Neem deel aan Archipelago 2026: een jaarlijks evenement ter ondersteuning van opkomende fotografie in België
archipel is an annual event initiated by Contretype in support of emerging photography in Belgium, in all its diversity and possibilities, and of new generations of image-based artists. For the 3rd edition of archipelago in 2026, a jury of professionals will invite 6 artists to exhibit at Contretype from April 23 to July 5.
archipelago becomes a network
Beyond an exhibition, archipelago is evolving into a professional network. Six partners are joining the project. They are members of the jury and each commit to supporting one of the laureates in a working session after the exhibition, in a format to be defined: residency, mentorship, project follow-up, editorial support, exhibition, networking, etc.
The 6 professional partners are:
- Lise BRUYNEEL , Artistic Director of La Fabrique des regards
(Brussels)
( https://www.lafabriquedesregards.eu/ ) - Sébastien DELVAUX , Project development advisor for ILES / Artist Project
(Brussels)
( https://iles.be/accueil-artist-project ) - Olivier GRASSER , Director of Contretype
(Brussels)
( https://www.contretype.org/ ) - Audrey HOAREAU , Director of the CRP / Regional Center of Photography
(Douchy-les-Mines, France)
( https://www.crp.photo/ ) - Anne-Françoise LESUISSE, Artistic Director of BIP / Biennale de l’Image Possible
(Liège)
( https://bip-liege.org/fr/ ) - Laura NEVE , Artistic Director of the Carrefour des Arts Foundation
(Brussels)
( https://www.carrefourdesarts.be/ )
Artistic orientations
archipelago is a platform for emerging photography in its broadest sense. The call for applications is aimed at artists whose forward-looking practice explores the image in all its dimensions, whether experimental, documentary, plastic, performative, or in dialogue with other disciplines (video, installation, publishing, sound arts, digital practices, etc.). archipelago is attentive to proposals that question the very definition of the image, its materiality and its uses, that question the issues of representation in relation to today’s world, and that open up new visual territories. Without excluding more classical approaches, archipel seeks to encourage the emergence of bold and inventive practices, singular approaches carried by a personal and affirmed vision.
Eligibility criteria
- Be a photographic artist active in the field of image-making.
- Have a link with the Brussels-Capital Region or the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles.
- Be 40 years old or younger on January 1, 2026.
- Hold a degree from an art or photography school by January 1, 2026. In the absence of formal studies, attest to a confirmed artistic practice.
- Not have exhibited at Contretype for at least 4 years (2022 at the latest).
- Not have already exhibited the proposed project, in Brussels or the Brussels-Capital Region.
- Reserve exclusivity of the project for Contretype throughout the duration of archipelago.
- Be able to issue invoices.
Calendar
- Deadline for receipt of applications: Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at midnight.
- Jury meeting and announcement of selection: early November 2025.
- Delivery of works to Contretype: Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 April 2026.
Opening: Thursday 23 April 2026. - Exhibition dates: Thursday April 23 – Sunday July 5, 2026.
