Winners of the European Cohesion Policy Competition Announced

The competition dedicated to the European Cohesion Policy has concluded, and the jury has selected the winners. Out of more than 62 entries from around the world, it has chosen 20 posters that will take the message of solidarity and connection to the streets. This time, the victory has gone abroad.

Cohesion policy is a topic that may seem complex and abstract at first glance, but in reality, it touches our lives every day. The authors transformed this theme into powerful visual messages that encourage reflection on solidarity, connection, and helping those in need.

The winning work, titled Side by Side, Hand in Hand, For All by Nihat Dursun from Turkey, captures the essence of cohesion policy in a simple yet effective way – a community that leaves no one behind.

The winners were selected by a jury consisting of Luka Bajs, Executive Creative Director at the agency Shift and jury president; Martina Kokovnik, graphic designer; Ajdin Bašić, graphic designer; Aleksandra Pavlič, communications officer at CNVOS; and Bor Klemen Mencin, independent creative.

After deliberation at the CNVOS premises, the jury selected 20 posters from over 62 submitted works, which will be exhibited at the Figovec poster gallery. They also highlighted three outstanding posters, including the winning piece that will take its message to the streets across Slovenia.

Awards

The first-prize work receives a cash award of EUR 1,000 (gross) and will be displayed on 150 TAM-TAM poster sites across Slovenia starting from July 7, 2025.
The second-prize work receives a cash award of EUR 500 (gross).
The third-prize work receives a cash award of EUR 300 (gross).

Winning Poster #01: Strikingly Simple Yet Mentally Powerful

The winning piece is titled Side by Side, Hand in Hand, For All by Nihat Dursun (Turkey).

“Sometimes the greatest art in visual creation is the ability to take a complex, distant topic and unravel it in a way that is strikingly simple. This piece undoubtedly succeeded in doing that. It is a strong example of a contemporary poster that draws the eye and intrigues the mind.”

Second Place #02: A Strong Series with a Clear Concept

The second-place work is titled Fallen from the Sky, designed by Manca Baša and Nela Zupan.

“This poster series not only uses a familiar phrase on a textual level but also transforms it into a strong visual foundation. The series undoubtedly has a solid concept that presents the theme of cohesion policy in all its breadth.”

Third Place #03: A Chain Reaction of Idea and Execution

The third-place work is titled Community by Jorge Gamboa (Mexico).

“The bicycle chain that sparked a chain reaction of approval among the jury as well. An interesting approach and visual symbolism undoubtedly ensured this poster stood out from the crowd.”

We are sharing with you the list of selected finalists and the titles of their works, which will be displayed at the exhibition. The pieces come from various countries and, in diverse and creative ways, showcase how cohesion policy can contribute to a better life for everyone.

Among the posters to be exhibited are:

Med plakate, ki se razstavljajo smo umestili tudi: Screws / Žeblji (Jaakko Tikkanen, Finska), Power / Moč (Dmytro Dziuba, Ukrajina), LET IT GROW! / NAJ RASTE! (Piotr Depta-Kleśta, Poljska), Nature protection / Varstvo narave (Katarina Drobić, Bosna in Hercegovina), Kohezijska politika (Marija Bobič, Slovenija), KOHEZIJA JE VIZIJA ZA TVOJ JUTRI (Pia Zavodnik, Katarina Ferk, Slovenija), Kohezija ni birokracija (Pablo Turnes, Tone Vastl, Maja Marussig, Slovenija), Vzgojimo prihodnost, kot se šika. (Nejc Romih, Slovenija), Na pravi poti (Matej Ferlič, Juš Šoltes, Slovenija), 28 Bricks Later / 28 zidakov kasneje (Kal Dečman, Slovenija) ter Green space / Safer roads / Clean water / Zeleni prostori / Varnejše ceste / Čista voda (Doris Milesevic, Srbija).