Archives of Trauma

open call

Archives of Trauma

We invite artists and photographers to submit projects for Archives of Trauma, an exhibition exploring the many forms, layers, and interpretations of trauma—personal, historical, social, environmental, or otherwise. This exhibition does not seek a single definition of trauma, nor does it privilege one kind of experience over another. Instead, it welcomes work that expands, complicates, questions, or reimagines what an “archive” of trauma might be.

Submissions may engage with trauma directly or indirectly; through documentation or metaphor; through absence, memory, distortion, healing, reconstruction, or transformation. Projects might consider:

  • Personal or collective memory

  • Silence, erasure, or the impossibility of documentation

  • Bodily, psychological, or intergenerational experiences

  • Landscapes altered by conflict, disaster, or loss

  • Social, political, or cultural wounds

  • Invented or speculative archives

  • Acts of resistance, repair, or resilience

We encourage a wide range of approaches—conceptual, documentary, experimental, staged, mixed-media, or otherwise.

Submission Guidelines

  1. Eligibility:

    • Open to all photographers aged 18+ worldwide.

    • Entries must be the original work of the participant.

  2. Submission Format:

    • Photographs should be submitted in JPEG format.

    • Maximum file size: 3 MB per file.

    • Images should be high-resolution approximately A5 @ 300 dpi

  3. How to Submit:

    • All entries must be sent via WeTransfer or a similar file-sharing service (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.) to womensphotofestival@ gmail.com.

    • Include a word.doc in the folder with the following info:

      • Full name of the photographer (name, surname)

      • Title of the photograph(s)

      • Contact information (email and phone)

      • instagram profile and/or facebook profile

  4. Deadline:

    • All entries must be received by January 10th, 12:00 time zone.

    • Late submissions will not be considered.

  5. Number of Entries:

    • Each participant may submit up to 3 photographs.

Terms & Conditions

  1. Original Work:

    • All submitted photographs must be the original work of the participant.

  2. Consent from Subjects:

    • For photographs featuring identifiable individuals, the participant must obtain written consent from all subjects.

    • By submitting, the participant confirms that they have obtained all necessary permissions.

    • Organizers are not responsible for any claims arising from lack of consent.

  3. Copyright & Usage Rights:

    • Participants retain copyright ownership of their photographs.

    • By submitting, participants grant the organizers a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, display, and promote the photographs for festival’s-related purposes, including social media, exhibitions, publications, and marketing.

  4. Disqualification:

    • Any entry that violates the rules, contains offensive content, or infringes on copyright or privacy rights will be disqualified.

  5. Judging & Prizes:

    • Entries will be judged by the judging panel.

    • Decisions of the judges are final and non-contestable.

  6. Liability:

    • Organizers are not responsible for technical issues during submission (file corruption, loss, etc.). Participants submit their entries at their own risk.

  7. Data Privacy:

    • Personal data collected will be used solely for festivals administration. Data will not be shared with third parties without consent.

  8. Acceptance of Terms:

    • By submitting an entry, participants acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agreed to these terms and conditions.