Decagon Gallery
Entry Point
—Being seen at the start—
For The Photographers Who Are
Learning Within Educational Institutions
Deadline: March 31, 2026
Entry fee: NO FEE
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Overview
Learning Within Institutions is a submission section of the ENTRY POINT Open Call dedicated to photographic work developed within formal educational environments.
It offers a considered space where early academic work can be seen and taken seriously, without pressure to perform or to appear fully formed.
Learning is understood here as an active and sometimes uncertain process, and early work is approached as a meaningful part of becoming a photographer.
Who ENTRY POINT is for
This section is intended for educational environments and photographers at the beginning of their practice.
For institutions, it offers a thoughtful way to situate student work within an international curatorial context, without removing it from its learning framework.
For students, it creates a space where being at an early stage is not a limitation, but a shared condition — where learning and searching are treated with respect.
Curatorial Intention
Learning Within Institutions approaches early academic work with seriousness and respect for the learning process behind it.
Rather than evaluating outcomes, curatorial attention is placed on formation — the moments in which direction and authorship are beginning to take shape.
The section values honesty over polish, and presence over completion.
Future Perspective
While ENTRY POINT is currently presented as an online exhibition, selected works may be considered for future offline presentations in collaboration with partner institutions.
Any such development would be approached thoughtfully and in close cooperation with educational or institutional contexts.
Approaches and Conditions
A wide range of photographic approaches is welcome, including conceptual, documentary, staged, experimental, analog, digital, and mixed techniques.Participants must be 18 years of age or older.
For questions related to the use of AI tools, please refer to Decagon Gallery’s AI Policy, which outlines the gallery’s position and guidelines.
AI Policy → [click here]
Timeline & Terms
Selected works will be announced by email following the curatorial review.
Notification of Acceptance: April 15
Exhibition Launch: April 15 — June 15
Artists retain full copyright to their work.
Decagon Gallery requests permission to use selected works solely for exhibition presentation and related communication.
What Participants Receive
Selected participants become part of an international online exhibition. Each exhibited work receives a short curatorial note.
Participants receive a digital badge and certificate acknowledging their participation in the ENTRY POINT Open Call.
How to Submit
Submissions are accepted through the form below.
Participants may submit up to 5 photographs for consideration. Following the curatorial review, one work may be selected for inclusion in the online exhibition and to receive a curatorial note.
Please upload photographic files in JPEG format, minimum 2100 pixels on the longest side, maximum file size 4 MB per image.
File naming format: FirstName-LastName_Title.jpg
(example: John-Manno_Humanity.jpg)