Heritage Lens Open Call 2025

Cobertura Photo (Spain), ISSP (Latvia), Officine Fotografiche Roma (Italy), and Fotofestiwal (Poland) invite Europe-based photographers/visual artists to apply to take part in the HERITAGE LENS project in 2025 - 2026.

Overview

The project will facilitate the transnational creation and circulation of artistic works through a collaborative photographic exploration by 12 emerging European photographers from diverse regions.

Through a collaborative process, Heritage Lens aims to weave together individual visual narratives into a cohesive portrayal of the diverse impacts of climate change on European cultural heritage, inspiring a sense of responsibility towards climate action and preservation. The project is coordinated by leading photography centers from Spain, Italy, Latvia, and Poland and is funded by the EU Creative Europe Culture programme.

Practical Info

Europe-based photographers will be selected to work on the resilience of different aspects of cultural heritage against climate change within the heritage lens project. Applicants should be emerging photographers who have an artistic practice lasting from 2 to 8 years and can demonstrate dedication and continuity in their practice, be residents of an EU member country or other Creative Europe eligible country (click to see the countries), eager to develop their personal project within the timeline of the project, and to participate in a collaborative creative process, be eady to benefit from the international network, mentoring, and exposure opportunities offered by the project. Plus, they can commit to take part in 3 in-person workshops in Spain, Latvia, and Poland, must submit a well-developed project idea (or work-in-progress) focusing on a specific aspect of the interaction between cultural heritage and climate change, to be developed within the Heritage Lens framework. The work should be completed by March 2026. Photographers exploring a local cultural heritage issue who are coming from affected localities are encouraged to apply.

Applications must be submitted using the online form including a bio, portfolio and the Heritage Lens project proposal with visual material.

Selected photographers will have the opportunity to establish interdisciplinary connections, gain in-depth knowledge about the growing impact of climate change on European cultural heritage, contribute to raising awareness about this subject and develop a strong project mentored by a group of international professionals. Plus, a participation grant of €1,000 per artist will be awarded, together with
the participation in three interdisciplinary workshops in Spain, Latvia and Portugal (obligatory – travel and accommodation covered), the participation in an exhibition at Fotofestiwal 2026 in Lodz (Poland) and in exhibition/s in other partner countries.

About Heritage Lens

Heritage Lens presents a comprehensive approach to addressing the intersection of cultural heritage, climate change, and artistic expression. The objective of the project is to raise awareness about the growing impact of climate change on European cultural heritage and to catalyze a collective response through artistic expression.

By using photography, the project seeks to illuminate the intricate relationship between climate change and heritage, emphasizing the fundamental role of both tangible and intangible elements. The primary focus of the project is the enhancement of interdisciplinary collaborations and knowledge exchange among photographers, experts, and activists.