Deadline: 15-Oct-2025
The Rotterdam Photo, in collaboration with Amarte Fonds, presents the Dutch Talent Project Grants 2026 to offer emerging photographers the opportunity to develop new work around the festival theme “Echoes of Silence – War in the Artist’s Soul.”
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.
The culmination of this journey will be a group exhibition at Rotterdam Photo 2026, where the selected talents will present their work in a visually striking venue, specially designed to reflect the festival’s innovative spirit. This exhibition will be one of the highlights of the festival, attracting a wide audience eager to engage with contemporary photography.
Through an open call, five artists who work with photography will be chosen. Each selected artist will receive a stipend of €3,000 to support the development of their ongoing projects into “work in progress” exhibitions for Rotterdam Photo 2026. The photographers will collaborate with curator Mira Matic to create a unique group exhibition that aligns with the festival’s vision. Scheduled to open in March 2026, the exhibition will receive full backing from Rotterdam Photo, including coaching, technical support, and presentation arrangements during the event.
Applications are open until October 15th, offering a rare chance for emerging visual artists to showcase their creativity, expand their practice, and engage with some of the most pressing issues of their time.
For more information, visit Rotterdam Photo.