The Preus Museum, Norway’s national museum of photography, in collaboration with the Oslo Negativ Photo Festival, invites photographers to participate in the Preus Museum Open Call 2025. This international call seeks lens-based work exploring the multifaceted theme of “Closer.” It represents an opportunity for artists to delve into concepts of proximity and distance, not just in a physical sense, but also as gateways to deeper understanding, intimacy, and connection. The selected winner will have their work prominently featured in an exhibition during the Oslo Negativ Photo Festival, the Norway’s largest gathering point for photography enthusiasts, providing significant visibility within the Nordic art scene. This year’s festival runs from October 11th to 26th, 2025.
The theme “Closer” encourages diverse interpretations. Submissions can range from documentary projects examining intimate details of life, to conceptual pieces playing with scale and perspective. The organizers prompt reflection on how moving closer can reveal hidden textures, emotions, and truths, potentially transforming the mundane into the sublime. The Preus Museum Open Call 2025 is notably inclusive, welcoming submissions from photographers of all backgrounds, nationalities, ages, and experience levels, whether amateur or professional, working individually or as a collective. The call seeks strong projects demonstrating visual quality and a compelling relationship to the theme.
The rewards for the selected winner of the Preus Museum Open Call 2025 are substantial. Beyond the significant exposure gained from exhibiting at the Oslo Negativ Photo Festival, the winner receives a cash prize of NOK 20,000. Furthermore, the winning work earns a place in the permanent collection of the Preus Museum. Preus Museum also covers the production costs for the exhibition and contributes towards travel expenses for the winner to attend the festival in Oslo. A presentation in Fotografi magazine adds another layer of recognition.
The deadline for submissions is April 30, 2025, and the winner publicly announced in August 2025. Entry requires a fee of €10, though students and Norwegian photographers can request a waiver code for free entry. This structure makes the Preus Museum Open Call 2025 an accessible yet rewarding opportunity, particularly appealing for those interested in conceptual photo contests that challenge artistic interpretation.
The Preus Museum Open Call 2025 Prizes
The awards for the Preus Museum Open Call 2025 offer a compelling package for the winning photographer, combining financial reward with significant career-enhancing opportunities. These prizes underscore the prestige of the call, hosted by Norway’s national museum of photography.
- Cash Prize: The winner will receive NOK 20,000. This financial award provides direct support to the artist.
- Exhibition Opportunity: The winning project will be exhibited during the Oslo Negativ Photo Festival (October 11-26, 2025). This offers substantial visibility at Norway’s largest photography event, held in a unique, character-filled location in Oslo (to be announced).
- Production Costs Covered: Preus Museum will cover the costs associated with producing the exhibition, ensuring a professional presentation. (Note: If the winner prefers to self-produce, the museum offers a contribution towards costs).
- Travel Expenses Covered: The museum will cover travel expenses for the winner to attend the festival and potentially give a talk, subject to a price cap.
- Inclusion in Museum Collection: The winning work will become part of the permanent collection of Preus Museum, a significant mark of recognition and preservation.
- Magazine Feature: The winner will receive a presentation in Fotografi magazine, further amplifying their exposure. Comparing these benefits with other photo contest prizes highlights the comprehensive support offered here.
The Categories of the Preus Museum Open Call 2025
The Preus Museum Open Call 2025 is not structured around predefined categories. Instead, it is unified by the single, evocative theme: “Closer.” Participants are invited to interpret this theme broadly through their lens-based work. Submissions can be single images or cohesive projects. The focus is on the strength of the visual execution and the depth of engagement with the concept of closeness, whether physical, emotional, or conceptual.
Preus Museum Open Call 2025 Dates and Entry Fees
Staying informed about the key dates and participation costs is vital for entering the Preus Museum Open Call 2025. The entry process is managed via Picter, with a fee structure designed for accessibility.
| Event | Date / Deadline |
|---|---|
| Submission Period Opens | February 13, 2025 |
| Submission Deadline | April 30, 2025 |
| Notification to All Participants | By June 15, 2025 |
| Public Winner Announcement | August 2025 |
| Exhibition at Oslo Negativ Photo Festival | October 11 – 26, 2025 |
| Prize Ceremony | During Oslo Negativ (October 2025) |
Entry Fees: A fee of €10 is required per submission. However, students and photographers based in Norway are eligible for free entry.
How to Enter
Submissions for the Preus Museum Open Call 2025 must be made through the Picter.com platform before the April 30, 2025 deadline. Applicants can submit single images or a series/project. It is essential to include a project description explaining how the submitted work relates to the theme “Closer.” If submitting AI-generated images, this must be clearly indicated in the description or image titles.
About the Jury
The selection for the Preus Museum Open Call 2025 will be made by a jury of experienced professionals from various facets of the photography world. The jury members bring diverse perspectives, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation based on thematic relevance and visual quality. The confirmed jurors are:
- Tina Holth-Jacobsson: Founder of Tinagent, Norway’s first photography agency.
- Ove Kvavik: Artist, photographer, and representative of the Oslo Negativ board.
- Andrea Gjestvang: Award-winning documentary photographer represented by Panos Pictures.
- Pål Otnes: Photo editor for Fotografi magazine and communications advisor at Preus Museum.
- Pål Henrik Ekern: Diversity curator at Preus Museum with a master’s degree in Photography in Arts.
- Anna Tellgren: Curator of Photography and Head of Research at Moderna Museet, Stockholm.
The jury will select the winning entry based on its connection to the theme “Closer” and its distinct visual merit.
Why Enter Preus Museum Open Call 2025?
Participating in the Preus Museum Open Call 2025 offers photographers a unique platform to engage with a thought-provoking theme and gain significant recognition. The opportunity to exhibit at the Oslo Negativ Photo Festival, supported by Norway’s national photography museum, provides invaluable exposure to a dedicated audience, curators, and industry professionals within the Nordic region and beyond.
The cash prize of NOK 20,000 offers direct financial support, while inclusion in the Preus Museum’s permanent collection represents a lasting honour and contribution to photographic heritage. The low entry fee, with waivers available for students and Norwegian photographers, makes this one of the more accessible best photography challenges to participate in for talented artists worldwide to showcase their interpretation of “Closer”.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the Preus Museum Open Call 2025 has been generated automatically. If you are interested in participating in this contest we suggest you review the complete rules provided by the contest.
Rules
The Preus Museum Open Call 2025 is open to everyone, regardless of nationality, age, gender, or professional status (amateur or professional). Submissions can be made by individuals or collectives. Submitted works must address the theme “Closer” and can be single images or projects. AI-generated images are accepted but must be clearly identified. Submissions are processed via Picter.com. A project description detailing the work’s connection to the theme is required. An entry fee of €10 applies, but students and Norwegian photographers can request a free entry code via email.
Image Use and Exhibition Curation
By submitting, artists grant Preus Museum and Oslo Negativ Photo Festival the right to use the selected images for promotional purposes related to the exhibition and festival activities. All used images will be credited to the artist. Preus Museum reserves complete creative control over the curation and design of the final exhibition at the Oslo Negativ Photo Festival. While the museum covers production costs for the exhibition they produce, if the winner chooses to produce the work themselves, the museum will offer a financial contribution towards these costs and shipment.
—
For more information and to enter the competition, visit: the oficial website.
