NIDA International Photography Symposium 2019 is pleased to launch an open call for lens based works for a curated evening of projections in Nida, Lithuania.

The theme of this open call is Futures / Intersections, tying in with the overall themes of this year’s programme.

We invite artists and photographers of any age, nationality and geographic location to submit lens based works in a form of photographic series or short videos (up to 10 min) exploring the theme. We are looking for broad and innovative interpretations of Futures / Intersections theme, whether it’s speculations on the future of the planet or humanity, a close look into utopia/ dystopia, future of the photographic image or technology. Yet it’s not only the content of submitted work that should reflect the themes, but also it’s execution: we are interested in seeing works that exist at the intersection in between photography and other mediums, disciplines and sciences. What is the future of photographic storytelling and how will we read pictures in the future?

We welcome analogue and digital experiments, collage works, videos, augmented photography, simulations and anything that may fall into the broad category of lens based media.

Selected works (up to 20) will be screened during NIDA International Photography Symposium 2019 in Lithuania in the second week of September. The symposium is now in it’s 42nd year and has grown to attract local and international artists, photographers, lecturers, historians and critics to a special location on Curonian Spit on the Baltic Sea. This year’s programme explores themes of Futures, Intersections, Photography Collections and Activism.

This is a great opportunity to share your work with an international audience of photographers, artists, curators, critics and gallery representatives in a unique setting of pine forests and sand dunes.

What winners receive

• Up to 20 artists will have their submitted works screened at the projection event during NIDA International Photography Symposium 2019 in September.

• One overall winner receives:

Invitation to attend the symposium in Nida, Lithuania on the 9th- 15th of September 2019. The winner will be given an opportunity to give an artist talk about their practice and become part of the official programme of the symposium. Accommodation in organisers’ chosen hotel and breakfast in Nida, Lithuania. Symposium pass to all lectures and related public programme. Return travel to Nida for up to 200 EUR.

About NIDA

• NIDA International Photography Symposium 2019 is organised by Lithuanian Photographers Association that unites more than 300 members and runs 4 photography galleries in Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipeda.

Previous editions have invited lecturers and participants from around the world including Elina Brotherus, Sharon Yaari, Joachim Schmid, Martin Parr, Paolo Woods and Gabriele Galimberti, Clare Laude, Liz Wells, Calin Kruse, Alnis Stakle and more.

The symposium, happening since 1973, has become a well known event in the region and internationally. Famous for combining high standard lectures, artist talks, workshops and exhibitions with the relaxed atmosphere in a unique setting on the Baltic Sea, the symposium aims to open up to new international connections whilst maintaining the charm of the resort town (previously fishing village).

The programme of the symposium allows to both enjoy the lectures and panel discussions, join in the workshops, attend screenings and photobook market as well as have enough time to swim in the sea, explore the biggest sand dunes in Europe and go wildlife spotting.

Nida is a unique resort town in a Curonian Spit National Park in Lithuania, surrounded by the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon. Busy with tourists over the summer, it returns to it’s usual calm in September. Nida, the surrounding pine forests and sand dunes are home to white- tailed eagles, foxes, hares, moose and wild boar. Cycling, Nordic Walking, sailing and fishing are among the tourist attractions, not to mention the local fish smokeries.

The closest airports are Palanga (86 km, 1,5 hours), Kaunas (270 km, 3 hours), Vilnius (357 km, 4,5 hours) and Riga (Latvia, 357 km, 5 hours).

To get more information on previous editions of NIDA International Photography Symposium, visit http://photography.lt/en/symposium/ and check out video from previous editions here: https://vimeo.com/user66170117

How to Enter (if special requirements):

• Up to two projects per person (if work consists of both video and stills it can be submitted as one).

• 15- 30 images in jpeg format per project (3000px on the long side). Please number the images in the order you want them shown in.

• For video works please provide a link to Vimeo/ Youtube or your website (if password protected please provide the password). Please add the link to the project statement.

• If submitting moving image work only, please upload stills in the image upload area.

Judging criteria

We are looking for diverse approaches on the themes of Futures / Intersections, and we especially encourage to submit works that are experimental in nature. The judges are hoping to see photographic stills, collage, installation, moving image work, analogue and digital, anything that can be defined as lens based artworks. This open call is for a projection event and we will also be assessing how submitted works fit the format. We especially welcome submissions with their own sound (-tracks), as long as the rights to the sound/ music are secured.

Juror information

Vilma Samulionytė (Lithuania) Curator at Lithuanian Photographers Association, Programmer at NIDA International Photography Symposium, founder of NoRoutine books, photographic artist. https://www.photography.lt/lt/lfs-nariai/item/220.html

Kotryna Ūla Kiliulytė (Lithuania/ Scotland) is an independent curator, educator and artist based in Glasgow.  Having worked with organisations like Lithuanian Photographers Association (Vilnius) , Street Level Photoworks (Glasgow), Glasgow School of Art and Edinburgh Art Festival, she curates, teaches and coordinates art events. http://www.kotrynaula.com

Gintarė Krasuckaitė (Lithuania) curator, Kaunas Photography Gallery. Gintarė holds a Bachelor's degree in Art History and Criticism, and a Masters' degree in Art Curating from the Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas. Having worked for the Kaunas Contemporary Art Biennial, she now works as a exhibition and residency programme curator at Kaunas Photography Gallery. https://kaunasgallery.lt/en/

Ugnė Marija Makauskaitė (Lithuania) art historian and art critic. She holds an MA degree in art history, her research focuses on Soviet and contemporary Lithuanian photography. Project Coordinator at the Lithuanian Photographers Association. www.photography.lt

1. Can I submit a selection of single unrelated images rather than a series? No, we only accept series of still works or moving image pieces.

2. Do I have to be a resident of Lithuania to participate in this open call? No, you don't. Anyone can participate.

3. I want to submit my work for the projection event, but I won't be able to attend Nida symposium if I win the open call. What should I do? You can still submit work. If you do not want to be considered for the main prize, please indicate at the end of your project description.

4. Is it ok if the work has been exhibited or published before? Yes, it is fine.

5. What language should I fill the form in? Please use English only.

6. I’m a previous winner of NIDA 2018 open call, can I still submit? Yes, if you submit other body of work. However, you will not be considered for the main prize.