Short Description
Rotterdam Photo, in collaboration with Amarte Fonds, presents the Dutch Talent Project Grants 2026. This initiative offers emerging photographers the opportunity to develop new work around the festival theme “Echoes of Silence – War in the Artist’s Soul.“ Selected artists will receive financial support, curatorial guidance, and a platform to exhibit their projects during Rotterdam Photo 2026.
At a time when images of war and conflict flood our screens, this theme calls for a different, more introspective approach. Instead of documenting violence or producing straightforward reportage, “Echoes of Silence” invites photographers to turn the lens inward – to explore how conflict, collective trauma, and displacement resonate within the artist’s inner world.
This edition focuses on the emotional and psychological aftermath of war: the invisible traces of trauma that echo in memory, family stories, and the subconscious. These works might express silence, emptiness, repetition, alienation, or symbolic gestures, offering a poetic and subjective counterpoint to the sensationalism of mainstream imagery.
Eligibility
This open call is for photographers who are based in the Netherlands, currently studying there, or have completed studies in the Netherlands. Eligible applicants include:
- 3rd- and 4th-year art academy students
- Recent alumni (since 2020) of photography or related visual arts programs
- Self-taught photographers with up to five years of practical experience
Projects developed during study are eligible, provided they are extended or deepened beyond the academic context.
How to Apply
Online Application
Program Benefits & Awards
Through an open call, five artists who embrace photography as their medium of choice will be selected. A stipend of €3,000 will be awarded to selected candidates, enabling them to develop their ongoing projects into “work in progress” exhibitions for Rotterdam Photo 2026. The selected photographers will collaborate with festival-appointed curator Mira Matic to develop a unique group exhibition. This exhibition, set to be a highlight of the festival, will be open in March 2026. Rotterdam Photo will provide coaching throughout the artistic process, support technical needs, and organize the final presentations during the event.
Entry Fee
None
Location
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Timeline
- Application Deadline: 15 October 2025
Website Link: https://www.rotterdamphoto.eu/dutch-talent-project-grants/
