Open Call

Society is shifting on a radical scale. From the ecological to the social and political, the future of the world is on a precipice – impacted by climate catastrophe, pandemics, war and revolution, through to threats to civil liberties and human rights. What happens next is far from clear.

At PHOTO 2024 we will be exploring possible and parallel futures. We are inviting visionary artists, photographers, curators and academics to consider potential scenarios that lie ahead, and how current actions and activisms are creating future realities.

Where are we headed? Where do we want to be? And how can our lives in the present impact our short and long-term futures?

Photographers and artists are invited to submit projects that respond to one of the following thematic strands:

Where and when does PHOTO 2024 take place?

PHOTO 2024 International Festival of Photography will take place in Melbourne and cities across regional Victoria from 1 to 24 March 2024. It takes place every two years and the Outdoor Program is presented at a variety of sites across central Melbourne.

 

How many people visit the festival?

PHOTO 2022 was viewed by over 160,000 people.

 

How do I apply?

The PHOTO 2024 Open Call is hosted by Picter. Follow the link and sign up for a free account.

 

Who can apply?

Project proposals are invited from emerging, mid-career and established artists and photographers worldwide with projects that respond to the festival theme. Individuals and collectives are welcome to apply.

 

When are applications due?

Applications close 11:59pm Tuesday 21 February 2023 (AEDT).

 

How much does it cost to apply?

$32 USD (approx $45 AUD). The application fee supports the administration of the Open Call and the presentation of artists’ work at PHOTO 2024. Photo Australia is a non-profit charitable organisation.

 

Do you waive fees?

If you are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander please enter the discount code PU01-PHOTO in the box on the payment form to have the submission fee waived.

If you are an Australian welfare recipient please enter the discount code PU01-FESTIVAL in the box on the payment form to have the submission fee waived.

 

When will I hear if my application has been successful?

Successful applicants will be contacted by 30 June 2023.

 

Do I need to send my work to Melbourne?

No, all artwork in the outdoor program is produced locally and managed by Photo Australia. Exhibiting artists will be asked to supply digital files.

 

How will my work be displayed and how many images will be exhibited?

Successful applicants will be invited to exhibit in PHOTO 2024’s Outdoor Program – a trail of temporary public artworks displayed on bespoke frames, building facades, and lightboxes in Melbourne’s streets, laneways and parks. Photo Australia will contact successful applicants about the appropriate presentation of their work. There is not a fixed number of images that can be displayed. This will depend on the scope of the project and how it will be presented.

 

I am a First Nations artist. Will my work be viewed with respect, and exhibited appropriately?

All applications by First Nations artists, or work that relates to First Nations people, are reviewed by Photo Australia’s First Nations Advisory Committee. Furthermore, the Committee is consulted in regards to the presentation of all work by First Nations artists in PHOTO 2024’s Outdoor Program. You can read more about the people on the Committee here.

 

Which artists were selected through the Open Call for PHOTO 2021 and PHOTO 2022?

You can read about the artists selected for PHOTO 2022 here, and PHOTO 2021 here.

 

What has been the experience of artists selected in the PHOTO 2022 Open Call?

“PHOTO 2022 has allowed me to view my work in a completely new way and opened my mind to the potential impact of what I’m doing.”
—Richmond Kobla Dido (Ghana)

“PHOTO 2022 was beautifully curated and produced to a high standard… having worked with a lot of festivals, I would put this up there as one of the best experiences I’ve had.”
—Alexandra Lethbridge (UK)

GENERAL ­— The festival welcomes applications for all kinds of photographic projects, however proposed images must be suitable for display in a public setting. PHOTO 2024 is dedicated to new photography, art, and ideas. Entries that are incomplete or that do not respond to the curatorial themes will not be considered.

LOCATION — artworks will be installed at a range of sites throughout Melbourne.

EXHIBITION DATES — all works will be exhibited during the festival dates, from 1–24 March 2024. However, displays at some locations may remain for a longer period.

FESTIVAL THEME — PHOTO 2024 will explore possible and parallel futures. We are inviting artists and photographers to consider what lies ahead, and how current actions and activisms create future realities. Click on the about tab to read more about the theme.

PAYMENT —payment of $32 USD/ €29 EUR (equivalent of $45 AUD) must be made at time of submission (this fee is waived for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and Australian welfare recipients).

The application fee supports the administration of the Open Call and the presentation of artists’ work at PHOTO 2024. Photo Australia is a non-profit charitable organisation.

SUPPORT MATERIAL — please include your CV and up to 10 Images as .jpgs (maximum 10MB). Where possible please include both images of the artwork and previous installations.

IP RIGHTS — all material submitted during the Open Call is the intellectual property of the applicant.

Proposed works and ideas must:

Only contain original ideas that do not infringe the copyright, moral rights or other right of any third party.
Not feature subjects without consent.

LICENCE — successful applicants agree to grant Photo Australia a licence to exhibit the work at PHOTO 2024 for the duration of the festival.

STYLE OF WORK — proposals for single or multiple image works are welcome. Applicants can submit projects that are complete or in progress.

EVALUATION AND SELECTION PROCESS

Applications will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

• Artistic excellence of proposal and quality of previous work.
• Response to the festival theme.

Successful applicants will be notified by 30 June 2023.

OUTCOMES — successful individuals will be paid an artist fee appropriate to the scale and scope of the work. We are unable to offer feedback for unsuccessful applications and all decisions are final.

CONCLUSION – by applying, you agree to the terms and conditions outlined above.