Musec Museum in Switzerland: Unpublished Photo

UP25 contest is open until 3 March 2025. Interested photographers are invited to apply here and to follow MUSEC’s social channels (IG @museclugano and FB MusecLugano ) for project updates.

The UNPUBLISHED PHOTO contest is promoted by the Fondazione culture e musei of Lugano (FCM) with MUSEC-Lugano; organised in collaboration with the 29 ARTS IN PROGRESS Gallery in Milan and the Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere e Arti in Venice and it is in partnership with the Fondazione Ada Ceschin e Rosanna Pilone in Zurich.

Participation in the international competition is free of charge and open to young photographers born between 1995 and 2007.

From January 20th until March 3rd (12:00 am local time) applicants must submit an unpublished photographic project of 10 unpublished images. The projects must have a thematic and stylistic unity. A technical jury of international experts from the world of photography and communication will chose the four finalist portfolios.
The winners will receive the following cash prizes:

1st prize: CHF 3.500;
2nd to 4th prize : CHF 500 each.

The four winners are also rewarded with the publication of a catalogue published by the FCM containing all the photographs submitted to the contest, and an exhibition in Lugano, at the MUSEC venue. The costs of these valorisation activities amount to CHF 50.000 and are fully covered by the FCM.

For the realisation of the Fine Art prints, the finalists must be able to provide the appropriate digital files (TIFF file min. 300 dpi and Adobe rgb 1998 color profile).
The prints will be produced by FCM and will become part of the MUSEC photographic collections.

Download UP2025 rules

Rules

Now in its 8th year, entries are now open to the 2025 edition of the international UNPUBLISHED PHOTO contest Photographers born between 1995 and 2007 have the chance until March 3rd to submit their portfolios of 10 unpublished photos.

Promoted by the Fondazione culture e musei of Lugano (FCM) with MUSEC-Lugano; organised in collaboration with the 29 ARTS IN PROGRESS Gallery in Milan and the Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere e Arti in Venice and it is in partnership with the Fondazione Ada Ceschin e Rosanna Pilone in Zurich. Participation in the international competition is free of charge and open to young photographers born between 1995 and 2007.  Applicants must submit an unpublished photographic project of 10 unpublished images. The projects must have a thematic and stylistic unity. The Unpublished Photo 2025 contest aims to uncover and help promote the works of new young photographers. For the realisation of the Fine Art prints, the finalists must be able to provide the appropriate digital files (TIFF file min. 300 dpi and Adobe rgb 1998 color profile). The winning prints will be produced by FCM and will become part of the MUSEC photographic collections.

The four chosen finalists will exhibit their works  at the end of 2025 at Villa Malpensata, Lugano, selected by a jury of cultural and photography experts. Prizes include: 1st Prize: CHF 3,500 and Runners-up: CHF 500 each, plus a catalogue and exhibition (total cost CHF 50,000).

 A technical jury of international experts from the world of photography and communication will chose the four finalist portfolios.

Participation in the international competition is free of charge and open to young photographers born between 1995 and 2007.

2024 Highlights:

From 35 countries, this year’s winners showcased exceptional talent. Their exhibition works runs at MUSEC until March 9, 2025:

• Amirhosein Esparham (Iran): Together, Alone – Portraits exploring loneliness
• Gabriele D’Agostino (Italy): Cuore Nero-Metrò – Milan metro life through mobile photography.
• Claudy Woods (England): Every Saint Has a Past – Gender and spirituality through saint reimaginings
• Navonil Dutta (India): Nature’s Drama – Predator-prey dynamics in nature