Photobook Cafe & Rapid Eye Darkrooms presents our sixth quarterly Open Call, Womanhood with Francesca Allen

Open Call: Womanhood

Presented by The Photobook Cafe & Rapid Eye Darkrooms

We are proud to say that our Open Calls are not-for-profit. All proceeds go directly back into supporting The Photobook Cafe Public Programme, helping us keep our photobook collection free and open to all, while continuing to support and platform local and emerging creatives.

Submission Portal

Once you have completed payment for your submission, please upload your images and details via the submission form:

Submission Form

Event Information

Exhibition Opening:
April 30th 2026
18:00 – late

This event will be open to the public, with no RSVP required.

During the evening, our guest judge Francesca Allen will announce our Best in Show winners at 19:00.

Alongside the exhibition, the selected works will also be featured within a printed zine, celebrating the final 35 photographers.

General Guidelines

• Entry fee: £25 per submission (2 images per entry)

• The entry fee is non-refundable and supports The Photobook Cafe Public Programme

• If selected, there are no additional costs to exhibit

• The work must respond to the theme Womanhood

• Analogue and digital photography are both accepted

• Images may be taken anywhere in the world

• Works containing discriminatory or offensive content will not be accepted

• Exhibition prints are supplied by Rapid Eye and cannot be readymade works

• You can submit as many images you like, £25 per 2 entries

• Anyone can submit, emerging, established or amateur photographer. Any age, background and identity from anywhere in the world

• Submission deadline: April 20th

Exhibition & Publication

The final 35 selected photographers will:

• Have their photograph(s) exhibited at The Photobook Cafe

• Be included in a printed zine produced for the exhibition

• Receive a complimentary copy of the zine

• Receive a physical exhibition print to take home after the deinstall of the exhibition

• If selected you may be asked to provide a higher quality JPG

All exhibition prints will be produced by Rapid Eye Darkrooms on digital C-Type matte paper.

Selection Process

All submissions will be reviewed by our invited guest judge, Francesca Allen, who will select the final 35 photographers for the exhibition and zine. Announcements will be April 25th.

From these selected photographers, four Best in Show photographers will also be chosen, who will receive the opportunity to present a complimentary group exhibition at The Photobook Cafe at the end of 2026, with printing supported by Rapid Eye Darkrooms and curatorial direction by Francesca Allen.

Additional Opportunities

All submissions will:

• Be screened during the exhibition opening private view

• Have the opportunity to be featured on The Photobook Cafe and Rapid Eye Darkrooms social media

Access

Please note that our gallery space does not currently have step-free access and is accessible via 25 steps.

If you have any questions regarding accessibility or submissions, please contact us directly and we will do our best to assist.

alice@photobookuk.org

Thanks

As part of The Photobook Cafe Public Programme
Supported by Rapid Eye Darkrooms

Guest Judge: Francesca Allen

Poster images courtesy of Francesca Allen