F/262 Open Call Exhibitions
The F/262 Curated Open Call invites photographers and visual storytellers to submit a complete project, series, or conceptual body of work for consideration by the festival’s curatorial team.
We are looking for compelling visual narratives that engage with contemporary issues, personal stories, cultural identity, environmental themes, or experimental approaches to photography and visual storytelling.
One selected project will be awarded a dedicated solo exhibition at the CEF – Centro de Experimentação Fotográfica in Caldas da Rainha, following the conclusion of the 2026 F/262 Festival.
This is a curated opportunity rather than a traditional competition. Submissions will be evaluated based on artistic merit, originality, coherence, and relevance to contemporary photographic practice.
The Open Call is open to all genres, including fine art, documentary, experimental, portrait, conceptual, and cross-disciplinary work.
WHAT TO SUBMIT
Each submission must include:
- A single PDF file:
- Project title;
- Short project statement (200–500 words);
- Artist bio (100–300 words);
- Photos inside the PDF;
- Optional: video, audio, installation proposal, or web-based work (for future cross-media exhibitions). Place the link in the document.
- A single JPG image to work as a cover for the submission.
Projects should demonstrate conceptual or visual coherence. Works-in-progress are accepted, as long as they are in a presentable state by Summer 2026.
KEY DATES
Submissions Open: 7 April 2026
Deadline: 22 September 2026
Final Selection Announced: October 2026
Winner Exhibition at CEF – Centro de Experimentação Fotográfica:
EXHIBITION FORMAT
Selected projects will be:
- Exhibited in indoor cultural venues (museums, galleries, civic halls)
- Presented with full credit and wall text developed in collaboration with the curatorial team
- Included in the official festival guide and artist listings
- Promoted through F/262 social media, press partners, and international photography platforms
- May be eligible for photobook features, talks, or portfolio reviews
SUBMISSION FEE
€35 per project
Fee includes curatorial review and consideration for exhibition and publication.
HOW TO SUBMIT
Submissions are accepted via our form.
→ Submit Your Project in a single file in PDF format — If there’s more than one file, it counts as the total to be paid.
Do not email PDFs or Dropbox links. Submissions received outside the platform will not be considered.
SELECTION PROCESS
All projects will be reviewed by:
- The F/262 curatorial team
- Guest curators and international advisors
- External reviewers from partner institutions
Selections will be based on:
- Conceptual clarity
- Visual quality
- Originality and relevance to contemporary discourse
- Exhibition viability (space, format, completeness)
There is no limit to the number of projects selected. All decisions are final.
ELIGIBILITY & TERMS
- Open to photographers, artists, and collectives of any nationality, age, or background
- Collaborative projects are welcome (please name all authors in the credits)
- Artists retain full copyright over their work
- By submitting, artists grant non-exclusive rights for F/262 to exhibit and promote the selected work during the 2026 festival
- The festival will cover exhibition production costs
- Artists may be invited to participate in artist talks, community programming, or classroom sessions
RIGHTS & CREDITS
All selected artists will:
- Be fully credited on all materials (in print and online)
- Be consulted for wall text and any adaptation of work
- Retain all rights to their images and texts
- Have the option to donate their exhibition print to the festival archive or collect it after the show
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes, but each project must be submitted separately and requires a new entry.
Absolutely. The Curated Open Call is for series; the Award is for single images.
Yes, especially if it’s part of an image-based series. Include links to view video/audio. These may be considered for installation or side programs.
Not all applicants will receive feedback, but selected projects may be invited to reviews or mentorship sessions during the festival.
No, but artists who do attend may be invited to talks, classroom visits, or reviews. Attendance is encouraged but not required.
Produced by F/262 & Associação F/SOS
With the support of:
May – September 2026
Caldas da Rainha Portugal
About F/262
F/262 is an international photography festival rooted in Caldas da Rainha, Portugal.
Through exhibitions, talks, education, and public installations, the festival engages contemporary photography with place, community, and the world we share.
©2026 F/262 – Festival Internacional de Fotografia
Produced by Associação F/SOS – Fotografia, Solidariedade e Obras Sociais
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English (UK)