New free photography open call for photographers
Female portraits in dialogue
From Historical to Contemporary PhotographyJoin our new international photography open call inviting authors from around the world to interpret female identity through the art of portraiture. Submit your photos and win a solo exhibition at one of the exhibition venues of the Municipality of Trieste!
Deadline 17 May 2026
Female Portraits in Dialogue: From Historical to Contemporary Photography
Exhibit Around APS and dotART renew their long-standing partnership with the Fototeca dei Civici Musei di Storia ed Arte of the Municipality of Trieste. Together, we are proud to present Female Portraits in Dialogue: From Historical to Contemporary Photography, an international Open Call inviting photographers from across the globe to explore and interpret female identity through the art of portraiture.
The selected work will be featured in an exhibition at a prestigious exhibition venue of the Municipality of Trieste during the 13th edition of the Trieste Photo Days 2026 festival, offering a unique platform for international visibility and artistic exchange.
The project is funded by the Consiglio Regionale del Friuli Venezia Giulia.
The project
This project offers a distinctive visual research experience, creating a conversation between the historic archives of the Trieste Civic Museums — which currently holds over 3,600,000 photographic assets — and contemporary international sensibilities.
The archival materials include masterpieces from the 19th and 20th centuries by renowned figures such as Giuseppe Wulz, Marion Wulz, Ugo Borsatti, Adriano de Rota, Emil Rabending, Carl Pietzner, and Giovanni Battista Berra. These photographers immortalised women from a vast array of backgrounds, roles, and generations: from Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sissi) to the traditional bread-sellers of Servola, and Japanese women captured during the tea ceremony.
Theme
The Call invites photographers to interpret feminine identity through the lens of portraiture. We seek works that bear witness to the plurality of womanhood, exploring its many facets through the power of the gaze and physical presence. Key themes include identity and self-discovery, motherhood, professional life, and social transformation.
The selected work will be displayed alongside 19th and 20th-century masterpieces, creating a genuine "crossing of paths" between contemporary visions and the precious historical memories preserved within the Fototeca.
For who is it for?
The Call is open to photographers from all over the world, both emerging and established, who are invited to contribute their visual interpretations of female identity. Whether through documentary work, conceptual photography, or artistic storytelling, participants are called to submit photographs that interpret or narrate female identity through the art of portraiture.
The selected photographer will be awarded a solo exhibition at a prestigious exhibition venue during the 13th edition of Trieste Photo Days – International Photography Festival (October 23-25).
The Submissions
Photographers are invited to submit projects focused on portraiture, exploring the feminine world through their own personal style and choosing the photographic language that best conveys their interpretation.
We are seeking images capable of looking beyond the surface, offering a multi-layered exploration of female identity in dialogue with both history and contemporary sensitivity. From candid street photography and intimate portraits to long-term visual narratives, every submission should offer a profound and engaging perspective on a social role and aesthetic that is constantly evolving.
HISTORICAL PHOTOGRAPHS
EMIL RABENDING
Elisabeth imperatrice d'Austria
Fototeca dei Civici Musei di Storia ed Arte
inv. F019768
CARL PIETZNER
Elisabetta di Baviera imperatrice d'Austria detta Sissi
Fototeca dei Civici Musei di Storia ed Arte
inv. F049214
MARION WULZ
Ritratto di Liliana
Fototeca dei Civici Musei di Storia ed Arte
inv. F192238
GIUSEPPE WULZ
Donna servolana venditrice di pane
Fototeca dei Civici Musei di Storia ed Arte
inv. F010875
Anonimo
Donne giapponesi: cerimonia del te
Fototeca dei Civici Musei di Storia ed Arte
inv. F190885
Office of War Information. Overseas Branch. Exhibit Section; United States Information Service
India: mill workers of Bombay
Fototeca dei Civici Musei di Storia ed Arte
inv. F035648
Adriano de Rota
Mercato ponterosso
Proprietà della Fondazione CRTrieste in deposito presso la Fototeca Musei di Storia ed Arte anno 1952
inv. RONP003316_002
Foto Omnia di Ugo Borsatti
Si gira Senilità di I. Svevo
Proprietà della Fondazione CRTrieste in deposito presso la Fototeca dei Civici Musei di Storia ed Arte
inv. UBNP004113
Meet the curator
Claudia Colecchia
Graduated in History from the Ca' Foscari University of Venice, with a diploma in Archival Science, Palaeography, and Diplomatics from the State Archive School of Venice.
She has deepened her studies in archival, photographic, and library sciences, and has worked at the Ca' Foscari and IUAV Universities of Venice, the International School for Advanced Studies of Trieste, and the Superintendence of Artistic Heritage of Friuli Venezia Giulia. She currently holds the position of Head of the Photographic Archive and Library of the Civic Museums of History and Art of the Municipality of Trieste, where she is responsible for the conservation and enhancement of the heritage, conducting guided tours, lessons for students, and curating exhibitions and publications dedicated to historical and contemporary photography. She is also curator of exhibitions and cultural events, member of the URBAN Photo Awards jury, and board member of the Rete Fotografia association. She organizes and participates in conferences, symposiums, and seminars.
The Photographic Archive of the Civic Museums of History and Art houses nearly three million photographic images, making it one of the largest collections in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. This archive documents the evolution of photography from both a technical and expressive perspective, offering invaluable insights into the artistic, urban, and social history of the city of Trieste from 1840 to the present day.
PAST EXHIBITIONS
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Prizes
Following a careful curatorial process, Exhibit Around APS and the Fototeca dei Civici Musei di Storia ed Arte will select the winning project.
The inaugural event will be held during Trieste Photo Days 2026, the international photography festival.
Best Author
- The selected work will take centre stage at an exhibition held at a prestigious exhibition venue of the Municipality of Trieste during the 13th edition of the Trieste Photo Days 2026 festival, offering a unique platform for international visibility and artistic exchange.
Other Prizes
- In addition, Honourable Mentions and Remarkable Rewards will be presented for outstanding contributions.
ANY DOUBT? - FAQ
Potrebbe esserti utile...
Where and when will my photos be exhibited?
The best photos will be showcased in a dedicated exhibition in late October 2026, as part of the Trieste Photo Days 2026 international photography festival.
Is participation free?
Participation in the Open Call is free of charge for everyone. Photographers whose work is selected will be contacted by July 2026.
What technical requirements must the images meet?
Photos must not contain signatures, watermarks, or borders. Images must be in .jpg format, and the color mode must be RGB or sRGB. Each individual file must be under 10 MB, while the required dimensions for the photos are:
- Short side: minimum 2,000 px
- Long side: maximum 6,000 px
The file name must not contain special characters; only letters and/or numbers are allowed.
Who owns the rights to the submitted works?
Each photographer retains the moral and intellectual property rights to the works submitted to the call. Each author grants the Exhibit Around and dotART associations the non-exclusive right to use the winning/selected images to promote and/or publicize the non-profit activities of the association, following official communication to the author (whose name will always be credited alongside the Work).