V4 Award Winner Art Colony Cered 30 years old

This year is particularly joyful in the small but vibrant village of Cered in Nógrád County as it will host the 30th international art exhibition. In some respects, this Hungarian settlement, which could be considered the ‘end of the world’, has an active artistic life throughout the year, but the festival on August 9th shines a well-deserved and brilliant spotlight on the artist colony and Cered as a whole.

This year's festival will once again feature exhibition openings, exciting exhibitions, theater performances, concerts, interactive community art programs, workshops, activities for children, and gastronomic programs. ArtColony Cered also won the V4 Award in 2025 for its contribution to fostering the Central European spirit and its achievements in cultural cooperation between the Visegrád countries.

More than a quarter of a century ago, they started building on the basis of an individual initiative, and over time, the ArtColony Cered Artists' Colony has become an internationally recognized art center. However, global interest and the artistic boom have only brought supportive energies to Cered, which has managed to retain its individuality and tradition-respecting spirit to this day. Each year, a different theme guides the creative work, and endless creativity drives the artists of the colony. The surroundings of Cered, the hills of Nógrád, mother nature, and the preservation of Cered's folklore treasures are also a major source of inspiration.

The one-day art festival, Art Piknik, is also a closing moment for the year's artistic work. It is a series of carefree programs for art lovers, families, local patriots, and anyone who would like a smaller festival focusing specifically on culture, arts, and local gastronomy instead of the constant rush and revelry. Time slows down in Cered, the whole environment is ethereal, and folklore and contemporary culture breathe together. We can take part in a journey through time that is actually shaped by the present.

This year's ArtPiknik program series begins in Cered on August 9 at 1:00 p.m. As part of a joint art action, the painting of a giant picture will also begin, and everyone can contribute to the artist colony's work this year with a brushstroke. Exciting concerts, street music performances, and guided tours will keep the day moving forward, while tasting traditional Palóc flavors and Mátra wines will also enrich the festival experience. The musical backdrop for the event – in keeping with the theme of remembering the past 30 years – will be provided by hits from the last three decades, playing until 11 p.m.