To be seen, with dignity
In Stories of Solidarity, photography is approached as a simple and respectful gesture.
Many people have never had the opportunity to be photographed with care, intention, or time. This project offers that experience freely.
Each participant is invited to take part in a portrait session, without expectations, without roles, and without judgment.
There are no labels.
No narratives imposed.
No one speaks on behalf of anyone else.
Each person is seen as they are.
Stories of Solidarity is a long-term participatory photography project developed by ASSOCIAÇÃO F/SOS, within the framework of the F/262 – International Photography Festival.
The project creates access to portrait photography for people who are often excluded from cultural and visual representation, including individuals experiencing financial hardship, social vulnerability, or unstable living conditions.
It is not about documenting social issues.
It is about creating space for presence, dignity, and recognition.
A space of access, not exposure
Participation is always voluntary, informed, and based on trust.
Each person decides:
- whether they wish to be photographed
- how their image may be used
- whether it can be shared publicly or remain private
Visibility is never a condition for participation.
This project does not seek to expose vulnerability, but to create conditions for dignity and self-representation.
A shared portrait of the city
Throughout the festival, free portrait sessions take place in accessible locations across Caldas da Rainha, as well as in collaboration with local organisations working closely with different communities.
Participants may include:
- people experiencing financial hardship
- individuals without stable housing
- people in recovery or facing addiction
- as well as residents, visitors, and members of the wider community
All are welcome on equal ground.
Portraits are created using a simple black-and-white approach, emphasizing equality, presence, and attention.
Each participant receives:
- a digital file
- a printed portrait
Some images, with explicit consent, may be temporarily displayed in public spaces as part of a growing installation across the city.
Working with local institutions and communities
Stories of Solidarity is developed in collaboration with local organisations, social workers, and community mediators.
These partnerships ensure that participation is:
- ethical
- informed
- respectful
- grounded in real relationships
The role of these partners is not to frame narratives, but to support access and trust.
Stories of Solidarity reflect the core values of F/262 and F/SOS:
- access to culture
- dignity in representation
- participation without hierarchy
- ethical artistic practice
- a strong relationship between art and territory
By offering portraiture as an act of care and attention, the project affirms a simple idea:
culture is not a privilege.
it is a shared space.
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
English (UK)