STORIES OF SOLIDARITY
A participatory photography project
Stories of Solidarity is a long-term participatory photography project by the ASSOCIAÇÃO F/SOS – Fotografia, Solidariedade e Obras Sociais, developed within the F/262 – International Photography Festival.
The project uses photography as a tool for encounter, recognition, and shared presence. It is not about documenting “others” or illustrating social conditions. It is about creating space for people to be seen, on their own terms, within the cultural life of the city.
To be seen, as you are
In Stories of Solidarity, photography is approached as a simple and respectful gesture.
Participation is voluntary and conscious. Each person decides whether they wish to be photographed, how their image may be used, and whether it can appear in public space. There are no castings, no labels, and no hierarchies.
No one represents anyone else.
Each person appears as themselves.
A growing collective portrait of the territory
Throughout the festival, free portrait sessions take place at accessible locations in Caldas da Rainha and Óbidos. Visitors, residents, artists, volunteers, and members of local communities are all invited to participate.
Portraits are created using a straightforward black-and-white approach, focused on dignity and equality. Each participant receives a digital copy of their portrait. Some images may also be printed and temporarily displayed in public space, becoming part of an evolving urban installation.
As the project grows day by day, the city itself becomes a shared gallery, reflecting the diversity of the people who bring the festival to life.
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Working with local institutions and communities
Stories of Solidarity is developed in collaboration with local institutions, community organizations, and civic partners who act as mediators and ensure a respectful, informed, and ethical framework.
These partnerships are not about visibility for institutions or exposure of social realities. They exist to create access, trust, and connection, allowing people who might not normally enter cultural spaces to participate on equal ground.
A project rooted in the values of F/262 and F/SOS
This project reflects the core values of F/262 and F/SOS:
access to culture
inclusion and participation
a strong relationship between art, territory, and community
ethical responsibility in artistic practice
By placing real, diverse faces in shared public space, Stories of Solidarity affirms a simple idea:
culture belongs to everyone.
Participation
Portrait sessions for Stories of Solidarity are developed in collaboration with local institutions, community organizations, and civic partners in Caldas da Rainha and Óbidos.
Each participant receives:
a digital file of their portrait
a printed copy, offered as a personal keepsake
With explicit consent, selected portraits may be temporarily displayed in public spaces throughout the summer, as part of the evolving Stories of Solidarity installation.
Participation is never conditional on public display.
Choosing to keep the portrait private is always respected.
Produced by F/262 & Associação F/SOS
With the support of:
May 15 – September 25, 2026 Caldas da Rainha & Óbidos, Portugal · View map
About F/262
F/262 is an international photography festival rooted in Caldas da Rainha and Óbidos, 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