An international photography award platforming emerging and established artists in prestigious institutions worldwide.

Winners Vol.4 announced.

OpenWalls

OpenWalls is an international photography award designed to elevate the careers of both emerging and established photographers by exhibiting their work in prestigious and historic locations around the world.

Why enter

Secure a unique platform for international photographic acclaim

OpenWalls Arles 2019, 2020 & 2021 exhibited at 17th-century mansion and artspace Galerie Huit Arles alongside Les Rencontres d’Arles, the photography industry’s premier annual festival

Have your work judged by industry leaders

This years panel include Mutsuko Ota (Editorial Director, IMA), Sarah Leen (Photographic Director, National Geographic), Paris Chong (Gallery Director, Leica Gallery LA), Michael Famighetti (Editor, Aperture Magazine) plus more. See below for the full panel!

Theme

For the fourth edition of OpenWalls Arles, from British Journal of Photography in collaboration with Galerie Huit Arles, we are looking for photographers to respond to the theme Truth.

We invite photographers to share work that responds to the theme in creative, thought-provoking ways. We are looking for work that considers what truth means in contemporary photography. How does the truth inform the ways we see the world today? Whose truth does a photograph show? Most importantly, what does truth look like to you?

Prize list

Prize list

Single Image Category

  • 50 winning images will be exhibited as part of a group show
  • Your work will be shared with our national and international press list
  • Be featured on 1854.photography

Stories Category

  • Two bodies of work will be exhibited as part of a group show
  • Your work will be shared with our national and international press list
  • Be featured on 1854.photography

Single Image Category

  • 10 winning images will be exhibited as part of a group show
  • Receive international press coverage
  • Be featured on 1854.photography

Stories Category

  • One winning body of work will be exhibited as part of a group show
  • Receive international press coverage
  • Be featured on 1854.photography

Judges

Each year OpenWalls is judged by a panel of international industry leaders.

Julia de Bierre

Gallery Director, Galerie Huit Arles

Mutsuko Ota

Editorial Director, IMA magazine

Sarah Leen

Founder of Visual Thinking Collective and Former Director of Photography, National Geographic

Paris Chong

Gallery Director, Leica Gallery LA

Michael Famighetti

Editor, Aperture magazine

Azu Nwagbogu

Founder and Director of African Artists’ Foundation (AAF) and Director at Lagos Photo Festival

Matt Alagiah

Editor-in-Chief, It’s Nice That

Hear from our past winners

Winners

The Winners of the 2022 edition have been announced!

Free applications for photographers in non-high-income locations

Photographers located in non-high-income countries can apply to OpenWalls Arles 2022 for free. Are you eligible? See the list of qualifying countries, and complete the form via the link below.

Frequently Asked Questions

I have lost the email with my entry link

If you have lost your entry, use the reset form here, to send a reminder to your email address.

Can I pay by PayPal / Cheque / Cash?

We can only accept entries paid for with a credit or debit card online

Can I enter more than once?

Yes, you may enter as many times as you choose.

I have a promotional code, how can I use it?

Please first choose the type of entry you wish to make (eg, one series entry). On the next page you will be able to enter your promotional code, and after submitting that form you will see your discount applied.

I have a promotional code, but it doesn’t work?

Please note that most codes are time-limited. If the deadline for using your code has passed, it will not be usable.

I bought too many entries / ran out of time, can I get a refund?

Sorry, but all entry fees are non-refundable, as stated in the terms and conditions that you accepted on entry.

Can I upgrade my entry?

No unfortunately we can not upgrade your entry once a purchase has been made

The entry system is saying that my entry has already been claimed when I haven’t entered. What do I do?

Once logged into the submissions portal, click on the Entries tab on the top left of the screen. All current and past entries are displayed within this tab, and this is the location through which you are able to confirm which entries you have claimed and edit your current entries.

I am an 1854 Access member, why am I being asked to pay for my entries?

You will need to ensure you have logged into our submissions portal using the details associated with your member account. If you have done this, the next step is to click on the Entries tab on the top left of the screen to ensure you haven’t already claimed your free Member entry. All current and past entries are displayed within this tab, and this is the location through which you are able to edit your entries.

If you are still having issues please connect with our support team for further assistance via support@1854.media

Have my images uploaded correctly?

If your images have uploaded correctly you will see a small version of each photo on the entry page, alongside the caption you entered. If you cannot see your photo, then your image has not uploaded correctly. If a caption has been stored but no image, you can delete it using the Edit option.

I can’t upload my images – I see a green bar, it says 100%, but that’s it

Our image uploader is designed to work with all modern web browsers, but some – in particular, Internet Explorer 11 – aren’t able to use it. If you are unable to upload your images please either download a modern browser (we recommend Google Chrome), or click the link on the upload page to use our Classic Uploader instead.

What’s the Classic Uploader?

The Classic Uploader uploads image files in a way that’s slower, but better supported by old browsers such as Internet Explorer 11. Please note that it can accept JPEG files of up to 5MB in size only, and that you will experience a wait after clicking the Upload button.

Can I send my photos by email / WeTransfer / on DVD / some other way

We can only accept images that are uploaded using our entry system. This ensures that each one is logged with your entry details, and made available to our judges.

I uploaded one image, and now want to go back to upload more, but the system will not let me do so – what’s wrong?

Either the competition deadline has passed, or you have previously submitted your entry to the judges. In order to do so you will have read a notice warning you, and ticked a box confirming your understanding, that doing so would prevent you from making any further changes.

There isn’t enough room for my image title, or other text

Please note that maximum lengths that apply to these texts. The length limits are noted on the form used to enter them and are given in characters (letters), not words.

I can’t see the option to submit my entry

The Submit button appears at the top of your entry page once you have uploaded at least one image.

What happens when I submit my entry?

Your entry will be confirmed on a web page after submitting, and then we will send you a confirmation email, and your images (along with their captions, statements etc) are stored, ready to be viewed by the judges.

I have submitted my entry – can I change it?

No, once your entry has been submitted you may no longer alter it in any way.

Could you please check my images / text / entry?

I’m afraid this isn’t possible – our system receives thousands of images, so we can’t check individual ones. Please ensure that you are happy with your images and statement before submitting it.

Can you please provide an invoice for my entry?

Your entry confirmation email includes a full VAT invoice, we can not provide any other invoice request

Why haven’t I received my award status?

In order to receive your award status, you must be subscribed to our newsletter. If you unsubscribe from our mailing lists, we will not be able to contact you.

If you have unsubscribed, you can resubscribe by filling out a form to our newsletter list. Once you have received an email from us, you can toggle your settings to choose what you do and don’t want to hear from us.

Professional and non-professional photographers of all ages are eligible to enter.

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Photographers from any country are welcome to enter.

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Images can be shot using any camera model (film or digital), and images may be portrait, landscape or square in format. Images can also be shot on any camera phone.

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Each entrant will be deemed to warrant they own the entire copyright for the work or that they have permission from the licensee and/or copyright owner/s for the uses.

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Each image can be a maximum of 10MB in size. All images must be submitted as JPEG files – any files submitted in any other format (including TIFF, PDF, PSD etc) will be discarded.

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You may submit a title (200 character limit) and caption (750 character limit) for each photograph entered. For the Stories Category, you can also provide an artist’s statement (1500 character limit). All accompanying text must be written in English.  All accompanying text must be written in English.

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The deadline for entries is 21 February 2023 – 23:59 (UK time).

Judging will take place shortly after the deadline.

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Once your images and captions have been uploaded to the system you will see an option to submit your entry. Once submitted your entry cannot be altered. Only submitted entries will be viewed by the judges.

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The winners must be available to supply high-res files promptly for publication. Digital files of the winning images will be created for press and publicity purposes.

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1854 Media & British Journal of Photography  cannot be responsible for any loss or damage to submitted work.

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No copyright is transferred to the 1854 Media & British Journal of Photography in respect of any works entered or accepted.

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In order to receive your award status, you must be subscribed to the Awards Communications list on our mailing system. If you have not received your status after the deadline, you must simply resubscribe by filling out a form to our newsletter list. 

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1854 Media & British Journal of Photography reserve the right to display, reproduce and publish in any media, any entry, without payment, for the sole purpose of OpenWalls – this year and in future – and its promotion and publicity.

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The exhibition will take place at Galerie Huit Arles, France in 2023.

1854 Media will organise and cover costs for printing, framing and production of OpenWalls Arles show.

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A selection of images will be published through 1854 Media, British Journal of Photography and Galerie Huit Arles print and digital channels.

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You will be asked to pay for your entry by Credit Card. All payments are handled securely by our payment partner Stripe. After payment, you will receive an email containing a personal upload URL where you may submit your images and statement.

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All entry purchases are final. Having purchased an entry, it is your responsibility to upload and submit your images and statement before the deadline. No refunds will be issued.

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Please note that 1854 Access members entering awards as part of their membership (as opposed to a paid entry) will be required to remain a member throughout the periods when awards are judged and exhibitions/outputs are planned, for their entries to be eligible.

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All entries are subject to 1854 Media’s General Competition Terms and Conditions
OpenWalls is a unique chance to get your work seen by thousands of industry leaders, peers and members of the public around the world.