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Shape by The Glasgow Gallery of Photography 2027 is a photography exhibition dedicated to exploring the visual power of shapes through photographic art. The Glasgow Gallery of Photography invites photographers to interpret how shape can define the aesthetics and meaning of an image, whether through silhouettes, geometric patterns, architecture, natural forms or the geography around them. Submissions are free and close on September 18, 2026, with up to eight photographs accepted per entrant.
Selected work will be professionally printed, framed and exhibited at The Glasgow Gallery of Photography from January 7–30, 2027. Participants will also appear in an online gallery and exhibition catalog, receive a digital certificate, and have their installed work photographed and filmed for gallery social media. Selected photographers are automatically considered for Photographer of the Month.
There is no charge to submit. Photographers whose work is selected pay a £50 participation fee, which supports printing and presentation in the gallery. Acceptance notifications are scheduled by September 23, with payment due October 7. For photographers considering the exhibition alongside other opportunities, it remains a useful addition to Deartline’s list of photography competitions, particularly for work where composition, form and visual structure are central.
Deartline Review
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Shape 2027 Prizes
Photographers selected for the exhibition receive a package centered on physical presentation, online visibility and documentation of their participation.
- Gallery Exhibition: Selected photographs are printed and displayed at The Glasgow Gallery of Photography. Unless otherwise specified, works are printed at 16 × 12, 18 × 12, or 12 × 12 inches depending on the image and the gallery’s framing requirements.
- Online Gallery: Selected work is also displayed in an online exhibition on the gallery’s website.
- Exhibition Catalog: Participating photographers have their work included in the exhibition catalog.
- Digital Certificate: Each selected participant receives a digital certificate before the exhibition begins.
- Installation Documentation: The gallery photographs selected work after installation and shares the resulting images with participants and through its social media.
- Video Promotion: Exhibited work is also filmed for content shared through the gallery’s social media channels.
- Photographer of the Month: Participants are automatically put forward for consideration for the gallery’s Photographer of the Month recognition.
The gallery also holds an opening event on the first Saturday of its exhibitions, which participating photographers are invited to attend.
Other Free Contests
Categories or Themes
There are no separate submission categories. The entire exhibition focuses on the theme of shape and how it influences photographic composition. The brief leaves room for silhouettes, geometric patterns, architectural structures, natural forms and other approaches in which shape becomes a defining visual or conceptual element.
This flexibility makes the theme suitable for photographers working across different genres, while still requiring a clear relationship between the submitted image and the idea of shape.
Dates and Entry Fees
The Shape by The Glasgow Gallery of Photography 2027 closes several months before the January exhibition, leaving the gallery time to select, print and prepare the chosen works for display.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Submission Deadline | September 18, 2026 |
| Acceptance Notification | By September 23, 2026 |
| Payment Deadline | October 7, 2026 |
| Exhibition Dates | January 7–30, 2027 |
Entry Fees:
- Submission is free for up to 8 images.
- Photographers selected for the exhibition pay a £50 participation fee.
- A discount is available for photographers selected for both exhibitions taking place in the same month, although the amount of the discount is not specified on the call page.
How to Enter
Photographers may submit between one and eight JPEG images. Files must be at least 3000 pixels on the shortest side at 300 ppi. Each file should be named using the photographer’s name followed by a number, such as John-Smith1, John-Smith2 and so on.
Submissions should be sent together using Smash, WeTransfer or Dropbox to submissions@glasgowgalleryofphotography.com rather than as standard email attachments. The accompanying message should include the photographer’s name, nationality or country of residence, the exhibition being entered, image titles if applicable, and any website or social media links they would like the gallery to use.
Only photographers selected for the exhibition or reserve list are notified. Those not selected do not receive an individual notification.
Why Enter Shape by The Glasgow Gallery of Photography 2027?
The strongest feature of Shape is that selection leads to a physical exhibition. The £50 participation fee is only required after selection, while the gallery handles print sizing, installation and framing for the exhibition. Participants also leave with an online feature, catalog inclusion, a certificate and photographs of their work installed in the gallery, giving them material that can be useful for documenting exhibition history and portfolios.
The theme itself also provides considerable latitude without becoming completely open-ended. Photographers working with architecture, abstraction, silhouettes, landscape or constructed compositions can approach shape differently while still responding to a clear curatorial idea. For those exploring conceptual photography competitions, that combination of a defined theme and a physical gallery outcome is the most distinctive aspect of the call.
Rules and Copyright
We reviewed the official rules of the Shape by The Glasgow Gallery of Photography 2027 to summarize the key participation requirements, copyright terms and image usage conditions. Before entering, we recommend checking the complete rules published by the organizer.
Rules
Entrants must be the creators and sole copyright owners of the photographs they submit. Images must not infringe third-party copyright, intellectual property, privacy or other legal rights. The gallery may request a signed model release where appropriate, particularly when people or children are identifiable subjects.
Submitted files must meet the technical requirements for the exhibition: JPEG format, at least 3000 pixels on the shortest side and 300 ppi. The gallery determines the final print size and paper used to fit the exhibition presentation. Frames and mounts remain the property of the gallery.
After the exhibition, photographers may arrange to collect their print, donate it to the gallery or allow it to be destroyed. Prints marked for collection are held for one month after the exhibition. Photographers must communicate their preferred option by the deadline given in their acceptance email.
Copyright and Image Usage
Photographers retain copyright before, during and after the exhibition. The Glasgow Gallery of Photography states that copyright and royalties are not transferred to the gallery.
However, all photographs submitted to the open call may be used to promote and advertise the gallery. This includes use on the gallery website, social media and in advertising, promotional materials and publications. The terms do not specify a time limit for this promotional use. Photographs used by the gallery are credited to the photographer.
Selected exhibition prints may also be offered for sale with the photographer’s permission. If the gallery sells the exhibition print directly, it currently takes a 20% commission. Alternatively, photographers can choose to have interested buyers directed to them and handle production and sale themselves, in which case the gallery does not take a commission.
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For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
