Unpublished Africa invites African photographers to explore everyday, creative, and collective expressions of leadership.
21 April 2026
Open Call:
African photographers are invited to submit work responding to the question: What does leadership look like in your context? This open call seeks visual narratives that reflect how leadership is expressed across different environments, experiences and communities.
Institutional Context:
This initiative focuses on amplifying photographic perspectives from across the continent, encouraging critical and creative reflections on leadership. It prioritises storytelling that engages with social, cultural and everyday forms of influence, highlighting how individuals and communities shape systems, spaces and narratives.
Eligibility and Criteria:
The call is open to photographers based in Africa. Submissions should include 3 to 5 images, presented either as a single story or a short series. Work may explore themes such as community initiatives, youth influence, creative and cultural leadership, responsibility and decision-making, collective approaches, or leadership in informal or unsupported contexts.
Applicants must also submit captions for each image, clearly labelled with the artist’s name, nationality, title, and year, along with a 200-word artist statement and a 100-word biography. A clear headshot is required. Images featuring identifiable faces must include a model release, and images showing children’s faces will not be accepted.
Evaluation Process:
Submissions will be reviewed based on the clarity and strength of the visual narrative, the relevance to the theme of leadership, and the quality of the accompanying written materials. Consideration will also be given to how effectively the work engages with context and meaning.
Practical Information:
Applicants must ensure that all submission components are complete and correctly formatted, including images, captions, the artist statement, bio, and headshot. Special attention should be given to ethical considerations around representation, particularly regarding consent and the visibility of subjects.
The submission deadline is 01 May 2026.
Applications and Queries:
Submissions must be completed via the online form. Applicants should ensure all required materials are uploaded before the deadline. For any queries, refer to the submission platform for further guidance.
