Open Call
We Are Dreamers
Days stretch longer and light lingers, casting warmth over streets, fields, and skies. Shadows soften, colours glow, and the air carries the slow pulse of summer. At Ballon Rouge, we open our doors to the freedom and possibility of these long, golden days: to moments of wonder, reflection, and quiet dreaming. We want to create space to linger, to explore, and to celebrate the magic of summer, in all its light, warmth, and fleeting intensity.
For this exhibition, we invite photographers to submit work that resonates with the theme of freedom, longing, and the endless, dreamlike quality of summer. We are looking for images that evoke warmth, movement, the poetry of long days and warm nights, or that capture this season in another personal way. The theme is open and invites your interpretation; we look forward to being surprised by your perspective.
After our cosy Winter Salon, we are excited to continue this tradition with a Summer Salon, where all works will be displayed together, curated with attention to intuition, colour, and thematic resonance rather than by individual artist. Whether you are a recently graduated photographer or have been developing your practice for years, you are warmly invited to submit your work.
◼︎ Deadline
March 15, 2026, at midnight.
To Magdalena, 2022
© Dineke Versluis
Please read the practical information and conditions carefully before submitting. If you have any questions, check out the FAQ section below, or feel free to contact us by email.
◼︎ Submission Guidelines
◼︎ You may submit 1 to 3 works.
◼︎ Each submitted work is assessed individually. This means that if you submit multiple works, one, two, or all of them may be selected.
◼︎ The work must be ready to hang (framed, mounted on dibond, or another suitable presentation — no loose prints).
◼︎ Clearly include title, year, technique, dimensions, edition size, and sales price with your submission.
◼︎ This is a sales exhibition. It is helpful if multiple editions are available, or if additional editions can be produced if needed.
◼︎ Unique works may also be submitted; please indicate whether they may be sold directly and whether comparable additional work is available.
◼︎ You are responsible for the production, framing, and delivery of your work.
◼︎ Participation fee: €25 per submission, free for Ballon Rouge Friends.
◼︎ Practical Information
What We Offer
We make sure your work is presented carefully and professionally in our gallery. The selected works will be shown at Ballon Rouge from 22 May to 14 June, in a space transformed into an atmospheric salon setting. We take care of installation, printed materials, and online promotion, and we host a festive opening on Saturday, 23 May.
Selection
The selection is made internally by the Ballon Rouge team, based on artistic quality, relevance to the theme, and sales potential. Selected photographers will be notified by email on 10 April.
Delivery and pick-up of your works
If your work is selected, it can be delivered at Ballon Rouge on 15, 16, 20, or 21 May. You are responsible for production and transport costs.
Works that haven’t been sold can be picked up immediately after the finissage on Sunday, 14 June (between 17:00 and 18:00), or on 18 or 19 June. Please note that we cannot store works beyond these dates, so make sure to collect your work on time.
Conditions
◼︎ We accept submissions from photographers who work professionally with photography — autodidacts, professionals, and recent graduates — who live or work in the Netherlands or Belgium and are 18 years or older.
◼︎ By submitting work, you confirm that you hold all rights to the images and grant Ballon Rouge permission to use the images for promotional purposes.
◼︎ Only photographic work is accepted; the image and/or technique must be photographic.
◼︎ All work must be professionally presented and framed.
Please check our general terms and conditions for full details.
◼︎ Join the Open Call
You can participate by filling out the online application form, where you enter your personal details and upload your work.
Winter Salon, 2025
© Marlike Marks
◼︎ FAQ
Is it a problem if the work is not yet framed?
No, that is not a problem. However, it is important for us to understand the intended final presentation. Please describe how you plan to present the work (e.g. type of frame, with or without glass or passe-partout, mounted on dibond, etc.). If you already know which framer you will work with, feel free to mention this. You may also include a mock-up to clarify your idea.
Is the sales price inclusive or exclusive of commission?
The sales price you provide should be inclusive of 35% commission, this is the final price at which the work will be sold.
Will all submitted works be selected if I submit multiple pieces?
No. Each submitted work is assessed individually. If you submit up to three works, one, two, or all of them may be selected.
Can I submit work from different series?
Yes. You may submit works from different series, as long as each work fits the theme and meets the submission guidelines.
Can I submit work that has been shown before?
Yes. Previously exhibited work is allowed, provided it has not been shown at Ballon Rouge before.
Are digital manipulations or mixed techniques allowed?
Yes, as long as the work is photographic in nature and photography is central to the image and/or process. Works must be your own and not AI-generated.
Can I submit work that is not for sale?
In principle, this is a sales exhibition. If you wish to submit a unique work that is not for sale, please clearly indicate this in your submission. Selection will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
How many works will be selected?
The number of selected works depends on the total number of submissions, the size of the works, and how they fit together in the exhibition. In general, we expect to select around 25 to 40 works.
Is there a limit to the size of the work?
There is no fixed size limit, but keep in mind that the exhibition is a salon-style presentation with many works shown together. Extremely large works may be more difficult to place.
Can I change the sales price after submission?
No. If your work is selected, the sales price you submitted will be considered final for the duration of the exhibition.
Is my work insured during the exhibition?
Ballon Rouge is not liable for loss, damage, or theft during transport or the exhibition period. In practice, works on display are covered for major incidents such as fire, water damage, and burglary. However, damage caused by visitors, accidents during installation or deinstallation, or other forms of handling cannot be insured by us. While we take great care in installing and monitoring the exhibition, exhibitors remain responsible for insuring their own work if they wish to cover these risks.
Can I submit work from abroad?
Unfortunately, no. We value personal contact and aim to build a community of photographers who are actively involved with the gallery and can be physically present.
If selected, can I send my work by post?
No, we are unable to accept works sent by post. We are not always available to receive packages, leaving them with neighbors isn’t practical, and we do not return sent works because it would create too much extra work.
Can I submit work if I am still studying photography?
Yes, as long as you are 18 years or older and working seriously with photography.
Will I receive feedback if my work is not selected?
Due to the number of submissions, we are unfortunately unable to provide individual feedback.
Can I submit the same work again for a future open call?
Yes, unless otherwise stated in future calls.
◼︎ Credits
Cover image © Marlike Marks