As part of the bicentenary celebration (September 2026 to September 2027) of le Point de vue du gras*, considered the first photographic image in world history, the Centre national des arts plastiques (CNAP) in France has commissioned 15 photographers, focusing on the invention of photography and the relevance of its possible reinvention today. The projects are created using all the techniques that currently allow artists to produce photographic images in innovative forms. Hangar, one of the labeled places of the bicentenary celebration, will host the exhibition of the 15 projects from this commission in September 2026 on the theme “Reinventing Photography”. To complement this exhibition, Hangar has decided to launch a call for applications open to Belgian artists photographers and/or artists photographers residing in Belgium.

This call invites artists photographers to explore the same theme: 200 years later, how can photography be reinvented? Is photography a medium that reinvents itself? How do photographic artists, through their practice, keep contemporary photography alive? The call for applications will constitute the Belgian part of the exhibition.


*September 2026 to September 2027: Bicentenary celebration in France and around the world. Events will be selected and officially recognized by the French Ministry of Culture for their artistic, scientific, or cultural significance in relation to the history and evolution of photography.

The jury will focus on the photographers' ability to reflect on their medium, even to the point of reinventing their practice at times.

Artists are encouraged to explore:

  • All facets of contemporary photographic creation

  • The creation of images, both material and immaterial, using all techniques, from the most traditional to the most innovative

Conditions for participation

  • being over the age of majority (18+)

  • being a Belgian artist photographer and/or an artist photographer residing in Belgium

  • should demonstrate at least ONE of these two possibilities:
    - have a track record of professional practice as an artist (exhibitions, publications)
    - have an art school degree

This call is open ONLY for original and unpublished projects / The works must be conceived, created, and produced specifically for this commission and presented for the first time at Hangar.

Benefits

  • Laureates will be part of the collective exhibition at Hangar from September 17 to December 20, 2026, co-curated by CNAP and Hangar.

  • Support for the production costs of the exhibition’s works.

  • Cash prize of 4000€* for each of 5 laureates - *including 1000€ support from the French Embassy in Belgium

Jury

An experienced jury composed of 9 photography experts will select 5 projects from all submissions


Registration and submission conditions

  1. Form
    Participants must fill out the online form with their personal information (name, address, age, nationality, phone number, email).

  2. Application
    A registration consists of a compressed PDF file (max. 10 MB) Named as follows: FirstName_LastName_RP.pdf (example: John_Smith_RP.pdf) and containing:

·       A presentation of the project to be created (not pictures) in French or Dutch and in English (maximum 600 words)

·       A brief biography in French or Dutch and in English (maximum 300 words)

·       A representative portfolio of your past projects (30 pages maximum)

· A link to your website and/or social media page.

Registration and submission will be open from July 15 to October 3, 2025.

Selection criteria

  • Respect the theme

  • The project must have a relevant storytelling

  • Depth of the conceptual reflection

  • Ability to provoke thought and discussion on reinventing photography

The jury will select 5 laureates.

We look forward to discovering your innovative and captivate proposals!

Key dates

Registration & submission
From July 15 to 3 October 2025

Deliberations of the jury
End of October 2025

Announcement of the laureates
Mid-November 2025

Curatorial and scenographic decisions
November 2025 - May 2026

Production of the artworks by the artists
November 2025 - July 2026

Delivery of the produced artworks to Hangar
July 2026

Exhibition
September 17 - December 20, 2026

W. With the support of the French Embassy in Belgium.