Raccont’Arti - Contemporary Photography Award 2026
- 23 hours ago
- 2 min read
• Castelfiorentino For the Arts
• Deadline: October 15th, 2026
• Theme: Contemporary Photography
• Prize: €3,000 + Exhibition in Italy + Publication
• Entry Fees: Free
• REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE
"Raccont'arti" is a free international open call for photographers and visual artists dedicated to exploring the evolving landscape of contemporary image-making. Conceived as a platform for artistic research and discovery, the initiative aims to identify and promote emerging and established practitioners whose work reflects the complexity, diversity, and critical perspectives shaping contemporary photography today.
The 2026 edition is centered on the theme "Beyond the Visible: The Image of Absence," inviting artists to investigate absence not as a simple lack or void, but as an active condition that reveals hidden relationships, traces, memories, and transformations. Rather than representing what is missing, participants are encouraged to examine the ways in which absence generates meaning, leaving behind visual, emotional, and spatial evidence that can be interpreted through the photographic image. The call welcomes projects that consider space as a living archive of gestures, histories, and interactions, where what remains after an event can be as significant as the event itself.
The competition is divided into two categories to encourage participation from artists at different stages of their careers. The Open category is accessible to photographers and visual artists of all backgrounds and levels of experience, while the Student category is reserved for artists currently enrolled in accredited art schools or universities, as well as those who have graduated within the past year.
The selected winners will receive cash prizes of €3,000 for the Open category and €500 for the Student category. In addition, the two winners and eight finalists—four selected from each category—will present their work in a collective exhibition in Castelfiorentino, providing an important opportunity to engage with audiences, curators, collectors, and cultural institutions. Furthermore, the winning project in the Open category may be acquired for the collection of Ente Cambiano and Banca Cambiano 1884, further supporting the artist's professional development and public visibility.
The prize is promoted and supported by Fondazione Teatro del Popolo, Ente Cambiano s.c.p.a., the Municipality of Castelfiorentino, and Centro Culturale Cambio, reflecting a shared commitment to fostering artistic research, supporting emerging talent, and encouraging meaningful dialogue within the field of contemporary photography and visual arts.