PhotoForum Open Call
Open Call for Photographic Works
PhotoForum invites submissions for a series of open calls.
1. 50th Anniversary set of publications
2. Online Exhibitions
3. PhotoForum #101 and #102
1. 50th Anniversary set of publications
2024 marks the 50th anniversary of PhotoForum. A unique set of books will be published to celebrate this occasion.
The anniversary set of books will consist of four small publications. Artists and photographers based in Aotearoa New Zealand, or living here at the time of making the work, can submit projects for consideration. Submitted work can be recent, or made within the last fifty years. Four artists will be selected and notified in November.
The books will be designed by the award-winning graphic designer Jonty Valentine in close collaboration with the artists and the PhotoForum Publications Subcommittee, and issued in March 2024.
The set of four books will be published as an edition of 200. All publishing costs will be covered by PhotoForum. Copyright will remain with the artists. The four artists will not receive any payment but will receive 5 complimentary sets.
2. Online Exhibitions
PhotoForum will publish a series of online exhibitions that showcase a wide selection of photographic work alongside newly commissioned writing on photography. These online exhibitions are open to individual photographers as well as collaborations and collectives.
Submitted work will be considered for single artist/colab, or, thematic/group exhibitions.
The selected photographers will receive a modest fee for online publication.
PhotoForum will commission writing to accompany these online exhibitions which will be released between March and July 2024. We see the involvement of writers as essential to creating a discourse around photographic artworks and widening the audience for both photography and the writing about photography.
3. PhotoForum #101 and #102
PhotoForum is committed to our regular publishing programme, producing two publications each year and we welcome submissions from photographers based in Aotearoa New Zealand. We are looking for engaging recent photographic projects to be developed as PhotoForum #101 and #102 and the likely publication timeframe will be late 2024.
Each publication will be issued as an edition of 160 books. All publishing costs will be covered by PhotoForum. The artists will not receive any payment but will receive 5 copies of the book. Copyright will remain with the artists.
General Information
Submissions should be sent as a pdf or as individual jpeg images, accompanied by a short artist statement (approx. 200 words) and bio.
Send to: photoforumnz@gmail.com with Open Call in the subject line.
Selection of the works will be guided by the following criteria:
Do we love the work?
Is the proposed project cohesive and relatively resolved in its scope?
Is the project consistent with our vision to continue a strong legacy of significant photographic publications in Aotearoa New Zealand?
The final decisions about work to be published will be made by PhotoForum's Publications and Online Subcommittees.
The Open Call has been extended. Submissions now close on 8 November 2023.
We look forward to your photobook and online exhibition proposals.
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