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Rotterdam Photo 2026: Dutch Talent Project Grants in Collaboration with Amarte Fonds

Rotterdam Photo, in collaboration with Amarte Fonds, presents the Dutch Talent Project Grants 2026. This initiative offers emerging photographers the opportunity to develop new work around the festival theme "Echoes of Silence – War in the Artist's Soul." Selected artists will receive financial support, curatorial guidance, and a platform to exhibit their projects during Rotterdam Photo 2026.

At a time when images of war and conflict flood our screens, this theme calls for a different, more introspective approach. Instead of documenting violence or producing straightforward reportage, "Echoes of Silence" invites photographers to turn the lens inward – to explore how conflict, collective trauma, and displacement resonate within the artist's inner world.

This edition focuses on the emotional and psychological aftermath of war: the invisible traces of trauma that echo in memory, family stories, and the subconscious. These works might express silence, emptiness, repetition, alienation, or symbolic gestures, offering a poetic and subjective counterpoint to the sensationalism of mainstream imagery.

Rotterdam, a city marked by its own history of trauma, bombing, migration, and reconstruction, provides the perfect backdrop for this exploration. Here, the invisible scars of conflict form part of the city's identity, making it a fitting stage for artists who are willing to reflect on how war – even from a distance – shapes their imagination, emotions, and artistic voice.

For who?

This open call is for photographers who are based in the Netherlands, currently studying there, or have completed studies in the Netherlands. Eligible applicants include:

• 3rd- and 4th-year art academy students

• Recent alumni (since 2020) of photography or related visual arts programs

• Self-taught photographers with up to five years of practical experience

Projects developed during study are eligible, provided they are extended or deepened beyond the academic context.

Submission is free of charge.

What winners receive

Five artists will be awarded a €3,000 stipend to develop their projects into a "work in progress" exhibition for Rotterdam Photo 2026.

The selected artists will:

• Collaborate with a guest curator to prepare their presentation

• Exhibit their work during the festival in March 2026

• Receive coaching and curatorial guidance throughout the process

Opportunities for selected photographers

• Professional review of submissions by field experts

• Participation in Rotterdam Photo Talks and networking events

• Rotterdam Snapshots -- video portraits documenting their process, shared via YouTube and social media

• Inclusion in the official festival program and publications

• Long-term representation and promotion by Rotterdam Phot

About Rotterdam Photo

Rotterdam Photo is an annual photography fair with a festival flair, celebrating the full spectrum of contemporary photography in all its diversity.

Founded in 2016, it has grown into an accessible, innovative platform for both emerging and established photographers. Each year, Rotterdam Photo invites independent photographers to exhibit projects through an open call connected to the festival theme. The fair provides an affordable and direct exhibition space, reducing the barriers often associated with art and photography fairs.

With its distinctive container village at the heart of Rotterdam's Art Axis, the festival blends the energy of a fair with the creativity and community spirit of a festival --- attracting over 10,000 visitors every year

Judging Criteria

A jury of three members – the Amarte Kunstfotograaf, a Rotterdam Photo representative, and the guest curator – will evaluate submissions based on the following criteria:

• Aesthetic quality: Is the work visually engaging, well-crafted, and innovative?

• Conceptual clarity: Does the visual language clearly express the conceptual ideas?

• Resonance: Does the work connect to personal themes or pressing social issues?

• Theme relevance: Does the project meaningfully and powerfully reflect the theme "Echoes of Silence – War in the Artist's Soul"?

 Winners will be announced on this website as well as on social media channels