Open Call for African Photographers

Welcome to African Visual Storyteller! Your weekly guide to African photographers, exhibitions, and creative opportunities.

This space exists to support visibility, connection, and real pathways for African creatives. Thank you for being part of our growing ecosystem.

African Visual Storyteller of the Week #42

Our featured storyteller this week is Joel Lukhovi 🇰🇪

Unpublished Africa featured in AFRICA ART Magazine

Last month, AFRICA ART Magazine published a feature on Unpublished Africa’s work, reflecting on how exhibitions, research, and community-led initiatives contribute to building long-term infrastructure for African creatives.

The article situates our work within broader conversations on access, early-career pathways, and sustainable creative practice across the continent.

Read the feature: https://artafricamagazine.org/unpublished-africa-building-sustainable-pathways-for-creative-entrepreneurship/

Join our Upcoming Photo Walks

Jos Photo Walk

🇳🇬 Join our 3rd Jos Photo Walk this February:

• 🗓️ 27 February 2026, ⏰ 3 PM

• Register: https://airtable.com/appoOCu5Be7LsDtNg/shrR5W5QIiVA6GCBg

Lusaka Photo Walk

Photo walks remain one of our entry points into visibility, community, and long-term creative infrastructure. Here are the details for the next Lusaka Photo Walk 🇿🇲 :

• 🗓️ 15 February 2026, ⏰ 2 PM

• Register: https://airtable.com/appoOCu5Be7LsDtNg/shrIpbbXG2cGlZUJD

Unpublished Africa Opportunities & Open Calls

Bakashimika Photography Festival Call Out

Did you know that Bakashimika Photography Festival if cofounded by Creative Business Studio Alumni? Submit your work to be considered for an exhhibition in Zambia during the festival:

• Deadline: 15 February 2026

• Submission Link: https://unpublished.beehiiv.com/p/call-for-submissions-for-creative-business-studio-alumni

Women's Month Exhibition Call Out

This exhibition builds on our 2025 exhibition and research on unlocking true empowerment for African women in photography. Share this opportunity with an African woman photographer:

• Deadline: 15 February 2026

• Submission Link : https://unpublished.beehiiv.com/p/open-call-for-women-photographers-2026

Research from our 2025 Women’s Group Exhibition
Alongside last year’s Women’s Group Exhibition, we published a research paper examining empowerment, access, and long-term sustainability for African women in photography.

Read the white paper: https://www.unpublished.africa/_files/ugd/52dd41_51aa724ed510454997be802af84178b3.pdf

Representation Exhibition is Still Open

The Representation Exhibition is still open, but not for long. If you haven’t visited yet, now’s the time to experience the powerful stories and perspectives on display. Don’t miss the chance to see the work before the exhibition closes.

View the exhibition: https://www.unpublished.africa/representation-exhibition

Other Opportunities:

Other Opportunities:

• Bertha Fund For Documentary Film-makers across Africa ( International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) ) - deadline: 10 February

• Call for Filmmakers and Video Editors ( Asedeva ) - deadline: 10 February

• The Reuters Institute Journalist Fellowship Programme ( Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism ) - deadline: 13 February

• Kalasha International Film & TV Festival ( Kenya Film Commission ) - deadline: 13 February

• Festival de Cannes 2026 ( Festival de Cannes ) - deadlines: 15 February ( La Cinef), 02 March (Shorts), 13 March (Features)

• MultiChoice Talent Factory ( MultiChoice Group ) - deadline: 27 February

• Kuonyesha Art Fund Call ( Kuonyesha Art Fund ) - deadline: 28 February

• The 17th Greenstorm Photography Festival ( Greenstorm Foundation ) - deadline: 28 February

• The Spark Impact Program ( Sunshine Cinema ) - deadline: 13 March

• AFRICAJARC Cinema 2026 ( Africajarc ) - deadline: 15 March

• Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism Award ( International Women's Media Foundation ) - deadline: 31 March

• Visual artists in the League of Arab States ( AFAC - The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture ) - deadline: 02 April

• Écrans Noirs ( Festival Ecrans Noirs ) - deadline: 05 April

• Minority Africa Call for Storytellers ( Minority Africa ) - rolling deadline

• Pulitzer Center Grant ( Pulitzer Center ) - rolling deadline

• Call For Global Collaborators ( Young Leaders For Arts and Health ) - rolling deadline

Help Us Improve What We’re Building

If you’ve joined an Unpublished Africa photo walk, exhibition, programme, or conversation, we’d really appreciate a quick Google rating and review.

It takes a few minutes, and it goes a long way in helping us build better infrastructure for African creatives.

👉 Leave a review here: https://g.page/r/CYo40kkDN_4UEBM/review

Thank you for being part of the journey and for helping shape what comes next.

➡️ Share this newsletter with a friend or colleague interested in the African creative economy!

Thank you for continuing to build with us.

More conversations, walks, and opportunities ahead.

— Unpublished Africa