La Embajada Open Call

Selected Spanish or Spain-based artists will receive a €1,400 fee to take part in a group exhibition in Arles, held within the fringe circuit of Rencontres d’Arles during the festival's opening week.

Overview

Contemporary photography in Spain is currently experiencing a particularly vibrant moment. The scene is renewing its visual languages and gaining depth through a complex intercultural network that no longer adheres to paradigms of national identity. Instead, it thrives and expands through the exchange and coexistence of the diverse individuals who shape our current context, while simultaneously questioning the very notion of 'Spanish photography.'

However, for various reasons, the Spanish scene has historically been underrepresented on the international stage. El Local aims to build bridges, help close this gap, and support photographers in accessing the European circuit. By organizing an exhibition within the fringe circuit of the Rencontres d’Arles festival, they are creating an 'embassy' to showcase photographic projects and foster professional connections during the festival’s opening week.

After two years of independent organization, the support of the Plataforma Fotografía e Imagen has made this third edition possible, structuring it through an open call.

Practical Info

Spanish or Spain-based artists working in the field of contemporary photography are welcome to apply. Applicants must be available to be in Arles during the opening week of the festival on 6-12 July 2026.

El Local is looking for projects rooted in the photographic image that are at the forefront of the medium's aesthetics, languages, and contemporary debates. Proposals must be submitted as a PDF (10–15 pages) in English, including the project title and description (max. 500 characters), images and technical specifications, a brief biography and CV.

Selected artists will receive a €1,400 artist fee to take part in a group exhibition in Arles, held within the fringe circuit of Rencontres d’Arles during the festival's opening week. Professional networking opportunities hosted within the framework of the exhibition are also provided.

An international jury will review all proposals. The names of the jury members will be announced in the coming weeks via La Embajada’s Instagram account.

About La Embajada

La Embajada is a program designed by El Local – an independent space for contemporary photography in Madrid, Spain – to promote contemporary Spanish photography within the European circuit. It features an exhibition accompanied by professional networking events held during the opening week of the Rencontres d’Arles festival in France.