Open Call to Baltimore Photographers

Concurrent with the 2026 exhibition Flashback: Two Centuries of Baltimore Photography, the Baltimore Museum of Art invites photographers to submit work for the Flashback Open Call, a rotating presentation celebrating diverse photographic perspectives on Baltimore life.

This open call seeks to amplify voices and visions that capture the complexity, beauty, and lived experience of Baltimore—particularly from photographers who have not had extensive professional exhibition opportunities.

Up to twenty (20) selected photographers will have their work featured in a rotating presentation within with the Flashback exhibition at the BMA’s Main Branch and Lexington Market Branch from October 2026 through February 2027. Please note that selected work will likely be projected or displayed on a screen, not printed.

We are looking for photographic work that responds to, engages with, or offers a unique perspective on the following questions:

• Who are we as Baltimoreans?
• What makes our city?
• What does Baltimore mean to you?
• What does Baltimore look like to you?
• What is your Baltimore?

To be considered, applicants must supply the following materials via this form (or in person at the BMA’s Lexington Market Branch Location, if needed):

• Up to three (3) photographs that consider the questions noted above and meet the eligibility criteria noted below.
• A Personal Statement of no more than 150 words that contextualizes the applicant’s work, practice, and perspective.*

*Please note that we strongly discourage the use of AI tools to create this text. Statements will be evaluated for their personality, specificity, and integrity, not for spelling or grammar.

As noted above, the goal of the Open Call is to amplify the work of photographers who have not had extensive exhibition or other opportunities to show and share their work. Priority will be given to applicants who meet these criteria.

To qualify for the Flashback Open Call, ALL the following criteria must be met:

Residency

Applicants must have maintained primary residence and/or an art studio in Baltimore City or Baltimore County during the past five years (2021–2026).

Age

Applicants must be 18 years or older by the close of the application window (July 26, 2026).

Exhibition History

• The submitted work must not have been exhibited in a gallery, museum, or institutional setting in the last 5 years (2021–2026).
• The submitted work must not have been published in a professional publication in the last 5 years (2021–2026). Professional publications include magazines, newspapers, exhibition catalogs, published books, and curated online platforms.
• Note: Self-publishing (including social media posts, personal websites, or self-produced zines) does NOT disqualify applicants.

Medium Requirements

• The submitted work must be still photography produced using digital or film cameras.
• Photography may use analog or digital processing methods.
• No time-based media (video, moving image, GIFs, etc.) will be considered.
• No AI-generated images or images created primarily through AI tools will be considered.
• Mixed media works incorporating photography may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Works must be your own.
• Submitted image files must be no more than 5MB, 300 DPI
• Accepted file formats: JPG

Submissions will be accepted from May 22-July 26.

• Platform: Submit your work using the link above.
• Drop-in Q&A Sessions: Two sessions will be offered during the application period. Sessions will be held on Monday, July 13, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, July 15, 7 to 9 p.m.
• Physical Submission Support: Physical artworks can be dropped off at BMA Lexington Market, Stall 55, Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Where to learn more: Information will be available on the BMA website and the BMA Lexington Market, Stall 55.
• Multiple or repeat applications will not be considered. Please only complete the application once.

Photographers whose work is already included in the Flashback exhibition are noteligible to apply.

Selected photographers will be notified by September 30, 2026.

Have questions about your submission? We’re here to help! We’ll be hosting two info sessions to address basic inquiries about the application process.

Q&A Session One
Monday, July 13, 3–5 p.m.
Join the Session

Q&A Session Two
Wednesday, July 15, 7–9 p.m.
Join the Session

Both sessions will be drop-in and cover the same content. BMA Public Engagement staff will be available to answer questions about eligibility, the application process, and other logistics. Please note that we cannot offer feedback on individual work or curatorial direction.

Final selections will be made by a jury that includes artists, academics, photographers, writers, curators, and other museum and art professionals. Jurors will be asked to evaluate submissions based on artistic merit, relevance to the Guiding Questions, and how likely the applicant is to benefit from the resources offered by the Open Call.

The BMA and the Open Call Jury will select up to twenty (20) artists who will receive the following:

• Digital display of work at the BMA’s Main and Lexington Market branches.
• Recognition at an opening event in October, 2026.
• A one-hour, one-on-one consultation with a BMA Curator.

Unfortunately, we only have the capacity to provide feedback to selected artists.

The application form below includes questions about applicant demographics. All demographic questions are optional. We are collecting this data to track who the Flashback Open Call is reaching, and to support our goal of making this opportunity available to a breadth of Baltimoreans. Your personal information will never be shared outside the BMA or used for any purpose beyond the Flashback Open Call.

If you have further questions, please contact flashbackopencall@artbma.org.