EXPOSURE 2027
International Open Call
The International Open Call welcomes diverse and innovative submissions from photographers and visual artists around the world who incorporate, celebrate, or challenge the photographic medium within their practice.
Submission deadline: October 5, 2026
STAY TUNED
Jurors will be announced soon!
We’re expanding our jury! The 2027 International Open Call jury will include one International Juror, one Exposure board member, and our Festival Manager.
SELECTED ARTISTS WILL:
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The North West Showcase exhibition will be open through the month of February at TRUCK Contemporary Art.
First opening in 1983 as the Second Story Art Society, TRUCK Contemporary Art is a non-profit artist resource centre and gallery in Mohkinstis (Calgary, Alberta, Canada). Their mission is to engage our local community in critical discourse surrounding contemporary art, and to bring together and support creative individuals who share aspirations of increasing access to art for all.Admission will be free and open to the public during regular gallery hours.
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This fee (paid in CAD) is calculated according to CARFAC guidelines, which account for Exposure’s annual operating budget and the nature of the exhibition venue.
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Exhibiting artists will receive a $50 Production Expense Allocation and a 20% discount with ABL Imaging Group, to cover or support the cost of printing work for the exhibition. Material decisions regarding mounting or framing will be made collaboratively between Exposure’s curatorial team and each individual artist.
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Selected images from each exhibiting artist will be included in a public exhibition, displayed on Pattison Outdoor digital billboards located in Calgary.
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Previous press has included British Journal of Photography, AnOther Magazine, PhMuseum, Avenue Magazine, NEXT Magazine, MUSÉE Vanguard of Photography Culture, and more!
Each exhibiting artist will have their name and website featured on Exposure’s website as part of an artist profile, in addition to social media spotlights and potential print promotions.
Image by Nicolás Bernal, International Open Call 2026.
HOW TO APPLY
PREPARE YOUR WORK
Choose at least 5 images from a strong, connected series and write a short statement about your project. We recommend submitting one complete body of work per entry. (You’re welcome to submit more than one, with a fee for each.)
Images can be shot in any format, using any camera, and may include collage or experimental approaches. We welcome all creative practices that explore, expand, or challenge photography. Not sure if your work fits? Reach out to Festival Manager, Emma Palm.
REVIEW THE FINE PRINT
By submitting, you’re giving Exposure permission to share your images for festival promotion—this may include our website, newsletters, press, and social media. We never take ownership of your copyright; your work remains yours. You’re simply granting us the right to display and promote it in connection with the festival now and in the future.
Please make sure you hold the rights to your images (or have permission from the copyright owner and any necessary model releases).
The submission fee for up to five images is $45 CAD. Additional images may be submitted for $5 each, up to ten images total. Fees may be waived for economic hardship. Please see below for details.
Each image file can be a maximum of 5MB in size. All images must be submitted as JPEGs. The file name of your image must begin with the sequence number for the image, followed by your last name. For example:
Artist name: John Smith
Image filename: 01_Smith.jpeg
SUBMIT YOUR FORM & FEE
HOW WILL YOUR SUBMISSION BE JUDGED?
Our jurors are given an open mandate to select the work they feel is most compelling, relevant, and exhibition-worthy. There is no single theme or style that we are looking for. Instead, jurors will consider:
The overall impact of the work – including creativity, originality, and clarity of vision.
ARTISTIC STRENGTH
How the work speaks to contemporary ideas, experiences, or ways of seeing the world.
RELEVANCE & RESONANCE
How well the work would engage audiences in a public exhibition context.
EXHIBITION POTENTIAL
Whether the selection as a whole reflects a genuine range of practices, subject matter, geographic and cultural contexts, and career stages
CURATORIAL BREADTH
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
We believe the most exciting work comes from a wide range of voices and experiences. We warmly encourage submissions from underrepresented and equity-deserving communities, and celebrate diverse perspectives. In an effort to reduce barriers to entry, Exposure has undertaken the following initiatives:
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Ten fee waivers will be made available through this initiative to support artists facing economic hardship. If present financial circumstances inhibit your ability to apply to Exposure’s open calls, please use this form to request a Fee Waiver.
Fee Waivers will be awarded on a ‘first come, first served’ basis to those who meet the eligibility criteria. Artists will be notified of their application status within 48 hours of submission.
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Photographers located in non-high-income countries can apply to Exposure’s International Open Call for free. Review the list of eligible countries and submit your application via this form.
QUALIFYING COUNTRIES FOR FREE ENTRY
Europe &
Central Asia
Albania
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Georgia
Kazakhstan
Kosovo
Kyrgyz Republic
Moldova
Montenegro
North Macedonia
Serbia
Tajikistan
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Ukraine
Uzbekistan
East Asia &
Pacific
American Samoa
Cambodia
China
Fiji
Indonesia
Kiribati
Korea, Dem. People’s Rep.
Lao PDR
Malaysia
Marshall Islands
Micronesia, Fed. Sts.
Mongolia
Myanmar
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
Vietnam
South
Asia
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Nepal
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Middle East & North Africa
Algeria
Djibouti
Egypt, Arab Rep.
Iran, Islamic Rep.
Iraq
Jordan
Lebanon
Libya
Morocco
Syrian Arab Republic
Tunisia
West Bank and Gaza
Yemen, Rep.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Angola
Benin
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cabo Verde
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Comoros
Congo, Dem. Rep.
Congo, Rep.
Côte d’Ivoire
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Gabon
Gambia, The
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Kenya
Lesotho
Liberia
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Rwanda
São Tomé and Principe
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sudan
Tanzania
Togo
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Latin America & Caribbean
Argentina
Belize
Bolivia
Brazil
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Grenada
Guatemala
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Jamaica
Mexico
Nicaragua
Paraguay
Peru
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Suriname
Venezuela, RB
TIMELINE
11:59pm, October 5th, 2026
OPEN CALL DEADLINE
October 31st, 2026
NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS
December, 2026
PRINT DEADLINE
Late January, 2027
EXHIBITION INSTALL
February 1-28, 2027
EXHIBITION OPEN
EXPOSURE 2027 INTERNATIONAL OPEN CALL SUPPORTERS
