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Discover the free open call ‘URBAN ANIMALS’ and participate with your shots

17 January 2025

Exhibit Around APS and dotART, organizers of the international festival Trieste Photo Days, are launching the free open call URBAN ANIMALS, an opportunity focused on the coexistence between animals and urban spaces.

Exhibit Around APS and dotART, organizers of the international festival Trieste Photo Days, are launching the free open call URBAN ANIMALS, an opportunity focused on the coexistence between animals and urban spaces.
URBAN ANIMALS explores stories of adaptation and interaction between the animal world and urban environments. From wildlife reinventing itself within the cityscape to pets redefining living spaces, each image captures a new perspective on life in modern cities and the relationship between nature and urbanization.


This photographic project will culminate in an international exhibition and the publication of a photo book, which will be presented during the 12th edition of Trieste Photo Days 2025, one of the leading international events dedicated to photography.


The open call will offer global visibility with a large photographic exhibition and the presentation of a dedicated book, showcasing the works of selected authors. The best author will be awarded on stage at the festival in the presence of prestigious international photographers who have participated in previous editions, including Alec Soth, Kadir van Lohuizen, Susan Meiselas, Nino Migliori, and others.

URBAN ANIMALS continues the success of Exhibit Around’s tribute projects, involving hundreds of photographers from all five continents each year. Here are the previous projects, which involved internationally renowned authors:

  • 2019: Short Street Stories with Martin Parr (Magnum Photos)
  • 2020: Chromantic with Alex Webb (Magnum Photos)
  • 2021: Tales of the Unwritten with Tatsuo Suzuki and the VoidTokyo collective
  • 2022: WOW – Worlds of Women with Susan Meiselas (Magnum Photos)
  • 2023: 71% – The State of Water with Kadir van Lohuizen (NOOR Images)
  • 2024: PLAY! Let the Game Begin with Adam Pretty (Getty Images)

Themes of the Call

Modern cities are not only habitats for humans but shared spaces with various animal species. The open call invites photographers to capture:

  • The presence of animals in the cities
  • Signs of their passage and their interaction with urban spaces
  • Connections between nature and the built environment

Further insights and details on themes and inspiration are available in the official regulations!

Photographs can cover various styles and genres, such as street photography, portraiture, social reportage, documentary photography, creative, and fine-art. There are no limits on the choice of photographic genre, offering ample space for creativity and expressive diversity.

The open call is open to everyone, amateurs and professionals alike, who can submit individual photos, projects, or portfolios focused on the coexistence between animals and cities.

Selected Authors will have the opportunity to:

  • Exhibit in a curated show at the “Umberto Veruda” Hall at Costanzi Palace in Trieste
  • Be published in a photo book designed and edited by Exhibit Around, distributed worldwide
  • Feature in the project’s video documentary

Awards for Best Authors

The URBAN ANIMALS open call not only marks the beginning of an exciting photographic project but also represents a true competition with many prizes at stake. Among the prizes, a free stay for two people in Trieste, where participants can attend Trieste Photo Days in person. Special prizes for the best works of the open call include:

  • Custom and certified STELES and SIGILS, artworks by Venice Biennale artist and sculptor Giorgio Celiberti
  • Up to 25,000 PhotoPoints, equivalent to €250, redeemable within the dotLogic photographic network (more information here)
  • 1 free entry to a photography masterclass at the Festival
  • A written and/or video interview of the winning photo or project/portfolio, with related promotion via social media and blog post

How to participate

Registrations are open until February 28, 2025! Join this visual exploration and tell your story about URBAN ANIMALS through your lens.

To participate, visit the official open call page, where you will find all the details regarding the themes, submission process, and full regulations.

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