About

Passion is a force that moves us. It drives us to explore and act, to engage and care, to create and respond. In a time marked by sharp divides and strong convictions, passion reminds us that there is rarely a single, objective reality. At its best, passion is associated with beauty, love, and courage. It opens space for personal perspectives, allowing us to notice what others might overlook. Passion asks us to inhabit the world fully, to witness, connect, and respond in meaningful ways. We experience the world through a personal lens, shaped by perceptions, feelings, and desires. Passion celebrates our individuality and opens a boundless space for what can be felt or expressed. Passion is deeply human, and a contrast to AI and the deeply faked.

Passion also has a shadow side, where the gradual transition from positive to negative engagement negotiate contradictions on a scale: between tenderness and excess, devotion and mania, courage and risk, love and intensity. The energy can unite, illuminate and transform, but it can also harden into obsession, or even fanaticism. Ultimately the energy that once inspired us, can turn into a force of tension and polarization. It is an uncompromising devotion that risks cutting us off from others and reality itself.

For Oslo Negativ 2026, we ask for contributions that explores passion across its full breadth or through specific aspects of the theme.

What winners receive

The winning submission receives a cash prize of NOK 20,000, acquisition into the Preus Museum collection, and an exhibition at Oslo Negativ 2026. Production of the exhibition and travel costs to attend the festival in are covered by Preus Museum.

About Preus Museum

Preus Museum is the national museum of photography in Norway and is a part of the board for Oslo Negativ Photo Festival which is Norway’s largest meeting point for people interested in photography. The museum and the festival aim to be inclusive and open to everyone. The organization of the festival is an active effort for Preus Museum to take a coordinating role within the photography field and the documentary environment in Norway. Showcasing photography in all its forms and contributing to an arena where national and international artists and actors can come together in a concerted effort, is particularly important for the development of the museum. Oslo Negativ Photo Festival takes place three weekends in October, from 10-25 October 2026.

How to enter

Who can submit: Open to all artists, professional or amateur, national, or international. Artists may participate on an individual basis or as a collective.

What can be submitted: Photographs that explores the theme "Passion". You can upload single images or a series of up to 15 images. In the project description, please describe how your work relates to the theme "passion"

Is there an entry fee to submit to the Preus Museum Open Call? Yes, there is a small entry fee of 10 Euros. If you’re a student or a Norwegian photographer, please send us an email at opencall@preusmuseum.no to get a code to remove the submission fee.

Judging criteria

The images are selected by a jury who look for projects that have an interesting relation to the theme of the open call and show distinct visual qualities.

The submissions will be reviewed by a jury composed of curators, industry professionals, and representatives from the festival board, bringing together a range of perspectives and expertise from the contemporary photography field. The complete list of jurors will be announced at a later stage.