be published and transformed into an exhibition within the Swiss museum network, offering a significant opportunity for international visibility.
The Premio Innovacomix thus presents itself as an important occasion to reread and recount, through comics, one of the most significant pages of Italian history abroad, placing experiences, memories and identities in continuous evolution at the centre.
