Open Call: Evaluation

Written by Minna Porvari on 20. Mar 2026

Applying to the Time for (S) Heroes Open Call means presenting a clear idea and showing how your team plans to develop it through the programme. To make the process transparent, the jury evaluates all proposals using a set of criteria that reflect the core themes of the project and the goals of the development process.

Evaluation criteria

Proposal Idea

(Maximum points: 20)

The proposal idea is the core of the application. Teams describe their concept, its artistic approach, and how the idea will be realized within one or more open call categories. The jury evaluates two aspects:

Originality of the idea: The jury looks at how creative, imaginative, and distinctive the proposal is. Strong proposals offer a fresh perspective and demonstrate conceptual strength.
Feasibility of the idea: The jury also considers whether the proposal can realistically be developed within the project framework. This includes technical realism, clarity of implementation, and whether the idea could be presented through the digital exhibition or residency phases.

Reinterpreting Heroism

(Maximum points: 10)

A central theme of the project is rethinking what heroism means today. Teams are encouraged to challenge traditional heroic narratives and explore alternative perspectives such as everyday heroism, collective action, care, resilience, or sustainability-focused contributions.

Sustainability

(Maximum points: 10)

Proposals should demonstrate how sustainability is reflected in the concept. Teams can approach sustainability through one or more of the United Nations’ four pillars: environmental, social, economic, or cultural sustainability.

Digital Elements

(Maximum points: 10)

Digitality plays an important role in the Time for (S) Heroes programme. Teams are asked to describe how digital tools, platforms, or methods are used or could be used in their concept.

Motivation and Team Collaboration

(Maximum points: 20)

The joint motivation letter explains why the team wants to participate in the programme and how the members plan to work together.

The jury evaluates two aspects:

Alignment with the (S) Heroes process

The letter should demonstrate that the team understands the project structure and is prepared to participate in its different phases. This includes commitment to a longer development timeline, openness to mentoring and collaboration, and readiness to present the progress of the idea throughout the design process.
Team dynamics and collaboration: The jury looks at how well the team members complement each other and how clearly their roles and collaboration are described. Multidisciplinary and complementary teams are encouraged.

Portfolio

(Maximum points: 10)

The joint portfolio provides examples of previous work by the team members. These examples help the jury understand the creative background and interests of the team.

Previous work does not need to come from professional practice. It may include student projects, experimental work, hobbies, or independent creative activities. The key is to show creative potential and a connection between past work and the proposed idea.

Resumes

(Maximum points: 6)

Each team member is asked to submit a short one-page resume. This requirement helps the jury understand the people behind the proposal and their different skills.

The evaluation does not reward long professional careers. Instead, it focuses on clearly presenting the competencies within the team. Points are awarded based on the submission of resumes.

Looking to learn more?

The evaluation process helps identify proposals that combine strong creative ideas, meaningful engagement with sustainability and heroism, and a motivated team ready to develop their concept through the Time for (S) Heroes process.

This post explains how proposals are evaluated. To understand the full structure of the open call, you may also want to read the other posts in the portal:

Open Call: Core themes. The shared themes that should be reflected in every proposal.

Open Call: Categories. The four design brief categories that guide how proposals can be realized.

Open Call: Process. How the open call progresses from idea submission to team formation, jury evaluation, and possible residency opportunities.

Register now, explore the learning materials and submit your idea.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.