Open Calls

Here you can find information about various open calls that Rotterdam Photo launches every edition.

How to join the festival?

Rotterdam Photo Festival is open to submissions including different mediums, such as photography, installations, performance, digital art, and documentary works.

Each edition Rotterdam Photo launches various open calls: Project Open Call, Single Image Open Call and other special open calls. In 2025 we are launching a new open call in collaboration with Amarte Fonds – Dutch Talent Project Grants (September 2nd – November 2nd 2025)

You can submit your works and projects through the website during the open call periods. Entries will be judged by our selection commission on the basis of creativity, photographic quality, and effectiveness in expressing the contest theme. Selected photographers will be invited by the festival to participate.

Why participate?

Rotterdam Photo is an annual photo fair with a festival flair. Being part of Rotterdam Art Week, the event attracts art lovers, collectors, and gallerists from different parts of the globe.

The fair every year offers a wide gamut of independent photographers the opportunity to exhibit their projects. Photographers can participate individually or on behalf of the gallery by submitting their works and projects via an open call related to the current theme. The goal of the photo fair is to offer an affordable exhibition space directly to photographers, decreasing all related costs compared to the usual art/photo fairs.

Single Image Open Call (Currently closed)

The selected images through the Single Image Open Call will be printed on PVC panels and exhibited on the outside part of a designated container during the Rotterdam Photo festival. All production costs will be covered by the Rotterdam Photo Festival.

Opportunities for photographers:

– Submission review by professionals from the photography field

– Featuring across festival/partner social networks and websites

– Exhibition exposure at the Rotterdam Photo Festival

– Awards and cash prizes (See Awards page)

– Inclusion in the Festival’s media partners’ resources

– Be part of the event with 10.000 + visitors in the center of Rotterdam during the Art Week Rotterdam

Please find more information about the Single Image Open Call, terms and conditions, and FAQ here.

Project Open Call (New open call here – Deadline 20th December 2024)

Selected photographers through the Project Open Call will be invited to showcase their projects and create their exhibition in the container during the Rotterdam Photo. Photographers get an opportunity to sell their works, and meet gallerists, potential art buyers, as well as international art press professionals. Rotterdam Photo doesn’t charge any commissions for sales during the festival.

Opportunities for photographers:

– Submission review by professionals from the photography field

– Featuring across festival/partner social networks and websites

– Exhibition exposure at the Rotterdam Photo Festival

– Directly curate and choose the works for your exhibition

– Awards and cash prizes (See Awards page)

– Long-term representation and promotion by the festival

– Opportunity to participate in Photo Talks and networking events

– Inclusion in the Festival’s media partners’ resources

– Publication and Inclusion in the Festival program

– International press exposure

– Be part of the event with 10.000 + visitors in the center of Rotterdam during the Art Week Rotterdam