At a time when awareness of the effects of climate change is high, Project Groundswell aims to transform this knowledge into concrete action. The initiative harnesses the narrative power and appeal of photography to bring visibility to the effective responses already taking place against climate change. Its goal is to amplify hope and inspire further actions by highlighting how individuals, grassroots movements, and social initiatives are working to reduce carbon emissions, promote circular economies, protect biodiversity, expose greenwashing, and foster climate justice.
What is Project Groundswell?
It is a two-year program implemented in collaboration with four leading European photography organizations, offering:
- Funded Opportunities: For artists and photographers to develop and present works focused on climate action.
- Training Courses: To acquire skills in environmentally sustainable practices.
- High-Quality Events and Exhibitions: That allow the public to engage meaningfully with sustainability issues.
- Global Access: Through the publication of monographic photobooks and the dissemination of audiovisual content on social media and the project’s website.
Key Outputs of the Project
- Curated Exhibition: Four artistic projects, selected through an Open Call by an international jury, will be produced for a major curated exhibition. This exhibition will be presented in four leading venues: Fotohof in Salzburg, Photo Museum Ireland in Dublin, Cortona on the Move in Tuscany, and the Imago Lisboa Festival in Lisbon.
- Photographic Monographs: The publication of four photobooks that will serve as a lasting archive of the work carried out.
- Engagement Programs: Dynamic activities aimed at families and schools in conjunction with the exhibitions.
- Audiovisual Production: Twelve artists will be supported to create high-quality short films documenting their projects.
- Training and Mentoring: Three free online workshops dedicated to sustainable practices and ten free Portfolio Review sessions with international experts.
- Concluding Events: Outdoor projections, roundtable discussions, and dialogue sessions on the occasion of COP31.
Open Call
Project Groundswell invites photographers and lens-based artists to submit photographic and video projects that make visible the ongoing climate action. Proposals can range from documentaries to photo reports, from independent and socially engaged approaches to more personal, diary-like, or conceptual practices – the important thing is that the work concretely addresses the theme of action against climate change, and does not merely raise awareness of its effects.
Dates: from 18 February to 30 April 2025
Lear more and participate:
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Project Timeline
- February 18, 2025: Submission period opens on Picter.
- March 19 – April 9, 2025: A series of free webinars dedicated to sustainable practices for photographers.
- April 30, 2025: Open Call closes at 23:59 CET.
- May 31, 2025: Notification to the twelve finalists selected by the international jury.
- June – August 2025: Selection of the four winners; finalists will collaborate with curators to develop their projects into audiovisual short films, and winners will collaborate on the exhibition and photobooks.
- September 30, 2025: Public premiere of the audiovisual short films, presented with a major projection event at the Imago Lisboa Festival and on the project’s website.
- February / April 2026: Preview of the curated exhibition at Fotohof in Salzburg.
- May / June 2026: Irish premiere at the Photo Museum Ireland in Dublin, accompanied by a public engagement program.
- July / November 2026: Italian premiere at Cortona on the Move (Tuscany), with related engagement events.
- September / October 2026: Portuguese premiere at the Imago Lisboa Festival (Lisbon) and associated engagement activities.
- November 2026: Project Groundswell Finale: Outdoor projections, roundtable discussions, and dialogue sessions during the Cortona On The Move International Festival.
